Deputy City Attorney (Civil Advisory Division, Housing Protection and Civil Code Compliance Unit)

San Diego City Attorney's Office•San Diego, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The San Diego City Attorney's Office protects the people of San Diego by serving as chief legal counsel to the City of San Diego’s elected officials and operational departments; prosecuting and defending civil cases involving the City; and as the City’s prosecutor on behalf of the People of the State of California, by holding accountable those who commit crimes against the public health and safety and violate other local and state laws. Our municipal law firm employs over 180 lawyers and approximately 230 support staff, dedicated to providing legal services to the City of San Diego. The Civil Advisory Division of the San Diego City Attorney’s Office is conducting a recruitment to fill a Deputy City Attorney position in the Housing Protection and Civil Code Compliance Unit. This position reports directly to the Chief Deputy City Attorney of this Unit.

Requirements

Be an active member in good standing with the State Bar of California.
Have 3-5 years of experience as a civil litigator (including civil discovery experience) or equivalent.
Have excellent research and legal writing skills.
Attorneys in this position must be able to travel to locations outside the Office for court hearings, depositions, or meetings; therefore, possession of a valid California Class C driver’s license and personal vehicle or other means to travel are required.
Successful applicants must pass a criminal background and reference checks.

Nice To Haves

Municipal law experience, including experience enforcing housing, building, and zoning violations.
Possess strong analytical and oral presentation skills.
Be a practical problem-solver and team player.
Have good time management skills.
Demonstrate effective communication and conflict resolution skills.
Demonstrate the ability to learn new areas of law, new ways to litigate, and can adapt to changing situations and circumstances.

Responsibilities

Civilly prosecute a wide range of violations referred by various City Departments, such as Building and Land Use Enforcement of the Development Services Department, the San Diego Fire Department, and the San Diego Police Department, including Drug Abatement and Red-Light Abatement actions.
Litigate all aspects of a lawsuit from the initial filing through the appellate process, including drafting complaints, briefs, motions, discovery, and other legal documents as required.
Research, analyze, and write legal memoranda for litigation purposes and for land use enforcement issues.
Independently manage a case load.
Train City inspectors on code enforcement and other legal issues.
Attend meetings with City personnel to problem-solve issues and accept cases.
Attend community meetings.
Coordinate investigations by City Attorney investigators, law enforcement personnel, and regulatory agency personnel.
Respond to California Public Records Act requests.
Appear and address legal questions at City Council and Committee meetings, and may appear at administrative hearings.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Participation in the City's Flexible Benefits Plan, which offers several optional benefit plans or a taxable cash option.
$50,000 in City-paid life insurance.
Flexible Spending Accounts.
Paid annual leave (paid time off) accruing at 22 days per year for the 1st through 15th year of service.
San Diego City Employees’ Retirement System (SDCERS) defined benefit (pension) plan.
Voluntary Defined Contribution Plans (401(k)/457(b)).
Retiree Medical Trust Plan.
Eleven (11) paid holidays are provided annually and one (1) Floating Holiday in a fiscal year.
Long-Term Disability Income Plan.
Free MTS transit pass.
City-awarded discretionary leave (paid time off).
Up to 8 weeks of paid Parental Leave.
Paid time off for jury duty.
Up to 40 hours of paid Bereavement Leave each fiscal year.
Employee Assistance Program.