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Hartford corporation counsel reports reduced outside-counsel use and kicks off case-management system
Summary
Corporation Counsel Jonathan Harding told council members the office has reduced reliance on outside counsel, will implement a new case-management system and plans to fill a deputy counsel vacancy; a senior assistant will retire next week.
Corporation Counsel Jonathan Harding briefed the committee on legal work supporting the city, saying the office has reduced its use of outside counsel and is starting implementation of an internal case-management system to track litigation, agreements and assignments.
Harding said his office handles a wide range of work — litigation, real-estate documents, MOUs and ordinance drafting — and noted the department will seek to fill a posted deputy corporation counsel position. He also announced the upcoming retirement of senior assistant corporation counsel Jim Delvisco, who has worked with the city for 11 years.
Harding said the office negotiated an MOU with the MDC to resolve a longstanding dispute related to compliance with the city’s MS4 stormwater permit and that attorneys are managing numerous ordinances and agreements across departments. He said the new case-management system will improve the office’s ability to generate data and reports about caseloads and outcomes.
Why it matters: the legal office’s reduced reliance on outside counsel and a formal case-management system could deliver faster, more consistent legal support to city departments and improve transparency about legal exposure and settlements.
Council reaction: Harding acknowledged the demands on the office and thanked staff for late-night and weekend work. Council members asked procedural questions and raised requests for written follow-ups on cases that produce policy lessons; Harding said the office will aim to provide more standardized data once the case-management rollout is complete.
Ending: Harding said he intends to fill the deputy counsel vacancy promptly and will continue to provide legal advice and ordinance drafting in support of city operations.
