job openings

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 Water and Power Legal Division of the City Attorney’s Office has an immediate opening for an attorney to represent the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (“LADWP”) in public procurement, engineering and construction-related matters. 

SECTION: The Water & Power Legal Division serves as counsel to the LADWP and the Board of Water & Power Commissioners. LADWP is the largest municipally owned utility in the United States and serves approximately 1.4 million retail customers within the City of Los Angeles and the Owens Valley. As such, LADWP owns and operates electric generation and water production, transmission and distribution facilities located within and outside of California. The Contracts/Construction and Real Estate Group represents the LADWP in transactional and litigation matters related to public contracting, procurement, construction and real estate. The Water and Power Division is located at 221 North Figueroa Street, Suite 1000, Los Angeles, California 90012.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The selected attorney will be responsible for providing legal advice to the LADWP on all phases of the public procurement and construction contracting process, from bidding and negotiations through contract administration and performance and through claims and litigation. Specifically, the selected attorney’s duties will include, without limitation, the following tasks: 

? Litigation before both state and federal courts and administrative agencies, and alternative dispute resolution, involving various types of bid protests, contract performance issues, such as delay, construction defects, cost overruns, design errors, regulatory compliance, and other related claims; 

? Drafting, reviewing and analyzing contract documents such as bid/proposal packages and bonds;

? Enforcement of payment and performance bond provisions;

? Advising on the review and processing of construction claims and change orders;

? Advising LADWP in claims avoidance and resolution procedures, insurance, risk management, and bonding requirements;

? Defense of imposition of stop notices; and

? Advising LADWP on project management issues, including contract administration and interpretation during performance, negotiations, and documentation of disputes.

? Travel may be 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 5 years of civil advisory and litigation experience is required, preferably in construction and municipal law matters. ? Excellent writing, oral communication and problem solving skills and ? Demonstrated ability to work effectively with public officials, non-attorney proprietary department employees’ personnel and members of the public, and strong oral communication skills.

WRITING SAMPLE: Candidates are required to submit one (1) writing sample personally composed by the applicant in the past two years that accurately reflects his/her/their work product. The writing sample should be either a brief, motion, report containing a legal position or legal recommendation, or written research memo.

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.

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.