A. 
There shall be a Department of Law, the head of which shall be the Director of Law, also known as the "Corporation Counsel." Prior to his appointment, the Director of Law shall have been admitted to the practice of law in this state for at least five years.
B. 
The Director of Law and the professional assistants in the Department shall receive annual salaries as established by ordinance, to be paid as all other salaries are paid.
A. 
The Director of Law (Corporation Counsel) shall be the legal adviser to the Mayor, the Council and all City departments, boards, commissions, authorities and agencies except as may be otherwise provided by the charter or ordinance.
B. 
He shall enforce all laws and protect the interests of the City and shall prosecute and defend actions and proceedings by and against the City and every City department, board, commission, authority and agency thereof except as may be otherwise provided by the charter or ordinance.
C. 
In furtherance of these general powers, and without limitation thereto, he shall:
(1) 
Advise the Council or its committees or any City official, when required, upon all legal questions arising in the conduct of City business.
(2) 
Prepare or revise ordinances when so requested by the Council or any committee thereof.
(3) 
Give his opinion upon any legal matter or question submitted to him by the Council or any of its committees or by any City officer.
(4) 
Personally or by a representative attend all Council meetings for the purpose of giving the Council any legal advice requested by its members.
(5) 
Prepare all contracts and instruments when the City is a party, and approve all bonds to be submitted to the City.
(6) 
Prepare, when authorized by the Council or other City authority, all charges or complaints against and shall appear in the appropriate court in the prosecution of every person charged with a violation of a City ordinance, statute, rule or regulation.
(7) 
Immediately report the outcome of any litigation in which the City has an interest to the Council and to the City official having control of the subject matters of litigation.
(8) 
Make an annual report to the Council as of the second day of January of each year of all impending litigation in which the City has an interest and the condition thereof.
[Amended 2-14-1986 by Ord. No. 86-009]
A. 
The Director shall appoint a Deputy Director, who shall be designated as the First Assistant Corporation Counsel, a Second Assistant Corporation Counsel, six Assistant Corporation Counsels and two legal assistants, each of them to serve during the term of the Director appointing them.
B. 
Prior to their appointment, each of them shall have been admitted to the practice of law in this state for at least three years except that the requirement for three years' admission to the practice of law in this state may be waived by the Director with the approval of the Mayor for the position of legal assistant.
C. 
The Director shall designate from and amongst the professional assistants designated as Assistant Corporation Counsels a Chief Municipal Prosecutor and such Assistant Municipal Prosecutors not in excess of the total number of professional assistants authorized by the ordinance codified in this section. Designation as Chief Municipal Prosecutor or Assistant Municipal Prosecutor shall be pursuant to P.L. 1996, c. 95, § 14.[1]
[Amended 3-11-1997 by Ord. No. 97-012]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 2B:12-27.
Whenever he deems that the interests of the City so require, the Director of Law may, with the approval of the Mayor and within the limits of available appropriations, appoint special counsel to assist him in the handling of such legal affairs of the City as he may determine. If the Director of Law and his staff shall be disqualified with respect to any matter, the Mayor shall appoint special counsel to represent the City for and with respect to such matter.