Deputy City Attorney III

About Us

The Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney 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 legal services, ranging from prosecuting criminal misdemeanors, 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 is key to making a positive impact.

The Public Pensions General Counsel Division serves as general counsel to the three Los Angeles City retirement plans, which cumulatively invest more than $70 billion in trust funds and administer retirement and healthcare benefits as fiduciaries for City retirees and their beneficiaries.  Division attorneys work closely with the pension boards of commissioners (Boards), executive management, and staff of the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS), the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension plan (LAFPP), and the Water and Power Employees’ Retirement Plan (WPERP).  

Division attorneys:

 (1) advise on complex and diverse areas of law including fiduciary and ethical duties, conflicts of interest, the California Public Records Act, the Ralph M. Brown Act, California and federal constitutional law, plan benefits and administration, interpretation of City Charter and Administrative Code provisions, real estate and investment transactions, securities law, trust, probate, and family law, tax law, health care law, and data privacy and cybersecurity law; 

(2) draft contracts, City legislation, and administrative policies; 

(3) represent the plans in litigation, including defending against petitions for writs of mandamus and civil lawsuits challenging Board actions and affirmatively prosecuting securities fraud and corporate derivative actions; 

(4) regularly participate in commission and committee meetings, including presenting in open and closed session, providing Board education on legal topics, and assisting the Boards to conduct disability retirement hearings; and 

(5) assist the plans to serve their members by resolving legal issues and reviewing documents that affect members’ retirement benefits, including trust, dissolution, and probate documents.  Attorneys also supervise and partner with specialized outside counsel on real estate, investment, tax compliance, cybersecurity, data privacy, fiduciary, and securities litigation matters.  

Division attorneys have opportunities to participate in public pension attorney educational conferences on both state and national levels and to pursue professional development courses and continuing legal education.

License to practice law in the State of California, at least three years’ experience in civil trial practice, including mediation/arbitration and actual trial experience, in the California Superior Court (both limited and unlimited jurisdictions), knowledge of the California Government Code and its application to public entities; an understanding of government claims procedures; and at least one year’s experience advising clients on non-litigation matters.  

. Additional requirements include:

• Excellent research and writing skills 
• Strong verbal communication and advocacy skills, comfortable public speaking and presenting
• Confidence and competence using essential technology, including Office 365, Adobe, calendaring and teleconferencing platforms, and other collaborative applications
• Ability to work effectively and professionally with public officials, including appointed and elected officers 
• Enthusiasm for engaging collaboratively and respectfully across City departments and with diverse pension plan stakeholders, including employee groups, community representatives, expert consultants, public safety officers, and first responders
• Familiarity with California municipal law, including the California Public Records Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act, experience in any of the practice areas described above
• Demonstrated capacity to solve problems creatively and independently
• Ability to use discretion and sound judgment to resolve sensitive issues and handle confidential information
• Commitment to the shared values of the Public Pensions General Counsel Division, including integrity, empathy, outstanding client service, innovation, and teamwork.

Requirements for Application 

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Candidates are required to submit two (2) writing samples personally composed by the applicant in the last three (3) years.  The first writing sample should be a brief or motion demonstrating the applicant’s advocacy skills.  The second writing sample should be a research memorandum objectively advising a client or supervisor on a complex legal question.   Please redact any identifying attorney-client privileged information from the research memorandum.
  

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 THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION AT (213) 978-7160.