Description:

Description:
POLA Division attorneys work closely, under the supervision of the Division's General Counsel, with the members of the Board of Harbor Commissioners and Harbor Department management and staff on a wide variety of legal matters pertaining to the operation of the Port. The selected candidate is expected to focus on civil litigation, both defensive and affirmative, and appeals with an emphasis on employment and personnel matters.

The POLA Division routinely handles litigation and other matters arising in the following areas: real estate (including unlawful detainer and landlord-tenant litigation); land use as impacted by applicable law, including the Tidelands Trust and the California Coastal Act; disputes arising from commercial transactions and competitive solicitations for real estate and other opportunities at the Port; insurance coverage under liability and other forms of specialized policies; employment and personnel matters; and tort and contract claims not covered by insurance.

Duties and Responsibilities:
While the selected candidate is expected to focus on litigation in the aforementioned areas, he or she will also handle assignments involving other areas listed below, depending on their skills and/or qualifications and the operational needs of the Division. Examples of these areas include:

Municipal governance - primarily pursuant to the State Tidelands Act, Coastal Act, Los Angeles Charter and Administrative Code, California Public Records Act, and Brown Act.
Real estate transactional - typically relating to leasing the property the Port holds in trust for the State.
Transactional, contracting, financial, and business - relative to service contracts, RFPs and other competitive solicitations undertaken by the Port, insurance and other agreements related to Harbor Department operations, and strategic commercial matters; tariffs setting rates and charges and operating rules for use of Harbor Department facilities; and revenue bonds.
Regulatory and Environmental - in relation to CEQA, NEPA, Coastal Act, CERCLA, RCRA, and Clean Water Act, among other laws. This practice requires frequent work with the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Department of Toxic Substance Control, California Air Resources Board, South Coast Air Quality Management, and US Army Corps of Engineers.
Construction and Development - advice and counsel on project formulation and implementation, construction bidding and contracts, and disputes.
Risk Management and Human Resources – advice, counsel and representation on employment and personnel matters, availability of insurance coverage for various litigation matters, and Workers' Compensation.
Other related duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Licensed to practice law in all courts in the State of California;
Minimum seven years of relevant legal experience in civil litigation;
Demonstrated experience and success in civil litigation, with particular emphasis in either or both:

employment and personnel matters, preferably with experience representing municipal clients who are parties to collective bargaining agreements; and/or
environmental law, including but not limited to the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, and the procurement and defense of entitlements and actions obtained and undertaken pursuant to such law.

Ability to effectively work with their colleagues, public officials, non-attorney department personnel, and members of the public.

Desired Qualifications:

Strong written and oral communication skills;
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
Demonstrated success in civil litigation and/or appeals, preferably including successful trials and appeals (applicants are requested to provide citations to any published cases in which they acted as counsel, and to summarize their role in such cases);
Experience that includes: defense of litigated employment and personnel matters (including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and termination) and representation in civil service proceedings; advice, counsel and representation in collective bargaining matters; and advice and counsel concerning employment and HR best practices;
Experience that includes: knowledge of and working experience with state and federal regulating agencies and environmental statutes related to hazardous materials and contamination including, but not limited to, CEQA, NEPA, Coastal Act, CERCLA, RCRA, and Clean Water Act; and
Willingness to work in practice areas in which the applicant currently is not familiar because the Port is a unique work environment, which correspondingly affects the nature of the legal matters that arise.

Requirements for Application

Cover Letter
Resume
Candidates are required to submit two recent writing samples personally authored in the last two years.

Supplemental Information:
Current Location
Los Angeles Harbor Administration Building, 425 S. Palos Verdes, 5th floor, San Pedro, CA 90731

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

Classification:
Internal applicants: Placement in this position will be as a lateral transfer with the selected candidate assuming the position in their current classification.

Application and Deadline
Interested candidates should go to: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacityattorney/ to apply online.

Qualified applicants will be invited to interview.

Conflict of Interest
This position is designated as Category 1 on the Conflict-of-Interest Code.

Contact:
Questions? Please email atty.recruit@lacity.org.