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 Legal Assistant will work closely with attorneys, support staff, law enforcement officers, and civilian representatives of state and federal agencies. The Legal Assistant’s primary duties include, but are not limited to:
- Execute searches in all existing local, state, national and international criminal databases for information that will assist in the prosecution of cases. The Legal Assistant will access, retrieve and interpret information from a wide variety of databases including TCIS, DMV, CCHRS/CII/FBI databases;
- Contacting and updating witnesses regarding their court appearances and case status;
- Securing discovery, documents, court records and other materials as needed from other City departments, law enforcement agencies, and private entities;
- Redacting of criminal history reports / police reports and determining what information is discoverable under the law;
- Analyze and organize discovery, including exhibits and motions;
- Provide discovery to opposing attorneys or their representatives;
- Assisting attorneys in court, including preparing exhibits for use at trial, preparing and securing litigation maps and obtaining and organizing certified copies of prior convictions and other pertinent court documents;
- Assisting with pre-trial matters, including filing motions with the court and service on defense counsel;
- Managing digital evidence, including the entry of incoming/outgoing video discs and radio calls;
- Prepare declarations for the introduction of DMV records at trial;
- Assist attorneys both in and out of court with managing their court calendars and updating case status in the Office’s case management system;
- Assist the attorneys with logging and tracking incoming defense motions and retrieving associated case files;
- As needed, act as the custodian of records for Metropolitan;
- Maintain all alcohol breath instrument records and ensure discovery compliance by forwarding to defense attorneys;
- Operate vehicle as needed to provide support at court proceedings or any of the Criminal Branch Offices located throughout Los Angeles County; and
- Perform other assignments as assigned.
Requirements
- Six months of legal administrative experience which requires knowledge of legal procedures and terminology and independent judgment in analyzing, interpreting and reviewing legal documents; -or-
- Successful completion of one Legal Assistant (Paralegal) class (equivalent to 3 units), which includes emphasis on legal procedures, terminology and the ability to use independent judgment in analyzing, interpreting and reviewing legal documents. Course may be taken through the City, a college or university.
- 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.
- 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 mandatory.
Desired Qualifications
• Experience with criminal law and procedure, including discovery concepts.
• Knowledge of criminal case management systems, Network Expanded Communications System (NECS), and the Trial Court Information System (TCIS).
Requirements for Application
• Cover Letter
• Resume
Current Location
Position is subject to assignment at any Criminal Branch office or location within the County of Los Angeles.
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.
