Mission Statement

The Office of the City Attorney is committed to providing the City and its public officials and employees with legal services of the highest quality so that the City's business is conducted efficiently, effectively, and economically.

The Office of the City Attorney provides legal advice and representation to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and other City officials and employees on a broad range of issues. The Office represents the City, including its officials and employees, in litigation filed by or against them. Upon request, the Office provides legal opinions to City officials and employees on City-related matters.

The City Attorney is appointed by and reports to the Mayor and City Council. The Office also includes an Assistant City Attorney and an Administrative Secretary. Municipal law, as practiced by the attorneys in the Office, involves traditional topics of local government, such as public finance, land use, public records, open meetings and condemnation. Attorneys in the Office practice law in a number of other areas including litigation in all State and Federal courts, torts, contracts, real estate, employment, environmental, construction, administrative and constitutional law.

Contracts, leases, deeds, franchises and other legal documents to which the City is a party are reviewed or drafted by the Office. In addition, the City Attorney is involved in selecting and managing the services of outside counsel who represent the City, its officials and employees on City-related matters.

The City Attorney's office does not provide legal advice to private citizens. The City Attorney's Office only represents the City of Greenville, its boards, commissions, agencies, officials and employees on matters of public business. If a citizen requires legal assistance he must contact a private attorney. The Pitt County District Attorney's Office (252-695-7200), prosecutes traffic tickets and other criminal prosecutions involving state law. The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina (252-830-1758) handles matters involving federal law.