Deputy City Attorney - WORKERS' COMPENSATION

Exempt | Location: Civic Center

Annual Salary

$94,112.00 - $221,386.00

contact information

Human Resources
2139787160
atty.recruit@lacity.org

job description

Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney

Hydee Feldstein Soto

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY

WORKERS' COMPENSATION DIVISION

CIVIL LITIGATION BRANCH

ANNUAL SALARY RANGE: $94,112 - $221,386

SUMMARY: The City Attorney’s Office offers a range of opportunities for attorneys to work on significant and complex issues. The effectiveness of the City Attorney’s Office depends upon the continued recruitment and hiring of excellent and diverse legal talent. We recognize the need for attorneys of varied backgrounds and skills, and offer an inclusive environment that relies on diverse perspectives to ensure that we effectively serve the people of Los Angeles. We also offer competitive benefits and working arrangements including a telework program.

POSITION:

The Workers’ Compensation Division of the Office of the City Attorney has immediate openings for one or more attorneys.

DIVISION:

The Workers’ Compensation Division is responsible for defending the City of Los Angeles in industrial injury claims litigated before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board.

DUTIES AND

RESPONSIBILITIES: Attorneys in the Workers’ Compensation Division represent the City of Los Angeles in workers’ compensation cases filed by City employees. The responsibilities of these positions require appearances before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) and on occasion, in the State Appellate Courts. The City also has several Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs in operation and some attorneys will be required to handle mediation and arbitration for claims filed by city employees who are covered by ADR Agreements. The WCAB is a state administrative agency with exclusive jurisdiction over disputed employee claims for benefits for injuries arising out of employment. Pre-trial discovery and appellate processes often accompany these cases.

REQUIRED

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants for this position must have a license to practice law in all of the courts in the State of California. Additional requirements include:

· A minimum of four (4) years of experience practicing in California workers' compensation law;

· Familiarity with medical terms and the ability to analyze medical reports and diagnostic records;

· Familiarity with WCAB rules and regulations and hearing procedures;

· An understanding of the California disability rating system;

· Attorneys must be willing and able to handle a case load that requires travel throughout Southern California for court appearances, as well as perform other duties as assigned.

DESIRABLE

QUALIFICATIONS:

· Demonstrated excellent research and writing skills in complex areas of law;

· Familiarity with ADR programs and the ability to represent the City in mediation and arbitration in ADR claims;

· Ability to deal effectively with public officials, personnel from many City Departments, and members of the public;

· Strong oral communication skills; and

· Appellate experience.

WRITING SAMPLE: Candidates are required to submit a writing sample. A Petition for Reconsideration, Trial Brief or Petition for Writ of Review are preferred.

PROBATION: Appointment to these exempt positions (non-Civil-Service) will be subject to a two (2) year probationary period as required by Section 1050 of the City Charter. Successful completion of the two (2) year probationary period will result in tenure with the office.

COVID-19 VACCINE

REQUIREMENT: For candidates seeking initial City employment, in accordance with Los Angeles City Ordinance 187134, information regarding COVID-19 vaccination requirements as conditions of employment may be found at: https://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2021/21-0921_ord_187134_8-24-21.pdf.

APPLICATION

AND DEADLINE: Attorneys interested in applying should submit a resume, writing sample, and cover letter specifying “DCA – WORKERS’ COMPENSATION” in ONE (1) pdf file via email only to atty.recruit@lacity.org.

Resumes will be accepted until positions are filled.

Selected applicants will be invited to interview.

CONFLICT

OF INTEREST: These positions are designated Category 20 on Schedule B of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Conflict of Interest Code.

How to apply

APPLICATION AND DEADLINE: Attorneys interested in applying should submit a resume, writing sample, and cover letter specifying “DCA – WORKERS’ COMPENSATION” in ONE (1) pdf file via email only to atty.recruit@lacity.org.

Resumes will be accepted until positions are filled. Selected applicants will be invited to interview.

exempt employment

If employment is said to be exempt, it is meant that the employment is exempted from the civil service provisions of the City Charter. In order to receive a regular civil service appointment, employees must have successfully participated in a civil service examination, received a high enough score on the examination to be placed on and receive an appointment from an eligible list, and they must serve a probationary period. Exempt employees do not compete in a civil service examination, they are not placed on an eligible list and receive an appointment from that list, nor do they serve a probationary period. As a result, exempt employees do not have what is referred to as a “property interest” in their job. Exempt employees serve at the will of the appointing authority and can be terminated at any time without cause. Employees with a property interest in their job, i.e. civil service employees, cannot be deprived of their employment(discharged or suspended) without due process.

General Information About Exempt Employment

Exempt employees serve at the will of the appointing authority, and as such, they may be discharged, suspended or otherwise disciplined without cause. Exempt employees have no property interest in their employment, and any procedural benefit or other prerogative extended to them by their appointing authority is not intended to create and does not create any such property interest. No officer or employee of the City may make to any other officer or employee any representation of a property interest in employment which does not correspond to Charter provisions unless the City Council, by ordinance, permits such representation. No unauthorized representation can serve as the basis of an employee's reliance on, or expectation of, a property interest.

Employees Seeking To Become Civil Service Employees

There is no protective leave for an exempt employee appointed to a civil service position. Upon receiving a civil service appointment and passing probation, the former exempt employee will be subject to the Civil Service provisions described in Article X of the City Charter. Upon appointment, the civil service employee will begin to accrue displacement and layoff seniority on the first day of his/her civil service appointment and may file for promotional examinations for which s/he qualifies. A full or half-time exempt employee appointed to a full or half-time civil service position continues to: contribute to the Retirement System; accrue vacation time; accrue sick time; receive anniversary date salary increases; and, receive health and dental benefits identical to those received in the civil service position.

For candidates seeking initial City employment, in accordance with Los Angeles City Ordinance 187134, information regarding COVID-19 vaccination requirements as conditions of employment may be found at: https://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2021/21-0921_ord_187134_8-24-21.pdf.

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