DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY - POLICE DISCOVERY SECTION

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
POLICE DISCOVERY SECTION
PUBLIC SAFETY GENERAL COUNSEL DIVISION
MUNICIPAL LAW BRANCH
SALARY RANGE: 115,682 - $221,386

POSITION: Attorney in the Police Discovery Section of the Public Safety General Counsel Division.

DIVISION: The Public Safety General Counsel Division serves as general counsel to the Police Department (LAPD), Fire Department (LAFD) and the Emergency Management Department.

SECTION: The Police Discovery Section works closely with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to address discovery issues and related matters in both criminal and civil cases. Section attorneys represent the LAPD in responding to Pitchess motions that seek LAPD personnel information. They also assist the LAPD in responding to federal and state subpoenas, various other police-related motions and requests for police personnel and department records.
The Police Discovery Section is located on the 14th floor of City Hall.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The primary responsibilities of Section attorneys include preparing oppositions to Pitchess motions; making numerous appearances in various state and federal courts throughout Los Angeles; preparing motions to quash subpoenas; and handling other related matters and tasks.

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:

Five or more years of legal practice in California;
Demonstrated high-level written and oral communication skills; and
Strong organizational and problem solving skills.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Law and motion or trial experience; the ability to prioritize and concurrently complete multiple assignments; and experience in dealing with governmental agencies.

WRITING SAMPLE: Candidates are required to submit a recent writing sample, of which they were the primary author.

PROBATION: Appointment to this exempt position (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: Interested attorneys should submit a resume, writing sample, and cover letter specifying “DCA – POLICE DISCOVERY #3280” in one (1) pdf file via email only to atty.recruit@lacity.org.
Selected candidates will be invited to interview.
Interviews ongoing until the position is filled.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: This position is designated Category 1 of the Conflict of Interest Code.

How to apply

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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