Deputy City Attorney

Position Summary

The Labor Team is a collaborative and dynamic group of 18 attorneys, 5 paralegals and legal assistants, and 7 legal secretaries. The Team defends the City in state and federal civil litigation (through trial and appeals), in administrative proceedings involving labor and employment matters, and provides proactive advice and risk management strategies to its client departments on all aspects of the City’s labor and employment relationships. The Team advises and represents the City in its on-going relationships with the more than 30 unions that represent City employees, including collective bargaining, labor grievance arbitrations, and defending unfair labor practice and other administrative charges.

Duties and Responsibilities

Attorneys on the Labor Team are assigned a caseload of civil litigation and administrative matters. They handle all aspects of their cases, including case assessment, litigation strategy, client communication and coordination, conducting and responding to discovery, all motion practice, settlement evaluation and negotiation, trial and appeal. Also, attorneys may be assigned to provide labor and employment advice to specific client departments and to support collective bargaining.

Qualifications and Prior Experience

Minimum Qualification:
-Licensed to practice law in California

Desired Qualifications:
-Three or more years of labor or employment experience, such as employment advice and counseling, litigation, labor relations, or collective bargaining experience. Candidates need not have experience in all of these aspects of the labor and employment practice
-Ability to assume responsibility quickly, work both independently and collaboratively, and identify and assess substantive and procedural legal issues
-Ability to work effectively and efficiently, meet multiple competing deadlines, manage workload changes, and dive into new assignments quickly
-Excellent written and oral communication and advocacy skill
-Ability to manage, investigate, and litigate multiple matters in both state and federal courts and administrative proceedings
-Ability to handle all phases of litigation, including intake and investigation, written discovery, depositions, motion practice, settlement negotiation, trial, and appeal
-Experience handling court appearances and oral argument
-Familiarity with state and federal rules of civil procedure and local rules of court
-Experience with e-discovery
-Demonstrated interest, comfort, and good working knowledge of sophisticated document review tools
-Ability to work effectively with paralegals, legal assistants, investigators, and other colleagues
-Ability to exercise excellent judgment, adapt to changes, and be curious
-Excellent interpersonal skills and a positive attitude
-Commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment
-Interest and ability to work successfully as part of a team