Deputy Attorney; Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit

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 ACE Unit of the San Diego City Attorney’s Office is conducting a recruitment to fill a Deputy City Attorney position. Reporting directly to the City Attorney, the ACE Unit pursues public interest causes of action on behalf of the People of the State of California under the Unfair Competition Law. The Unit enforces laws that protect consumers, employees, and the environment, and advocates for change when existing laws fall short.

Through its own litigation and by collaborating with others inside and outside of government, the ACE Unit protects public health and safety, restores environmental quality, and sustains economic vitality.

Examples of recent matters handled by the ACE Unit are a first-in-the-nation misclassification action against Instacart, resulting in over $40 million in restitution for affected drivers; joint prosecution with the California Attorney general and the city attorneys of San Francisco and Los Angeles against Uber and Lyft for driver misclassification; and litigation against Monsanto for the costs of PCB cleanup, resulting in a $572 million settlement, among others.

Deputies in the ACE Unit routinely:

• Propound discovery to target defendants and reviewing responses
• Supervise the work of paralegals, investigators, and other professionals
• Prepare and review drafts of motions, supporting evidence, and pleadings
• Take and defend depositions
• Appear regularly in state and federal court
• Present updates on sensitive litigation matters and providing confidential legal counsel to San Diego’s Mayor and members of the City Council in closed session
• Cooperate and coordinate with other public agencies in joint investigations and litigation
• Perform other litigation work as assigned

Applicants are required to:

• Be an active member in good standing with the State Bar of California.
• Have at least two years of civil or criminal litigation experience.
• Possess experience with all pretrial phases of litigation including discovery, trial preparation, and strong research, legal writing, and oral presentation skills.

Ideal candidates will have experience in joint prosecution or task force investigations. A background in complex litigation such as mass torts, class actions, or multi-jurisdictional proceedings is also highly desirable, as is familiarity with wage and hour laws and state and federal labor protections.

Attorneys in this position must be able to travel to locations outside the office for legal proceedings or meetings. Therefore, possession of a 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, is required.

Work-life balance is important to us! The City Attorney's Office generally supports remote teleworking and the position may allow for a hybrid schedule with a mix of in-office and remote work after the introductory and probationary period. Please refer to the Office's teleworking policy.

In addition to a competitive salary, the City of San Diego offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• 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 (paid time off) accruing at 22 days per year for the 1st…