City law department defends outside-counsel spending, seeks to limit future use by building internal capacity

City Attorney Patrice Perkins and her deputies presented the Law Department's FY26 budget to Atlanta City Council, saying the department has absorbed unexpected litigation costs in FY25 and plans to reduce future reliance on outside counsel by building internal capacity where feasible.

Perkins told council, "I have the honor to be the city attorney for Atlanta and I, oversee the operations of 85 individuals, who practice law on behalf of the city of Atlanta." She described recent high-cost litigation (public safety training center challenges, environmental litigation around RM Clayton and South River, and a federal consent order matter) as drivers of FY25 legal spending.

The nut graf: Perkins and litigation deputies defended a continuing need for outside counsel for specialized, document-intensive matters while saying the department is intentionally shifting…