Job Description

Posting number: I2362

Department: 1211 - City Attorney

Division: 1400 - City Attorney's Office

Job classification: Generic Unclassified Class Spec

Posting type: Open

Categories: Attorney

Summary

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, by holding accountable those who commit crimes against the public health and safety and violate other local and state laws. Our municipal law firm employs over 180 lawyers and approximately 230 support staff, dedicated to providing legal services to the City of San Diego.

The Civil Advisory Division of the San Diego City Attorney’s Office is conducting a recruitment to fill a Deputy City Attorney position in the Housing Protection and Civil Code Compliance Unit. This position reports directly to the Chief Deputy City Attorney of this Unit.

Deputies in the Housing Protection Unit routinely:

• Civilly prosecute a wide range of violations referred by various City Departments, such as Building and Land Use Enforcement of the Development Services Department, the San Diego Fire Department, and the San Diego Police Department, including Drug Abatement and Red-Light Abatement actions. Many of these cases involve interesting and complicated land use issues and require building partnerships with City departments, City Council Offices, outside agencies, community groups, and the police.
• Litigate all aspects of a lawsuit from the initial filing through the appellate process, including drafting complaints, briefs, motions, discovery, and other legal documents as required.
• Research, analyze, and write legal memoranda for litigation purposes and for land use enforcement issues.
• Independently manage a case load.
• Train City inspectors on code enforcement and other legal issues.
• Attend meetings with City personnel to problem-solve issues and accept cases.
• Attend community meetings.
• Coordinate investigations by City Attorney investigators, law enforcement personnel, and regulatory agency personnel.
• Respond to California Public Records Act requests.
• Appear and address legal questions at City Council and Committee meetings, and may appear at administrative hearings.
• Other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

The following wage increases are scheduled to take effect for Deputy City Attorneys:

• A 3.5% general wage increase will be effective July 1, 2027.
• A 2% general wage increase will be effective July 1, 2028.
• A 2% general wage increase will be effective January 1, 2029.

To Apply:

To learn more about the position, please visit the San Diego City Attorney’s Office Career Page.