City Manager Robert Layton today announced the hiring of Jennifer Magana as City Attorney and Director of Law. Magana has worked in the Office of the Sedgwick County Counselor since 1996 and served as Deputy County Counselor since 2000. Her duties there include providing legal counsel to Sedgwick County Commissioners and numerous county departments in employment law, public safety issues, contract law and general local government law. Before joining Sedgwick County, Magana served as a City Prosecutor for the City of Wichita from 1993-1996.

“Jennifer brings outstanding qualifications and experience to what is a very important role at the City of Wichita,” said City Manager Robert Layton. “She has a strong record of public service and community commitment, and we are honored to welcome her back to the team.”

As the Director of Law, Magana will manage 26 staffers and a $2.6 million departmental budget. She will oversee the City’s Civil and Criminal Division. The Civil Division provides legal advice, drafts and reviews contracts, renders legal opinions, and conducts litigation; the Criminal Division prosecutes criminal, traffic, domestic violence and environmental cases in Municipal Court, as well as maintains office hours to assist citizens on a walk-in basis.

“I’m excited to be joining the City of Wichita in this position. City Hall has many dedicated and talented employees with whom I look forward to working with for many years. This position will present various opportunities and challenges that I am eager to undertake. The City’s law department does vital work every day and I want to ensure that it delivers those services at a high level. I’m looking forward to serving the City Council and working closely with City Manager Robert Layton to serve citizens of Wichita.”

Magana earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Kansas State University in 1990 and a juris doctor degree from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1992.

She’s been an active member of the community, serving on boards and working with numerous civic groups. She’s a member of the Wichita Bar Association, the Kansas Bar Association, County Counselors’ Association of Kansas, Wichita Festivals, Inc. Board of Directors, the Wichita Women Attorneys Association, and Sedgwick County 4-H.

Her awards and accomplishments include having been a Wichita Business Journal “40 Under 40” honoree, a Sedgwick County Excellence in Public Service Award honoree, and a recipient of the Wichita Bar Association President’s Award.