DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY II OR III
The Office of the City Attorney (“OCA”) seeks a well-qualified individual, for a Deputy City Attorney (“DCA”) II or III position in the Affirmative Litigation, Innovation and Enforcement Division. The position is available in the Housing Justice Initiative Unit of the Office of the City Attorney.
THE POSITION
The Office of the City Attorney (“OCA”) seeks a well-qualified individual, as described below, for a Deputy City Attorney (“DCA”) II or III position in the Affirmative Litigation, Innovation and Enforcement Division. The position is available in the Housing Justice Initiative Unit of the Office of the City Attorney. Litigation experience is required for this position.
The ideal candidate for this position will have experience in affirmative litigation, such as civil rights, consumer, workers’ rights, environmental justice, housing justice, tenant protection and/or racial justice cases. Desirable knowledge and experience include a background in: litigation, including complex civil cases in state and/or federal court, writs, and appeals; policy work, including drafting proposed local legislation; community engagement, including working in coalition with nonprofits and community groups; and administrative procedure, including administrative remedies and rule-making. The DCA will work with other litigators and with advice and labor and employment attorneys in the Office.
The position is currently assigned to the Housing Justice Initiative Unit of the Affirmative Litigation, Innovation and Enforcement Division. The DCA may be supervised on different projects by a Deputy City Attorney V, Special Counsel, Chief Assistant City Attorney and/or the City Attorney. The City Attorney may assign the selected attorney to new, additional or different duties or practice areas in litigation, advice, or transactional work.
Attorneys in this diverse and exciting Office frequently work collaboratively with other attorneys and other City Departments on a wide variety of issues, and DCAs in the Housing Justice Initiative Unit frequently work with other City Attorney and County Counsel offices around the Bay Area, throughout California, and across the country.
Detailed Job Description: Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Participating in or leading affirmative litigation (including case evaluation, conducting investigations, drafting complaints, engaging in motions practice, arguing motions, propounding and responding to discovery, taking and defending depositions, preparing for judicial proceedings (including settlement conferences, trials, and in appellate courts), and engaging in post-judgment or post-settlement compliance monitoring);
- Communicating with, including as witnesses, City staff, community members, and stakeholders, in an intentional and trauma-informed manner, including across lines of difference;
- Participating in or leading administrative hearings, including citation appeals, administrative writs, and traditional writs;
- Working closely with City administrators, elected officials, and agency and department executives to develop or enforce City laws and policies;
- Developing or assisting in the development of local legislation to further the Units’, Office’s, and City’s priorities, which may also include reviewing staff reports and writing City Council reports;
- Creating or developing constructive, collaborative relationships with civil society groups;
- Working with other attorneys in the Office and in partner offices on various matters;
- Being a key player in cultivating a strong, thoughtful, cooperative, and dynamic team;
- Exercising sound judgment;
- Clearly explaining legal advice to attorneys and lay people; and
- Attendance at some evening and late-night meetings.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION
Any combination of experience and education that likely would provide the required knowledge and abilities will qualify an applicant for the position. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
- DCA II: Two years of increasingly responsible work experience comparable to a Deputy City Attorney I in the City of Oakland.
- DCA III: Two years of increasingly responsible work experience comparable to a Deputy City Attorney II position in the City of Oakland.
Education: Graduate of accredited school of law.
License or Certificate:
- A member in good standing of the California State Bar.
- DCAs in this position are required to maintain a valid California Driver’s License during City employment or demonstrate the ability to travel to required locations in a timely manner, to the extent feasible depending on disability-related accommodations.
HOW TO APPLY
Submit a cover letter and resume by email to: civilrights@oaklandcityattorney.org
Candidates selected to proceed in the hiring process may be asked to submit additional information (e.g., a writing sample, references, answers to supplemental questions, the formal City of Oakland employment application). This job announcement and additional employment information including the application form is available on-line at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/oaklandca