Assistant City Attorney (Legislative Services & Community Protection Division)

About the role

The San Diego City Attorney’s Office protects the people of San Diego by serving as chief legal counsel to the City of San Diego’s elected officials and operational departments; prosecuting and defending civil cases involving the City; and as the City’s prosecutor on behalf of the People of the State of California. The office employs over 190 lawyers and approximately 230 support staff.

The Assistant City Attorney will manage three units within the Legislative Services & Community Protection Division, work closely with other Assistant City Attorneys, report directly to the City Attorney, and serve on the City Attorney’s Executive Team. The Division provides legal support to the City Council and independent City departments, serves as general counsel to the Housing Authority, and advises numerous departments and offices. The Assistant City Attorney also assists in developing training programs, leads division-wide meetings, and may act for the City Attorney in her absence.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Division
• Supervise, train, and mentor Division chiefs, deputy city attorneys, and the Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement team
• Recruit and hire deputy city attorneys and staff
• Provide procedural and strategic guidance and oversight to Division chiefs and supervisors
• Communicate with the Mayor, Councilmembers, and City leadership and serve as the primary contact for Councilmembers and their staff
• Support the Council President’s Office, City Clerk’s Office, and deputy city attorneys with Council-related matters
• Oversee weekly docket meetings and closed session docketing to review items on the City Council agenda
• Sit with the City Council during open session meetings
• Draft and implement policies and procedures for the Division
• Assign, monitor, and evaluate legal service requests from Council offices and departments covered by the Division
• Assist with media responses
• Attend weekly Executive Team meetings
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Active member in good standing with the State Bar of California with experience in municipal law and working with government officials
• Licensed to practice law in the State of California
• Licensed to practice law or willing to obtain a license in the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Valid California Class C driver’s license and personal vehicle, or the ability to travel to various locations throughout the City in a timely manner

Qualifications

• Ten or more years of experience as a licensed attorney
• Proven managerial experience
• Some civil litigation experience
• Strong references
• Experience working with municipalities and elected officials

Benefits

• Participation in the City’s Flexible Benefits Plan, which offers several optional benefit plans or a taxable cash option
• $50,000 in City-paid life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid annual leave accruing at 22 days per year for the 1st through 15th year of service
• San Diego City Employees’ Retirement System (SDCERS) defined benefit pension plan
• Voluntary Defined Contribution Plans (401(k)/457(b))
• Retiree Medical Trust Plan
• Eleven paid holidays annually and one Floating Holiday in a fiscal year
• Long-Term Disability Income Plan
• Free MTS transit pass
• City-awarded discretionary leave
• 80 hours of paid Management Administrative Leave
• Up to 8 weeks of paid Parental Leave
• Paid time off for jury duty
• Up to 40 hours of paid Bereavement Leave each fiscal year
• Employee Assistance Program