What's the deal with Asst. Corporation Counsels?

[goodolgil]

For those who don't know what the title is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporation_counsel

I'm doing plaintiff's-side civil rights litigation this summer and today I got bored and Google'd a bunch of the opposing city's attorneys. Seems like the vast majority went to local TTTs. Anyone know anything what life as a civil attorney for a municipality is? I'd imagine the pay isn't great, but how does it compare to regular ol' shitlaw pay? I also can't imagine the hours being very bad based on my experience so far.

I'm more just curious than anything else since you only really hear about the criminal side of working for city government discussed with any frequency.

[Cupidity]

My understanding is that local counsel positions go almost exclusively to "friends of." Thats why qualifiactions are so inconsistent. It's always an old highschool bud, or brother-in-law or something.