Deputy City Attorney I/II (DUI-D)

Los Angeles City Attorney's Office • Metropolitan Office, CA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney is one of the nation's largest municipal law offices, providing high-caliber legal services to the City of Los Angeles. The DUI-D Unit specifically prosecutes drivers impaired by alcohol and/or drugs, utilizing innovative trial and discovery tactics to stay current with scientific advancements. This unit incorporates the latest developments in its cases from filing through sentencing and collaborates with outside agencies. The DUI-D Unit prosecutes misdemeanor criminal cases from other court offices throughout the City of Los Angeles and attorneys may be assigned to various divisions including Metropolitan, Pacific, Van Nuys, and San Fernando. This specialized unit is at the forefront of shaping law enforcement policy regarding social developments like cannabis decriminalization and the expansion of prescription pain medication use. The Unit works closely with numerous law enforcement agencies, participates in community events like DUI checkpoints, and provides training to other prosecutors and law enforcement.

Requirements

• Licensed to practice law in all courts in the State of California.
• Familiarity with evidentiary matters.
• Strong oral and written advocacy skills.
• Ability and willingness to try challenging cases.
• Willingness to prosecute cases at any Courthouse location in Los Angeles County.
• Ability to participate in data collection and quarterly performance reporting.
• Completion of Traffic Safety Resource Specialist training, LAPD Drug Recognition Expert courses, Office of Traffic Safety training, and attendance at the annual Vehicular Homicide Conference.
• Occasional travel may be required to attend training as directed by the Supervising Attorney.
• Ability to serve as part of a team that works together to achieve grant related goals of increasing local capacity to prosecute DUI-D cases throughout the City of Los Angeles.
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Two recent writing samples personally authored in the last two years.

Nice To Haves

• Extensive criminal trial experience demonstrating strong trial skills, including an understanding of evidentiary issues, trial preparation and trial strategy, and a broad knowledge of criminal law and procedure.
• Experience with filing procedures and handling arraignment, master calendar, trial and post-conviction courts.
• Excellent oral communication skills and the ability to effectively engage in oral advocacy.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully interact with a wide variety of members of the public, law enforcement, and the court system with tact, sensitivity and good judgment.
• Strong research and writing skills.
• Familiarity with electronic databases and the electronic and digital presentation of evidence.
• Ability to assist in the preparation of reports, memoranda and legal research.
• Experience with driving under the influence cases and a desire to prosecute DUI-D offender cases.
• Familiarity with prosecution of cases with Vehicle Code charges.
• Familiarity with grant reporting protocols.
• Familiarity with advances related to evidence collection and/or testing as an evidentiary tool in DUI-D cases.
• Familiarity with legal issues, policies and procedures associated with sobriety Checkpoints.
• Familiarity and/or willingness to work toward establishing new standards related to the admissibility of alternative testing methods.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing cases presented by law enforcement agencies for filing determination.
• Making filing decisions and initiating criminal complaints.
• Assessing case value for potential charge reductions, pleas, and sentences.
• Appearing in arraignment court.
• Negotiating case dispositions.
• Engaging in case preparation, including crime scene visits when appropriate.
• Retrieving and reviewing digital evidence such as body-worn video, in-car video, and social media posts.
• Handling discovery, law and motion matters, and making related court appearances.
• Staffing and appearing in master calendar courts, direct set trial courts, and post-conviction courts.
• Conducting jury and court trials, including interviewing and preparing witnesses, arguing pre-trial motions, delivering opening statements and closing arguments, examining and cross-examining witnesses, and making evidentiary objections.
• Handling all post-trial motions and appropriate sentence recommendations post-conviction.
• Handling appeals and writs.
• Performing all other duties associated with the prosecution of misdemeanor offenses.
• Undertaking additional assignments as determined by the supervisor or Branch Management to meet operational needs.
• Participating in data collection and quarterly performance reporting.
• Serving as part of a team to achieve grant-related goals of increasing local capacity to prosecute DUI-D cases.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed