LEGAL COUNSELOR I (ATTORNEY) (AT WILL)

Salary : $8,910.00 - $13,184.00 Monthly

Location : Torrance, CA

Job Type : Permanent Full-time

Job Number : 24011420

Department : CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

Opening Date : 01 / 29 / 2024

Closing Date : Continuous

DESCRIPTION

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS TO READ THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THIS POSITION.

The City of Torrance recognizes the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce, applicants and community members. If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for change, apply to the City of Torrance today.

The City of Torrance invites your interest in the position of

LEGAL COUNSELOR I (ATTORNEY) to be part of the City Attorney's Office!

The current vacancy is in Criminal Prosecution.

The City

Torrance California, the eighth largest city in Los Angeles County, is situated in a region of Southern California known as the South Bay. This City of nearly 150,000 residents, with a peak day-time population that grows to 250,000 or more, spans an area of almost 22 square miles including 1 mile of beach.

Torrance features world-class medical and research facilities, vibrant shopping, four-star dining, as well as an intricate mix of burgeoning industrial and commercial facilities. Torrance is one of the few cities in the South Bay to feature its own municipal airport and support facilities. It is also considered to be a "headquarters" city, with major corporations such as Sunrider International, Alpinestars USA, Health-Ade Kombucha, Pelican Products, L3 Harris Technologies, RapiScan Systems, American Honda Motor Company, and Robinson Helicopter Company all calling Torrance home.

The Department

The Office of the City Attorney advises and represents the City Council and City Departments on all legal matters in which they are involved, and prosecutes state law misdemeanors and Municipal Code violations that occur within the City of Torrance. To accomplish this goal, the office is organized across three divisions : Criminal Prosecution, Civil Litigation, and General Advice. City Attorney Patrick Q. Sullivan, Assistant City Attorney Tatia Y. Strader, and Law Office Administrator Alice Rusa manage the office that is steeped in tradition and encourages a collegiate environment with cohesive camaraderie. The Office is comprised of six Deputy City Attorneys, four Legal Assistants, and a Systems Analyst.

The Criminal Prosecution Division

The Criminal Prosecution Division prosecutes, on behalf of the People of the State of California, state law misdemeanors that occur within the City of Torrance. Such crimes typically include domestic violence, driving under the influence, drug possession and theft-related violations. In addition, the Division prosecutes violations of the Torrance Municipal Code.

The Civil Litigation Division

The Civil Litigation Division represents the City of Torrance in lawsuits where the City is a party to the lawsuit, including but not limited to civil rights, employment, and tort matters.

The General Advice Division

The General Advice Division provides a broad range of general legal advice and services. It drafts and defends local laws as required by the City Council and City departments. The Division provides advisory and transactional work for the City and represents the City in civil cases involving planning, land use, housing, environmental issues, labor issues, contracts, and business disputes.

The Position

Legal Counselors are entry-level attorneys that perform a wide variety of duties involving criminal prosecution (infractions and misdemeanors), civil litigation, and general municipal practice. There is currently one vacancy in the Criminal Prosecution Division. In the Criminal Prosecution assignment area, incumbents file, prepare, and prosecute misdemeanor criminal cases in the City of Torrance by conducting legal research, handling a variety of motions and appeals, and conducting misdemeanor trials. Legal Counselors report to a Deputy City Attorney that serves as a working supervisor.

Typical office hours include a 9 / 80 compressed work week schedule from Monday through Friday, 7 : 30 a.m. to 5 : 30 p.m., closed on alternate Fridays. Staff is also required to work some off Fridays, evenings, weekends, and holidays, as necessary in order to complete various duties.

Other key responsibilities of the Legal Counselor I position include :

• Marshaling facts, conducting legal research, and analyzing applicable legal issues.
• Reviewing police reports, supplemental reports, and evidence to determine sufficiency for filing of criminal complaints.
• Conducting criminal pretrial hearings, arraignments, trials, motions, appeals, and otherwise handles all phases of criminal prosecution.
• Developing strategies, arguments, and gathering and reviewing evidence in preparation for presentation of cases.
• Maintaining calendars, files, and docketing information for prosecution and other matters.
• May direct the work of clerical employees, making detailed work assignments, frequently reviewing work in progress and carefully reviewing completed work.
• Representing the City in administrative hearings, litigation, arbitrations, trials, and appeals.
• Drafting, reviewing, and amending correspondence, memoranda, agenda reports, written opinions, real property transactional documents, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and other legal documents.

For a comprehensive job description, click here .

Monthly Salary Range

8,910 (Minimum) - $10,692 (Reference) - $12,296 (Maximum)

Appointments are made between the minimum and the reference point of the range, depending on qualifications. This position is on a merit pay plan which is based on performance. During the first year of employment, meritorious work may be recognized with a special wage adjustment up to a maximum of 10% outside of the merit pool upon approval by the City Manager.

QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES

Any combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way of obtaining the necessary knowledge and abilities would be :

Education and Experience

License / Special Requirements

Ideal Candidate

Candidates best suited for this position demonstrate sound legal judgment and decision making, have a strong work ethic, exceptional organizational skills and multi-tasking abilities, effective written and oral communication skills, outstanding interpersonal skills, strong public service orientation, steadfast integrity, and can perform well under pressure. The ideal candidate will have a willingness to learn on the job, and will be open to all aspects of the City Attorney's Office and its three Divisions.

