Deputy City Attorney II/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 of Los Angeles (“City”) with the highest caliber of legal services, ranging from prosecuting criminal misdemeanors and playing a leading role in criminal justice reform to 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 Police Litigation Unit defends the City of Los Angeles and individual LAPD Officers in civil lawsuits alleging excessive use of force or other police misconduct. 

The cases assigned to the trial attorneys involve allegations of constitutional violations of the 1st, 4th and 14th Amendments, claims of excessive force, false arrest, illegal search and seizure, or other violations of civil rights.   In addition to trying cases, trial attorneys are responsible for all pretrial phases of litigation, including law and motion, depositions and discovery, mediation, and frequent interaction with LAPD personnel. Litigation is primarily in the United States District Court and Superior Courts.

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

• At least three years of civil litigation practice in California Superior Courts and/or United States District Court.
• Significant trial experience (civil or criminal);
• Demonstrated strong research and writing skills in complex areas of law;
• Ability to deal effectively with public officials, departmental personnel, and members of the public;
• Strong analytical and reasoning skills and a strong work ethic; and
• Strong oral communication and advocacy skills. 

• Cover Letter

• Resume

• Writing Sample - Candidates are required to submit two writing samples that they personally have authored in the last two years.

Current Location

City Hall, 200 N. Main Street, Los Angeles. Position is subject to assignment at any location of the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney. 

Work Location and Parking

This position requires regular onsite work. Employer-provided parking is limited and may not be available for this classification. Employees may be responsible for securing and paying for parking at nearby facilities.

Applicants are encouraged to review available commute and transportation resources through the City’s COMMUTEwell program. For more information, please visit: https://lacommutewell.com. 

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 the two-year probationary period will result in tenure with the office.

Classification

For internal applicants only – Placement in this position will initially be as a lateral transfer with the selected candidate assuming the position in their current classification. 

Retirement Benefits

Employees participate in the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS), which includes mandatory employee pension contributions through payroll deduction. The City also contributes toward the employee’s retirement benefit. Contribution rates are established by the applicable retirement system and may

vary based on employee classification, membership status, and other factors. For more information, please visit: https://www.lacers.org. 

Application and Deadline

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

Conflict-of-Interest

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

Contact

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

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.