Description:

Position: There are multiple open positions for Deputy City Attorney in the General Counsel Division of the Municipal Law Branch.

Section: The General Counsel Division serves as counsel to the City's officers and various departments, including the Mayor, City Council, Controller, City Clerk, City Ethics Commission, Animal Services, Convention Center, Cultural Affairs, Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (including the City's Neighborhood Councils), El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument Authority, General Services, Information Technology Agency, Library, Public Works, Recreation and Parks, Transportation, and the Zoo. Division attorneys also serve as counsel to the Commissions of the above-referenced Departments as well as staff City Council and Council Committee meetings having subject matter jurisdiction over the work of those Departments.

Duties and Responsibilities: In serving as general counsel for City officers and departments, the attorneys selected for these positions will be expected to provide oral and written advice on a myriad of issues, such as statutory and Constitutional interpretation and application (e.g., Ralph M. Brown Act, conflict of interest laws, election laws, the Public Records Act, First Amendment issues), and liability assessment and risk management. The attorneys will also review, edit, draft and negotiate contracts and other transactional documents, frequently involving highly complex transactions. Similarly, the attorneys will be expected to provide advice on all aspects of the City's public procurement and competitive bidding procedures, as well as all applicable codes and laws governing City contracts.

Further, the attorneys may be required to staff City Council and Council Committee meetings on behalf of the office as well as serve as counsel to the City's various boards and commissions. The attorneys will also be responsible for the development and drafting of ordinances and will be required to prepare advisory opinions or legal memoranda on issues of significance to the City leadership. Additionally, the General Counsel Division handles specialized litigation relating to City Departments and City ordinances and the selected attorneys may be asked to support those litigation efforts.

Qualifications: Applicants for this position must have a license to practice law in all of the courts in the State of California. Additional qualifications include:

Minimum three years of experience in the practice of law;
Strong communication skills;
Strong research and writing skills in complex areas of law;
Demonstrated abilities to exercise sound judgment; and
Ability to work effectively with governmental agencies, public officials, departmental personnel, and members of the public.

The following qualifications are highly desirable:

Experience advising legislative bodies, including knowledge of the California Public Records Act, Brown Act and conflict of interest laws;
Knowledge of the City Charter and City Administrative Code;
Experience drafting local ordinances and knowledge of the City Charter; and
Experience in public contracting, especially with professional service contracts for public entities

Writing Sample: Candidates are required to submit a writing sample personally composed by the applicant in the last two years.

Probation: Appointment to this exempt position (non Civil-Service) will be subject to a two (2) year probationary period as required by Section 1050 of the City Charter. Successful completion of the two (2) year probationary period will result in tenure with the office.

Covid-19 Vaccine Requirement: For candidates seeking initial City employment, in accordance with Los Angeles City Ordinance 187134, information regarding COVID-19 vaccination requirements as conditions of employment may be found at: https://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2021/21- 0921_ord_187134_8-24-21.pdf

Conflict of Interest: This position is designated Category 1 in the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office Conflict of Interest Code