Assistant General Counsel II

Los Angeles Unified School District

20h • Onsite

About The Position

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Office of the General Counsel (OGC) seeks attorneys to join our dynamic team to address various legal issues impacting the second largest public school district in the nation and the largest school district in California. Ideal candidates must have strong skills in research, writing, and analysis with a deep interest in working in a collaborative and fast-paced environment with a talent for identifying and resolving issues impacting students. Working on this legal team is an opportunity to be involved in meaningful and impactful work in public education. The LAUSD OGC is at the forefront of novel legal issues affecting large-scale educational issues. Attorneys in this organization have a unique opportunity to be intricately involved and engaged in directly supporting and defending policies that affect the delivery of public education on a large scale. The LAUSD OGC is a team of 120 dedicated and passionate lawyers, staff, and administrative professionals led by a dynamic and supportive leadership team. We encourage attorneys interested in public service to apply to work with the LAUSD OGC. We believe that a multiplicity of worldviews makes us thrive as an office. Like the LAUSD, we are widely and regularly viewed as one of the most diverse and inclusive law offices in the country.

Requirements

• Graduation from a recognized college or university with a bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited institution or an institution accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California; a J.D. degree from an ABA accredited institution is preferred.
• Four years of experience as a practicing member of the Bar.
• Authorization to practice law in California by the California State Bar Association.
• A valid driver's license to legally operate a motor vehicle in the State of California and the use of a motor vehicle.
• An employee in this class may be subject to the reporting requirements of the District's Conflict of Interest Code.

Nice To Haves

• Strong organization, communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills along with creativity and significant litigation knowledge.
• Enjoys immediate responsibility, regular client contact, and the chance to effectuate meaningful change and tackle the most cutting-edge and novel legal issues affecting public education in a collegial environment.
• Skilled in one of the areas of legal specialization practiced in the OGC with a background that matches the responsibilities and expectations for effective job performance on the legal team to which assigned.
• Primary responsibility is litigation in both courts and administrative hearings.
• General knowledge necessary includes provisions of the California Education Code, Government Code, and Code of Civil Procedure as well as other laws - both federal and state relevant to responsibilities; basic concepts and applications of data processing systems, legal software applications, and methods of legal research; alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and other forms of informal dispute resolution; training, employee evaluation, employee relations, and progressive discipline; government contracts; intellectual property; electronic commerce; tort liability and litigation; workers' compensation; and risk management.
• Skillful litigator and/or advisory and transactional attorney who can handle multiple assignments in state and federal courts and administrative agencies, develop and build consensus and resolve conflicts.
• Very strong legal research, computer, writing, and oral communication skills.
• Proven track record of developing the trust and confidence of clients, using an understanding of broad concepts to integrate legal input into major District policy decisions.
• Commitment to public service and serving the needs of the Los Angeles Unified students and community.

Responsibilities

• Litigates matters on behalf of the District in a specific area of the law.
• Provides day-to-day preventive legal counseling and informal dispute resolution to a District organizational unit.
• Provides specific expertise in one or more subject matter areas of law.
• Drafts and revises memoranda, opinions, contracts, rules, policies, and other documents to meet the needs of the District organizational unit to which assigned.
• Oversees matters related to outside counsel; coordinates with outside counsel on matters for which they have primary responsibility; and assists in discovery, reviewing materials, drafting documents, developing legal strategy, and reviewing bills.
• Trains non-lawyers as required.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• District paid premiums for your choice of several medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents; and life insurance plans.
• Membership in the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS).
• 24 days each year.
• Up to 13 days.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees