Legal Assistant I - ACE

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

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Legal Assistant I will support the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s ACE Program, an alternative enforcement approach for violations of the Los Angeles Municipal Code. ACE uses administrative citations in place of criminal citations or arrests for appropriate cases, allowing violations to be resolved through payment of a fine without a resulting criminal record. The program supports prevention, intervention, and diversion approaches as alternatives to incarceration-oriented systems.

This position is part of the Executive Branch and reports directly to the Supervising Attorney for ACE. The Legal Assistant will provide legal and administrative support to the Supervising Attorney and ACE staff. The role will be highly involved in processing citations issued by the Housing Department under the Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance.

The position requires regular onsite work. The normal business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, although operational needs may occasionally require work outside those hours. The position may be assigned to any location of the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney. Appointment is subject to a one-year probationary period; successful completion results in tenure with the Office.

Requirements

• At least six months of legal administrative experience requiring thorough knowledge of legal procedures and terminology and independent judgment in analyzing, interpreting, and reviewing legal documents; or successful completion of one Legal Assistant (Paralegal) class equivalent to 3 units covering legal procedures, terminology, and independent judgment in analyzing, interpreting, and reviewing legal documents.
• Self-motivation, ability to learn quickly, exercise independent judgment, and work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work well with City staff, enforcement officers, and members of the public.
• Reliable attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to lift boxes weighing up to 25 pounds, with or without accommodations.

Nice To Haves

• Thorough knowledge of legal procedures and ability to compile and analyze documents.
• Proficient personal computer skills.
• Demonstrated writing and research skills.
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, and WestLaw, and ability to learn new databases.

Responsibilities

• Assist with preparation for administrative hearings.
• Track ACE referrals.
• Conduct legal research, research municipal code terms, and research case law and prior adjudication histories using database systems such as WestLaw.
• Process hearing notification letters and other correspondence.
• Coordinate administrative hearings and compile hearing exhibits.
• Prepare declarations and pleadings for administrative hearings.
• Assist in developing training materials.
• Attend weekly and bi-monthly meetings to review current hearing status and maintain updated status reports.
• Prepare monthly progress and status reports.
• Gather documents and other materials as needed from City departments and law enforcement agencies.
• Process citations issued by the Housing Department under the Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Employees participate in the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS), with 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