Deputy Attorney; Civil Litigation Division, General Litigation 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 Civil Litigation Division of the San Diego City Attorney's Office is seeking applications from attorneys who are interested in a position as a Deputy City Attorney in the General Litigation Unit. This position reports directly to a Chief Deputy City Attorney and is responsible for a broad range of duties including prosecuting or defending civil lawsuits in which the City is a party.

• Police false arrest and excessive force.
• Personal injury, property damage, dangerous conditions, and motor vehicle accidents.
• Constitutional claims, including inverse condemnation.
• Legal challenges to City ordinances, resolutions and policies, as well as cases challenging the City’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Brown Act, and the California Public Records Act.
• Handling matters pertaining to writs and appeals.
• Preparing pleadings for trials, hearings, discovery, and other legal proceedings.
• Representing the City and its officers and employees in their official capacities in trial.
• Presenting recommendations to the City Council in Closed Session.
• Performing other work as assigned.

Deputy City Attorneys must become familiar with City operations to identify and address legal issues in a proactive manner, and continually manage and adjust their workload to accommodate changing needs and priorities of City staff.

• Be an active member in good standing with the State Bar of California and, if selected for the position, must promptly apply for admission to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, if not already admitted to that court.
• Possess at least 2 years of Civil Litigation experience.

Ideal candidates will have experience preparing cases for hearings and trials in all courts or can otherwise demonstrate the skills necessary for this position. Experience with all pretrial phases of litigation including discovery, depositions of parties and experts, trial preparation, and strong research, legal writing and oral presentation skills will also be considered for the position.

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.

The successful candidate’s annual salary is based on the Deputy City Attorney salary table and dependent on qualifications and level of relevant legal experience. For further salary information, refer to the Deputy City Attorney Salary Table.

• 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 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.
• Holidays – Eleven (11) paid holidays are provided annually and one (1) floating holiday in a fiscal year.
• Long‑Term Disability Income Plan.

• Free MTS transit pass.
• City‑awarded…