Six months of law experience at a prosecutorial agency and / or a government agency, which may include work as an intern, law clerk, or volunteer attorney is highly desirable.

HOW TO APPLY & EXAM PROCESS

Interested candidates must submit an online application and supplemental questionnaire at www.TorranceCA.Gov / Jobs .

Application submission will be accepted on a continuous basis until the position is filled.

Only those candidates who best meet the Department's and City's requirements and needs will be invited to participate in the examination, which will consist of a Panel Interview (weighted 100%).

SPECIAL NOTES

Visit www.TorranceCA.Gov to find out more information about the City of Torrance.

Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must contact Human Resources. If you have a disability for which you require an accommodation, please contact us at (310) 618-2915 prior to the test date. For further information, click here .

The City of Torrance Conflict of Interest Code requires that employees in this classification file an annual Financial Disclosure Statement. Information about this requirement may be obtained from the City Clerk's office.

As a condition of employment, candidates must pass a background check.

The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract, and any provisions contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.

City of Torrance Inclusion Statement

The City of Torrance is a welcoming and culturally-rich community. As a pillar of public service, we strive to be an employer of choice by attracting and retaining a talented workforce where people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, religions, and lifestyles are valued. Our mission is to create an inclusive environment where our staff are empowered to perform at their highest level and contribute towards making a positive impact.

The City is an equal opportunity employer and works towards building collaborative teams from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and / or local law. Come join us to help cultivate a workplace that welcomes and celebrates the diversity of our employees!

BENEFIT SUMMARY FOR EXECUTIVE AND MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES

Note : Not all benefits listed may be applicable to all positions with in the unit. Please refer to the MOU for specifics.

Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance (sec.3.1)

The City's contribution for health insurance is up to $1,470.96 / month.

Employee only Employee 1 Employee 2 or more

Full time EE's $597.68 $1,140.36 $1,595.96

Part time $371.40 $639.24 $873.20

The City's monthly contribution for vision insurance is $3.33

The City's monthly contribution for dental insurance is $33.71 / EE only and $67.42 / EE 1 or more

The City provides a Cash In-Lieu payment of $400 per month for eligible full-time employees for as long as the employee opts-out of medical coverage

Category A employees : City shall cover under a $100,000 accidental and $200,000 term life insurance policy

Category B employees : City shall cover under a $100,000 accidental and $100,000 term life insurance policy

Disability Insurance (sec 3.1)

Employee receives 2 / 3 base pay after elimination period (14 consecutive days for STD and 180 consecutive days for LTD)

Retirement (Sec. 3.2)

PERS 2%@55

Employees hired prior to 09 / 21 / 2010, City pays 7% EPMC (9% for Fire Chief and Police Chief).

Employees hired on or after 09 / 21 / 2010 pay the 7% EPMC (9% for Fire Chief and Police Chief).

PERS 2%@62 (Miscellaneous / PERS 2.7%@57 (Safety)

New" members hired on or after 1 / 01 / 2013 pay 50% of normal cost with three year average final compensation.

Deferr ed Compensation (sec. 3.3)

Required participation into a 457 plan, 401(a) plan, and a Retirement Health Savings Plan

401A Plan : City will match up to maximum of 0.5% of monthly base pay

Sick Leave (sec.3.4)

Accrual rate is 6 (six) hours per month. (Except City Manager)

Admin / Personal / Vacation Leave (Sec. 3.6) (Sec. 3.8) (Sec. 3.9)

Admin Leave : 8 days per fiscal year (Category A employees)

Personal Leave : 3 days per fiscal year (Category B employees)

Vacation Accrual rate per month) :

Year 1 : 9.33 hours; Years 2-4 : 10 hours; Years 5-9 : 12.67 hours; Years 10-20 : 16.02 hours; Years 21 - 24 : 17.34 hours; Year 25 : 18 hours. Maximum accrual 500 hours

Holidays (Sec 3.7)

13 paid holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve)

Bereavement Leave (sec 3.10)

Up to five (5) work shifts of bereavement leave; three (3) shifts with pay and two (2) shifts without pay per death of eligible family members

Reimbursable Expenses (Sec. 3.13)

Category A employees : Up to $1,500 per fiscal year

Category B employees : Up to $750 per fiscal year

The following supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Resumes are encouraged but will NOT be used in lieu of the application or supplemental questions. Please read each question carefully and provide a thorough and complete response. Do NOT state "see resume" or "see application" to respond to any of the following questions. Failure to respond to all questions will be considered an incomplete application and may not be considered for further processing. Do you understand the foregoing?

Do you possess a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited American Bar Association law school?

Are you an active member in good standing with the State Bar of California?

Do you possess a valid California Class C Driver's License?

Provide your California Bar number and date you were admitted. (If not applicable, type N / A.)

If you are not an active member of the State Bar of California, are you currently awaiting recent California Bar examination results? (If not applicable, type N / A.)

Indicate the number of years of legal office experience that you possess.

Do you have experience as a Legal Intern, Legal Extern, Post Bar Law Clerk, or Volunteer Law Clerk?

If yes, list the dates of your internship, externship, clerkship, or volunteer term. (If not applicable, type N / A.)

Indicate the number of jury trials you have tried to verdict.

Required Question

Salary : $750 - $100,000