The Law Department assists the Mayor, the City Council, and all City Departments with matters of municipal law and seeks creative solutions to issues within the confines of the law.
City solicitors are responsible for the examination of all titles to property, all deeds, obligations, contracts, bonds, leases, conveyances, agreements and other legal instruments, of whatever nature, which may be required by ordinance or order of the city council, or by any board or officer to which the city or it's agents may be a party, and the drawing of which by law, usage or agreement is to be at the expense of the city. All orders for the laying out, discontinuance, change or improvement of streets, for the taking of lands for any municipal purpose whatsoever, for the assessment of betterments, and all other forms of assessment, shall be drawn by the city solicitor or under the City Solicitor's direction or approval.
It is the duty of the City Solicitor to commence and prosecute all actions and other legal proceedings and suits begun by the city, and to defend all actions and suits brought against the city in any court or tribunal of the Commonwealth, or of the United States: also to appear as council in any other action, suit or prosecution against them for any official action, or the performance of any official duty, when any right, privilege, ordinance, act or direction of the city council may be brought in question.
The city solicitor investigates all claims made against the city and administers the same in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 258, or other applicable provisions of law. The nature of the work of the City Solicitor/Law Department may require that no current departmental records be available for public access. The files are replete with confidential and privileged information, which must be protected in accordance with the Law Department's ethical obligations to its clients.