PARALEGAL - PROSECUTION DIVISION

City Attorney

Exempt | Location: Civic Center

Annual Salary

$80,722.00 - $128,913.00

contact information

Human Resources
2139787160
atty.recruit@lacity.org

job description

About Us
The Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney is one of the nation's largest municipal law offices. It has more than 1,000 legal professionals, including more than 500 attorneys. The City Attorney is the Chief Counsel to the City and the Chief Prosecutor for the City of Los Angeles. The Office provides a wide range of legal services, prosecutes criminal misdemeanors, plays a leading role in criminal justice reform, advises on homelessness initiatives, defends civil lawsuits and claims, and brings civil enforcement actions in the name of the People of the State of California.

Guided by an overarching commitment to integrity, service and accountability, we find great meaning in the work we do and the services we provide. We seek collaborative team players who understand that fulfilling our mission is key to making a positive impact.

Description
The Criminal Branch is responsible for the processing of misdemeanor cases filed throughout the City of Los Angeles. The Criminal Branch offices are:

Central
200 N. Main Street, 5th Floor, Los Angeles 90012

Metropolitan
1945 S. Hill Street, Room 501, Los Angeles 90007

Pacific
11701 S. La Cienega Blvd., Room 430, Los Angeles 90045
100 Oceangate, Suite 510, Long Beach, CA 90802

Van Nuys
6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 160, Van Nuys 91401
900 3rd St., San Fernando, CA 91340

Hollywood - Mental Health Courthouse
5925 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028

Duties and Responsibilities
The Paralegal will work closely with the attorneys, with the primary duties including, but not limited to:

• Performing paralegal assignments, and providing general support, in litigation and non-litigation matters related to the operations of the Criminal Branch;
• Assisting the assigned attorneys as needed in the filing and prosecution of criminal cases;
• Conducting legal and factual research. Factual research will include but is not limited to extensive research into business ownership and organization; business histories; bankruptcies; business and professional licenses; litigation histories of ongoing or past lawsuits; property ownership histories through title history reports and public databases; and defendant and witness backgrounds;
• Obtaining documents and records from other City, County, State, or Federal agencies;
• Preparing draft correspondence, motions, and other pleadings for review by the assigned attorney;
• Managing and organizing case files;
• Researching, compiling, and preparing information into reports and spreadsheets including but not limited to grant funded work and other operational or administrative needs;
• Compiling, organizing, and analyzing documents;
• Contacting, scheduling, and coordinating witnesses;
• Preparing exhibits for motions and trials;
• Working collaboratively with assigned attorneys and other employees of this office, law enforcement, other City departments and personnel, opposing counsel, and the public as necessary;
• Maintaining and updating current information in all necessary databases;
• Providing prosecutors with trial support including but not limited to witness coordination and trial document preparation;
• Operate vehicle as needed to provide support at court proceedings or any of the Criminal Branch Offices located throughout Los Angeles County; and
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Requirements
Either (1) certificate of completion of an accredited paralegal training program or (2) a degree from a postsecondary institution that requires the successful completion of a minimum of 24 semester units, or the equivalent in law-related courses, and which has been accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization or approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

The position requires a self-motivated, quick learner who can exercise independent judgment and is capable of working with minimum supervision. Applicants must also possess impeccable ethics, excellent organizational skills and pay close attention to detail. Applicants must have the ability to work and communicate well within a team environment involving employees of this Office, other agency personnel, and members of the public.

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to express ideas orally and in writing in a clear, organized, and persuasive manner.

The hours for this position are generally 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, subject to operational needs. Reliable attendance and punctuality are essential.

A valid Driver’s License.

Applicants must possess impeccable ethics, excellent organizational skills, and have the ability to work well with attorneys and staff of this Office, personnel from other agencies, and members of the public.

Desired Qualifications
• Experience in the area of criminal law and/or civil litigation.
• Proficient personal computer skills and use of Word, Excel, Google, Adobe and Lexis/Westlaw.

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

Conflict of Interest
This position is designated as Category 10 on the Conflict-of-Interest Code.

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

How to apply

Application and Deadline

Interested candidates should go to: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacityattorney/ to apply online by Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

Qualified applicants will be invited to interview. Position will remain open until filled.

exempt employment

If employment is said to be exempt, it is meant that the employment is exempted from the civil service provisions of the City Charter. In order to receive a regular civil service appointment, employees must have successfully participated in a civil service examination, received a high enough score on the examination to be placed on and receive an appointment from an eligible list, and they must serve a probationary period. Exempt employees do not compete in a civil service examination, they are not placed on an eligible list and receive an appointment from that list, nor do they serve a probationary period. As a result, exempt employees do not have what is referred to as a “property interest” in their job. Exempt employees serve at the will of the appointing authority and can be terminated at any time without cause. Employees with a property interest in their job, i.e. civil service employees, cannot be deprived of their employment(discharged or suspended) without due process.

General Information About Exempt Employment

Exempt employees serve at the will of the appointing authority, and as such, they may be discharged, suspended or otherwise disciplined without cause. Exempt employees have no property interest in their employment, and any procedural benefit or other prerogative extended to them by their appointing authority is not intended to create and does not create any such property interest. No officer or employee of the City may make to any other officer or employee any representation of a property interest in employment which does not correspond to Charter provisions unless the City Council, by ordinance, permits such representation. No unauthorized representation can serve as the basis of an employee's reliance on, or expectation of, a property interest.

Employees Seeking To Become Civil Service Employees

There is no protective leave for an exempt employee appointed to a civil service position. Upon receiving a civil service appointment and passing probation, the former exempt employee will be subject to the Civil Service provisions described in Article X of the City Charter. Upon appointment, the civil service employee will begin to accrue displacement and layoff seniority on the first day of his/her civil service appointment and may file for promotional examinations for which s/he qualifies. A full or half-time exempt employee appointed to a full or half-time civil service position continues to: contribute to the Retirement System; accrue vacation time; accrue sick time; receive anniversary date salary increases; and, receive health and dental benefits identical to those received in the civil service position.

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