Deputy City Attorney II/III

Los Angeles City Attorney's Office • Los Angeles City Hall - East, CA

1d • 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 Labor Relations Division (LR) advises and represents most of City government in employee relations and labor matters. LR's mission is to guide City elected officials and departments in addressing employee and union matters to improve the workplace, comply with laws, and reduce liability. This division offers a dynamic, confidential work environment requiring excellent verbal and legal research skills for attorneys who thrive in a fast-paced setting. LR counsels and represents over 40 City departments on various employee relations and labor matters, including grievances, collective bargaining, civil service system operations, employee equity, leaves, wage/hour requirements, employee accountability, reasonable accommodations, public records requests for personnel matters, and workplace violence prevention. The work is varied and fast-paced, involving team collaboration and active research, with a primary goal of reducing or eliminating employment or labor-related lawsuits and charges against the City. The Division handles advisory requests from most of City government (excluding most LAPD and proprietary departments) and proactively advises on labor and employment matters. Resources are also dedicated to handling administrative cases before state and federal courts and administrative agencies like Cal-OSHA and the Labor Commissioner’s Office, requiring expertise in direct and cross-examination of witnesses. Additionally, the Division assists the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in preparing and presenting cases before the Board of Rights (BOR), which may involve reviewing cases, writing legal briefs, conducting legal research, training, and collaborating with LAFD's Professional Standards Division. The Division also houses the Workplace Violence Prevention Unit, which handles WV reports, assists with violence assessments and security concerns, and obtains restraining orders for all City departments. It also addresses harassment and WV reports from the City’s Neighborhood Councils. These responsibilities often involve contact with high-ranking City officials and interaction with the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and the Executive Employee Relations Committee.

Requirements

• Valid license to practice law in all of the courts within the State of California.
• At least five years of legal experience (related experience may be considered).
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize and concurrently complete multiple assignments.
• Strong legal research and writing skills.
• Strong oral advocacy and speaking skills; must be able to speak on various topics in conducting training in the areas of discrimination, harassment, and workplace violence prevention to various departments, elected offices, and Neighborhood Councils, as needed.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Two recent writing samples personally authored in the last two years.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of labor and employment law is strongly preferred.
• Command of administrative law, such as arbitrations or other hearings is strongly preferred.
• Experience and ability in dealing with governmental agencies and public officials.
• Experience in resolving and advising on complex and/or sensitive matters.
• Experience with municipal law (including the Ralph M. Brown Act, Fair Employment and Housing Act, California Public Records Act, and Public Employee Relations Board).
• Ability to deal effectively with public officials, departmental executive management and personnel, as well as members of the public.
• Ability to “think outside the box”.

Responsibilities

• Advise and represent City elected officials and departments on employee relations and labor matters.
• Counsel and represent City departments on grievances, collective bargaining, civil service system operations, employee equity issues, leaves, wage/hour requirements, employee accountability, reasonable accommodations, public records requests concerning personnel matters, and workplace violence prevention.
• Handle advisory requests from City government departments.
• Proactively advise on labor and employment matters.
• Handle administrative cases brought by employees, unions, or administrative agencies, including in person and virtual hearings requiring expertise in direct and cross-examination of witnesses.
• Assist the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in preparing and presenting cases before the Board of Rights (BOR), which may include reviewing cases, writing legal briefs, conducting legal research, training, and working closely with LAFD’s Professional Standards Division.
• Manage the Office’s Workplace Violence Prevention Unit, including taking WV reports, assisting in violence assessments and security concerns, and obtaining restraining orders for all City departments.
• Address harassment and WV reports out of the City’s Neighborhood Councils.
• Interact with high-ranking officials of City government, the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and the Executive Employee Relations Committee.
• Be assigned to advice, advocacy and workplace violence prevention matters as well as other related duties as assigned.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level