Deputy City Attorney IV - Senior Neighborhood Law Corps Attorney
Job Description
Salary:
Deputy City Attorney IV: $181,634.88 to $222,994.32 annually
Leave:
• 10 vacation days per year, increasing to 15 days after 4 years of service
• 15 vacation days for new employees with relevant public-sector experience
• 5 to 10 days paid management leave (additional personal leave) per year
• 12 days accrued sick leave per year
• 14 paid City holidays
• Baby Bonding leave and other paid personal time off
Benefits:
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage; CalPERS pension; 457 deferred compensation plan; hybrid remote / in-office schedule; professional development reimbursement; payment of state bar dues; and other competitive benefits
About the position
The Office of the City Attorney seeks a highly skilled, community-oriented Senior Neighborhood Law Corps (NLC) Attorney with extensive litigation experience to lead and support major enforcement efforts addressing quality-of-life issues in Oakland.
The Neighborhood Law Corps (NLC) is a unique, innovative, and award-winning community law program that focuses on proactive, neighborhood-based, and community-directed lawyering. The program – described as a cross between Legal Aid and the Peace Corps – brings legal resources and remedies into Oakland's diverse neighborhoods to address issues affecting quality of life in those communities.
The Senior NLC Attorney will independently manage a significant caseload and lead complex and high-impact civil litigation to address nuisance conditions, blight, and other public safety and quality-of-live problems affecting Oakland’s diverse neighborhoods. The attorney will also mentor junior attorneys and help shape strategic enforcement priorities. The position involves representing the City in state and federal courts and partnering closely with neighborhood groups, community stakeholders, and other governmental agencies.
About the Office
The City Attorney’s Office provides advice and counsel to the Mayor, City Council, and all City departments, boards and commissions in a wide variety of areas spanning the range of municipal law, including but not limited to, land use, real estate, personnel, elections, conflicts of interest, municipal finance, retirement, housing, public contracting and economic development. The City Attorney’s Office also advocates for the City’s interests in claims and lawsuits litigated in state or federal court, including high-value personal injury cases, complex civil rights actions, breach of contract, personnel disputes, eminent domain actions, inverse condemnation and alleged Constitutional violations.
The Office has approximately 82 employees and two legal divisions: the Advisory and Litigation Divisions. The Advisory Division includes the Land Use & Planning, Real Estate, General Government & Finance, Labor & Employment, and Code Enforcement units. The Litigation Division includes the General & Complex Litigation (Defense), Writs, Appeals, and Critical Motions units; and the Community Lawyering and Civil Rights, Neighborhood Law Corps and Housing Justice Initiative affirmative litigation units. The work is high profile, dynamic, collaborative, and complex. The work is also of vital importance to the City’s realization of its progressive and cutting-edge policies and programs, and to the City’s delivery of services to Oakland’s residents and businesses.
Job Duties
Duties may include but are not limited to:
Leading case evaluation and strategy development for complex or high-profile matters.
• Drafting and reviewing pleadings, motions, and appellate briefs.
• Representing the City in settlement conferences, mediations, hearings, and trials.
• Handling emergency or expedited enforcement actions when necessary.
• Providing guidance and mentorship to NLC attorneys and law clerks.
• Collaborating with community groups, residents, merchants, and public agencies.
• Attending evening/weekend community meetings as needed.
• Working under the direction of a senior attorney while exercising a high degree of independence.
• Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION
Any combination of experience and education that likely would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Experience:
• DCA IV position: Five years of increasingly responsible work experience in one or more relevant areas of law comparable to a Deputy City Attorney III in the City of Oakland.
• A background in either federal or local government work is desirable, although not required.
• Candidates must have excellent writing and oral presentation skills.
Education:
• Law school graduate.
License or Certificate:
• A member in good standing of the California State Bar.
Additional Desirable Skills:
• Working knowledge of municipal, state and federal laws affecting City governance.
• Language skills, especially in Spanish, Cantonese and/or Mandarin.
Ability to:
• Interpret and apply various government codes and ordinances.
• Conduct research on legal problems and prepare sound legal opinions.
• Present cases in court and administrative proceedings.
• Brief and argue motions to a court.
• Analyze and prepare a wide variety of legal documents.
• Handle stressful and sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy, including across lines of difference and throughout the spectrum of diversity.
• Provide professional leadership, guidance and technical expertise to assigned staff.
• Work independently or as part of a team.
• Bring compassion, creativity, and clarity to challenging legal issues related to poverty and racial justice.
• Communicate effectively in both oral and written form with City officials, representatives of outside agencies and the public, and in litigation.
• Complete varied assignments within a narrow time frame.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and other contacts in the course of work.
• Inspire confidence and respect for legal advice.
• Skillfully and professionally present legal advice to clients, including the elected and high-level appointed officials.
HOW TO APPLY
Submit a cover letter and resume by email to: jobs@oaklandcityattorney.org
Candidates selected to proceed in the hiring process will be asked to submit additional information (e.g., a writing sample, references, answers to supplemental questions, and a formal City of Oakland employment application).
The City of Oakland is an Equal Opportunity / ADA employer