Legal Assistant I

About Us
The Los Angeles City Attorney's office is one of the nation's largest municipal law offices. With over 1,000 legal professionals, including 500 attorneys, the Office provides the City with the highest caliber of legal services, ranging from prosecuting criminal misdemeanors and playing a leading role in criminal justice reform, advising on homelessness initiatives, defending civil lawsuits and claims, and bringing civil enforcement actions in the name of the People of the State of California. Guided by an overarching commitment to integrity, accountability and transparency, we find great meaning in the work we do and the services we provide. We seek collaborative team players who understand that fulfilling our mission, and fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment, are key to making a positive impact.

The Outside Counsel Oversight Division (the Division) is responsible for managing the retention, contracting, budgeting, and all other matters related to outside counsel engaged by the City Attorney’s Office.   

The Legal Assistant is responsible for tracking and maintaining a database of all of the Office’s contracts with outside counsel so that, at any given time, the Division could respond to questions, either from inside the Office or outside of the Office, related to particular contracts: their term, their subject matter, their funding amount, their billers, their expenditures. 

The Legal Assistant is also responsible for tracking requests for outside counsel assistance from within the office and assisting the Division Managing Attorney in shepherding those requests through the approval process and also requests from the law firms, for payment status, contract status or conflict waivers.

The Legal Assistant may help in drafting Requests for Proposals (RFPs), reviewing responses to the RFPs, and ensuring that all mandatory forms are submitted.  The Legal Assistant would also need to be proficient in maintaining and updating the Office of Procurement contract database (LAPOP/ RAMPLA) and the LACITY Ethics Database.   

The Legal Assistant will also assist in outside counsel invoice review and in creating charts, tables, or other methods of capturing and illustrating all of the details of current contracts with outside counsel.

The successful candidate for this position must be able to communicate comfortably with outside counsel lawyers as responsibilities may include contacting the firm regarding billing, documents for signature, budget projections and/or conflict waivers. The successful candidate will also interact extensively with the city attorneys who work with outside counsel to coordinate efforts related to contracting, budgeting, and invoice review.

Six months of legal administrative experience which requires knowledge of legal procedures and terminology and independent judgment in analyzing, interpreting and reviewing legal documents;

-or-

Successful completion of one Legal Assistant (Paralegal) class (equivalent to 3 units), which includes emphasis on legal procedures, terminology and the ability to use independent judgment in analyzing, interpreting and reviewing legal documents. Course may be taken through the City, a college or university.

Applicants must possess impeccable ethics, excellent organizational skills, and have the ability to work well with attorneys and staff of this Office, personnel from other agencies, and members of the public.

The hours for this position are generally 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.   Reliable attendance and punctuality are mandatory. 

Desired Qualifications

• Organized, inclusive and innovative thinking
• Strong communication skills

Requirements for Application 

• Cover Letter that includes why the candidate is interested in the position, and one idea, even based just on the information shared above in Duties and Responsibilities, for making the work of the Division more efficient.
• Resume

Telework

This position may qualify for up to 3 days of telework per week.

Current Location

200 N. Main St., Los Angeles CA. Position is subject to assignment at any location within the City of Los Angeles.

Probation

Appointment to this exempt position (non Civil-Service) will be subject to a one (1) year probationary period as required by Section 1050 of the City Charter. Successful completion of the one (1) year probationary period will result in tenure with the office.

AS A COVERED ENTITY UNDER TITLE Il OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY AND, UPON REQUEST, WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO ITS PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES. TO REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, PLEASE CALL (213) 978-7160.