Deputy City Attorney (Civil)

This is a continuous recruitment subject to close at any time. Please apply immediately. 

The first review of applications is June 17, 2024.

The City of Pasadena is seeking capable, energetic and strategic attorneys with sound independent judgment to join our team of dynamic legal professionals. There are currently three Deputy City Attorney vacancies in the Civil Division of the City Attorney/City Prosecutor's Department.

  

For two of the vacancies, the ideal candidate will have experience in general municipal civil litigation, which is preferred. Tort litigation, law enforcement, employment and/or civil rights, is helpful. Experience in advisory and transactional municipal legal services, such as drafting contracts, ordinances, resolutions, and legal opinions is also desirable, as well as experience in the areas of land use, state housing and environmental laws, open meeting laws, conflicts of interest, personnel matters, and/or public contracting. 

For the third vacancy, the position will be dedicated to providing legal services to the Rental Housing Board and the Rent Stabilization Department, which were formed through a Charter amendment passed by Pasadena voters in November 2022. The ideal candidate will have experience in serving as a legal advisor and counsel to rental housing boards or other similar public bodies holding administrative hearings, which is strongly preferred. Experience in advisory and transactional municipal legal service, such as drafting transactional documents is helpful, as well as experience in the areas of rent stabilization, landlord-tenant, housing, open meeting, conflicts of interest, and judicial and administrative procedure and rules of evidence.

These are great opportunities. To learn more about our Office of the City Attorney/City Prosecutor please click here: Office of the City Attorney/City Prosecutor. 

The major responsibilities of the position are listed below. For more detailed information, please review job description. 

• Participates in all phases of trial and appellate levels of civil litigation in state and federal court, and before administrative bodies.
• Performs a wide range of legal services in one or more areas of municipal law on behalf of City officials, departments, advisory bodies, boards and commissions.
• Confers with and advises City departments, advisory boards and administrative commissions concerning their respective duties, powers, functions and obligations.
• Attends meetings of the City Council, boards or commissions as needed.
• Drafts, reviews and amends various legal documents including ordinances, resolutions, contracts, leases, opinion letters, legal memoranda, ordinance fact sheets and agenda reports.
• Completes varied assignments within a narrow timeframe.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES
The following list represents the core competencies needed for success in this position.

• Professional Integrity & Ethics - Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability.
• Oral and Written Communication - Engaging effectively in dialogue; communicating effectively in writing.
• Presentation Skills - Formally delivering information to groups.
• Customer Focus - Attending to the needs and expectation of customers.
• Political & Organizational Savvy - Working skillfully with politics, procedures, and protocols across organizational levels and boundaries.
• Project Management - Ensuring that projects are on-time, on-budget, and achieve their objectives.
• Strategic Perspective - Evaluating immediate actions in context of achieving long range objectives.
• Critical Thinking - Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims.
• Decision Making - Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner.
• Legal & Regulatory Navigation - Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Graduation from a recognized law school (ABA accreditation preferred) and membership in good standing in the California State Bar Association. 
• At least three years of professional experience as a practicing attorney. 
• Experience in general municipal civil litigation is preferred; law enforcement, civil rights, and/or tort litigation is helpful; experience in advisory and transactional municipal legal services, such as drafting contracts, ordinances, resolutions, and legal opinions is also desirable.
• For the Rental Housing Board/Rent Stabilization department attorney, experience advising rental housing boards or similar public bodies is strongly preferred. 

SELECTION PROCESS 
The selection process may consist of a training and experience evaluation, interview panel, and department-level interview.

VACANCY INFORMATION 
There are currently three Deputy City Attorney vacancies in the City Attorney/City Prosecutor's Office.

The resulting eligibility list from this recruitment may be used to fill these vacancies and similar vacancies in the future.
 
This position is at-will and confidential.

Active membership in the California State Bar.

Possession of or ability to obtain a Class C California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.

Salary : $152,529 - $190,661