The law department shall be in the charge of a city solicitor who shall be a resident of the city and an attorney and counselor of the courts of the commonwealth. Attached to the solicitor's office there shall be such assistant city solicitors as are necessary who shall, under the direction of the city solicitor, assist the solicitor in the performance of the solicitor's official duties. The assistant city solicitors shall be residents of the city and attorneys and counselors of the courts of the commonwealth.
(Prior revision § 2-17)
The mayor shall appoint the city solicitor and the assistant city solicitors. Neither the city solicitor nor any of the solicitor's assistants shall act as counsel or attorney for any public service corporation doing business in the city.
(Prior revision § 2-18)
A. 
It shall be the duty of the city solicitor, alone or through assistant city solicitors, to draft bonds, contracts, deeds, leases, obligations, conveyances and other legal instruments, and to render such professional services as may be required of the solicitor by the mayor or the city council, or by a committee thereof. The solicitor shall furnish legal advice to the heads of city departments when requested by them concerning municipal law questions affecting their respective departments. The solicitor shall attend the meetings of the city council and the meetings of committees of the city council, when requested.
B. 
The city solicitor shall, alone or through assistant city solicitors, commence and prosecute all lawsuits requested of the solicitor by the city council, by the mayor, and by the head of any department of the city government touching the business of city departments on behalf of the city. The solicitor shall appear before any of the courts of the commonwealth and in the federal courts of the United States in defense of any actions or lawsuits brought against the city or any of its officers in their official capacity as such, wherein the rights, estates, privileges or ordinances of the city may be brought into question. The city solicitor shall try and argue all causes in which the city may be a party, before any tribunal in the commonwealth or in the United States, before any referee, arbitrator or board of commissioners. When ordered to do so by the city council or the mayor, the city solicitor shall appear before committees of the legislature at hearings on bills affecting the authority or the rights and privileges of the city.
(Prior revision § 2-19)
Whenever the city solicitor has rendered a written opinion to any board or officer of the city, the solicitor shall send a copy thereof to the city clerk, together with a copy of the communication submitted to him or her and the city clerk shall thereupon cause the same to be filed for future reference.
(Prior revision § 2-20)
A. 
The city solicitor shall investigate all claims against the city as may be referred to the law department by the city council, the mayor or the head of any department. Upon such investigation, the solicitor is authorized, with the advice of the mayor, to settle or deny the claims presented.
B. 
Every officer in charge of a department shall make a report in writing to the law department whenever any transaction, act or negligence of the department in charge occurs which results in, or may occasion, the bringing of a claim against the city. Nothing herein contained shall affect the power of the city solicitor conferred by law concerning the settlement of suits in which the city is a party.
(Prior revision § 2-21)