Description:
The Position:Under general direction from the City Attorney and Chief Assistant City Attorney, the Deputy City Attorney I, II or Senior Deputy City Attorney are assigned to the Litigation Division of the City Attorney's Office.
The Deputy City Attorney I or II perform routine to complex legal work, while the Senior level position will be assigned to handle high-exposure litigation principally in areas of, among others, Writs, Appeals, land use, State housing and environmental laws, personnel, police defense, personal injury and other tort defense, inverse condemnation, and public works, and may be required to provide direction and assistance to less experienced attorneys at the Deputy City Attorney levels. Regarding day-to-day function, these positions receive instruction or assistance commensurate with their experience and position level.
Examples of Essential Duties
Deputy City Attorney I / II
In addition to duties listed above, Senior Deputy City Attorney (Litigation) also
Minimum Qualifications:
Any combination of education, training, and experience that would likely provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position or assignment is qualifying. A typical combination includes:
Education: Graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association with a Juris Doctorate degree.
Experience:
License/Certifications: Possession of a valid California Class C driver license and an acceptable driving record are required by time of appointment and throughout employment.
Current member in good standing with the California State Bar Association.
- Timely responds to the needs presented while working in the City Attorney's Office in a professional, responsible, efficient manner in accordance with office policy as set by the City Attorney;
- Performs a full range of legal research, writing, and other law-related transactional duties;
- Drafts, reviews, and negotiates leases, contracts, and agreements;
- Drafts, reviews, evaluates, revises, and recommends City ordinances, resolutions, policies and procedures;
- Performs legal research, analysis, interprets laws, rulings and regulations, and prepares legal opinions to departments, boards, commissions, agencies and established committees as directed by the City Attorney or the Chief Assistant City Attorneys;
- Attends meetings with City staff and/or members of the public on behalf of the City and provides legal advice during the meetings as directed by the City Attorney or the Chief Assistant City Attorneys;
- May indirectly supervise other less experienced attorneys, support staff, and interns, provide work assignments and direction, review and evaluate work product as directed by the City Attorney or Chief Assistant City Attorney (at the II level)
- Performs the full range of litigation work;
- Responsible for Writs, Appeals, civil litigation, trials, damage or other civil suits in State and federal courts, including advanced appellate work and the representation of the City's Police Department and its officers in Pitchess Motions, as directed by the City Attorney or the Chief Assistant City Attorney;
- Occasionally represents management in hearings involving City employee disciplinary matters, as directed by the City Attorney or the Chief Assistant City Attorney;
- Handles all aspects of assigned cases or claims including investigation, pleading preparation, discovery, law and motion, court appearances, settlement negotiations, legal research, witness preparation, and trials for tort defense, writ actions, Pitchess motions, appellate work, civil rights actions, code enforcement, nuisance abatement, administrative actions and employee grievances, as directed by the City Attorney or the Chief Assistant City Attorney;
Any combination of education, training, and experience that would likely provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position or assignment is qualifying. A typical combination includes:
Education: Graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association with a Juris Doctorate degree.
Experience:
- Deputy City Attorney I - Two (2) years' experience as a practicing attorney, preferably within a municipal law office, or a private firm that has contracted with a public agency for legal services.
- Deputy City Attorney II - Four (4) years' experience as a practicing attorney within a municipal law office, or a private firm that has contracted with a public agency for legal services
- Senior Deputy City Attorney - Five (5) years' experience as a practicing trial attorney within a municipal law office, or a private firm that has contracted with a public agency for legal services. State and Federal jury trial experience is desirable.
License/Certifications: Possession of a valid California Class C driver license and an acceptable driving record are required by time of appointment and throughout employment.
Current member in good standing with the California State Bar Association.
