DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY - LAND USE DIVISION

Exempt | Location: Civic Center

Annual Salary

$115,682.00 - $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

LAND USE DIVISION

MUNICIPAL LAW BRANCH

ANNUAL SALARY RANGE: $115,682 - $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 Office of the City Attorney is seeking an experienced civil litigation attorney for the Land Use Division of the Municipal Law Branch.

SECTION: The Land Use Division is responsible for planning, zoning, and building and safety areas of the law. Attorneys in the Division litigate in both state and federal court, handling matters involving writs of mandate, CEQA, civil rights, constitutional challenges, declaratory and injunctive relief actions. Attorneys also draft ordinances relating to amendments to the Los Angeles Municipal Code, specific plans, and zoning and building and safety regulations, as well as participate in the City’s community plan update program. In addition, attorneys advise the Departments of City Planning and Building and Safety, City Planning Commission, Area Planning Commissions, Board of Building and Safety Commissioners, the City Council, Council Committees and other City Departments and Commissions on selected land use matters, including CEQA.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The attorney will primarily be responsible for handling litigation, including jury trials and appeals, in state and federal courts.

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

• Five (5) years of civil litigation practice in California and Federal Courts, litigating matters involving land use and CEQA.

• Ability to interact effectively with public officials, departmental personnel and members of the public.

• Demonstrated significant research and writing skills in complex areas of law.

• Ability to vigorous litigate cases through pre-trial and trial stages, including discovery and jury trials.

• Strong oral communication and advocacy skills.

• Appellate experience.

WRITING SAMPLE: Candidates are required to submit two (2) writing samples.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: This position is designated Category 3 on Schedule B of the Los Angeles City Attorney Conflict of Interest Code.

PROBATION: Appointment to this exempt position (non-Civil-Service) will be subject to a two-year probationary period as required by Section 1050 of the City Charter. Successful completion of the two-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.

How to apply

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

Recruitment is ongoing until position is filled.

Selected applicants may 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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