Job Description

Posting number: 2026-3597

Department: Criminal Branch

Job classification: Deputy City Attorney IV

Posting type: Open

Categories: Attorney

Summary

The Crimes Against Children (CAC) Unit functions as a specialized vertical prosecution unit, working in connection with coordinated multidisciplinary teams across the City to provide comprehensive filing review and prosecution of crimes committed against children, including child sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, internet-facilitated crimes against children, human trafficking of minors, and significant child physical abuse. Through a vertical prosecution model, the CAC Unit provides continuity of case handling for 100% of child sex abuse cases referred to the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney from filing through disposition, ensuring a coordinated, trauma-informed, and victim-centered response to child victimization. The Unit strengthens collaboration with law enforcement, child welfare agencies, medical providers, schools, and community-based partners to improve investigations, enhance victim safety, and promote offender accountability. In addition to case prosecution, the CAC Unit serves as a center of excellence for training, prevention, policy development, legislative advocacy, and the implementation of best practices in the investigation and prosecution of crimes against children.

Examples of duties

The Supervising Attorney will be responsible for the overall management, strategic direction, and daily operations of the Crimes Against Children Unit. Primary duties include:

• Unit Management & Operational Oversight: Organizing and directing the daily operations of the CAC Unit across all bureau assignments, establishing operational policies, managing telework/vacation scheduling, and enforcing a team-based cross-coverage support model.
• Personnel Supervision & Mentoring: Supervising, evaluating, and mentoring a multidisciplinary team of Trial Deputy City Attorneys, Dedicated Filing Attorneys, Victim Advocates, and support staff; providing courtroom assistance and co-counseling to newer DCAs as needed; directing performance management and personnel matters, including disciplinary matters as needed.
• Filing Review & Case Selection: Reviewing incoming case referrals, conducting charging consultations, and exercising prosecutorial discretion to ensure consistent, high-quality, and timely filing decisions with minimal backlog.
• Trial Strategy & Complex Case Guidance: Developing trial strategies, advising attorneys on evidentiary issues, forensic interview evaluations, expert witness coordination, and trauma-informed prosecution.
• Interagency Collaboration: Establishing and maintaining collaborative working relationships across all four LAPD Bureaus (Central, South, West, and Valley) and Juvenile Division, DCFS, Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs), and multidisciplinary teams (MDTs).
• Training Hub Leadership: Overseeing internal training for prosecutors on trauma-informed prosecution, child competency, and emerging trends (such as ICAC and social media exploitation), as well as delivering external training to law enforcement, DCFS staff, schools, and community partners.
• Case Tracking & Accountability: Maintaining central unit tracking and case management databases, conducting regular case review meetings and individual supervision meetings, and preparing statistical, grant, and progress reports for Criminal Branch & Executive Management.
• Community Prevention & Outreach: Directing community prevention education initiatives on internet safety, online exploitation prevention, and grooming awareness.
• Policy Development & Grant Coordination: Assisting Criminal Branch & Executive management with policy development, legislative proposals, grant application/management, and implementing office-wide best practices.

Qualifications

Applicants for this position must have a valid license to practice law in all of the courts within the State of California. Additional requirements include:

• At least seven years of extensive criminal trial experience with demonstrated strong trial skills, including mastery of evidentiary issues, trial strategy, case preparation, forensic interview evaluations, expert witness coordination, and trauma-informed prosecution.
• Demonstrated experience in filing review, charging consultations, and exercising prosecutorial discretion in complex criminal matters, including child sex abuse cases.
• Ability to supervise, mentor, evaluate, and direct a multidisciplinary team of attorneys, victim advocates, and support staff, including co-counseling newer prosecutors through trials.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with law enforcement agencies (e.g., LAPD), child welfare agencies (e.g., DCFS), Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs), and multidisciplinary teams (MDTs).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to effectively present to large and small audiences, including delivering training and community outreach.
• Strong organizational skills with experience managing caseloads, maintaining case tracking databases, preparing statistical/progress reports, and handling grant or policy matters.

Desired Qualifications

• Prior supervisory or management experience within a prosecutorial or public law office, including handling personnel matters, telework/coverage scheduling, and performance evaluations.
• Specialized subject-matter expertise in vertical prosecution models, child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, internet-facilitated crimes against children (ICAC), human trafficking of minors, and social media exploitation trends.
• Demonstrated success in developing and leading internal legal training as well as external training for law enforcement, DCFS personnel, schools, and community partners.
• Existing working relationships with LAPD Bureau & Juvenile Divisions, Department of Children and Family Services, Children's Advocacy Centers, and victim service providers.
• Experience with grant application, administration, and grant-funded program reporting.
• Familiarity with case management and evidence management platforms (e.g. Evidence.com and other shared database systems).

Requirements for Application

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Candidates are required to submit two recent writing samples personally authored in the last two years.

Supplemental information

Current Location

City Hall East, 200 N. Main Street, Los Angeles. Position is subject to assignment at any location of the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney.

Work Location and Parking

This position requires regular onsite work. Employer-provided parking is limited and may not be available for this classification. Employees may be responsible for securing and paying for parking at nearby facilities.

Applicants are encouraged to review available commute and transportation resources through the City’s COMMUTEwell program. For more information, please visit: https://lacommutewell.com.

Probation

Appointment to this exempt position (non Civil-Service) will be subject to a two year probationary period as required by Section 1050 of the City Charter. Successful completion of the two-year probationary period will result in tenure with the office.

Classification

Current employees selected for this assignment will be placed through a lateral transfer and retain their current classification, unless otherwise determined by the City Attorney in the exercise of the appointing authority.

Retirement Benefits

Employees participate in the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS), which includes mandatory employee pension contributions through payroll deduction. The City also contributes toward the employee’s retirement benefit. Contribution rates are established by the applicable retirement system and may

vary based on employee classification, membership status, and other factors. For more information, please visit: https://www.lacers.org.

Application and Deadline

Interested candidates should go to: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacityattorney/ to apply online.

Conflict-of-Interest

This position is designated as Category 1 on the Conflict-of-Interest Code.

Contact

Questions? Please email atty.recruit@lacity.org.