Deputy City Attorney I

THE POSITION

With supervisor approval, incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work; however, they must physically reside within the Sacramento region or have the ability to regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice.

IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT

The Community Advocacy Public Safety Division seeks a motivated entry-level attorney eager to immerse themselves in high-volume courtroom advocacy. The ideal candidate is an aspiring litigator ready to make daily court appearances (4–5 times per week) while refining their persuasive written and oral skills. They will be a collaborative team player who can also manage independent assignments with confidence. While prior legal experience is not required, a foundational understanding of criminal law and procedure is preferred. This role is structured and budgeted strictly as an entry-level position to foster early-career development. As such, candidates with significant prosecutorial or advanced litigation experience may not be the best match for the scope of this role.

Under close supervision of a Supervising Deputy City Attorney, the Assistant City Attorney and City Attorney, the Deputy City Attorney I provides professional legal services for the City of Sacramento and its boards, commissions, officers, and departments, and performs related work.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is a professional-level classification populated with multiple incumbents assigned to the City Attorney’s Office. In general, the Deputy City Attorney I incumbents' work may involve representing the City in civil, criminal and administrative proceedings including the abatement of city code violations, research, preparation and filing of court documents, appearances before judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, and education of City staff.

The Deputy City Attorney I is the entry-level to moderately experienced working level of Deputy City Attorney. As experience is gained, employees are expected to develop the capability to perform work with less supervision, and perform at a higher professional level. Incumbents are expected to use sound professional judgment and skill in performing work, which is reviewed and approved by a Supervising Deputy City Attorney, and in some cases, by the Assistant City Attorney or the City Attorney. The Deputy City Attorney I is distinguished from next higher level classification of Deputy City Attorney II in that the Deputy City Attorney I works under closer supervision and on less complex legal problems.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Supervision is provided by a Supervising Deputy City Attorney. The Deputy City Attorney I does not supervise.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

TYPICAL DUTIES

• Performs legal research and prepares opinions on various legal problems for the City Council, City of Sacramento, and its boards, commissions, offices, and departments.
• Prepares and offers advice on ordinances, resolutions, contracts, leases, and other legal documents; reviews documents and offers advice as to the legal acceptability of such documents.
• Investigates claims and complaints by or against the City; gives advice on action to be taken; prepares cases for hearings; represents the City in such hearings.
• Handles civil law problems, including the preparation of cases for trial.
• Provides legal advice on City policies and procedures.
• Initiates and defends cases involving the City, prepares the required pleadings; may serve as trial counsel for the City before County, State and Federal courts at all levels.
• Initiates and defends cases involving the City, prepares the required pleadings; serves as a trial counsel for the City before State and Federal courts at all levels.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Municipal, state, federal and constitutional laws affecting city government.
• Methods of legal research.
• Court and administrative agency procedures, including pleading requirements and rules of court and evidentiary rules
• Ethical and other Rules of Professional Conduct that regulate the practice of law.

Skill In

• Utilizing in a proficient manner available computer equipment and software, and other law office technology to format, prepare and process documents in reasonably efficient manner.
• Automated legal research.

Ability To

• Acquire within a reasonable time, knowledge of City Code, City ordinances, City Charter; and other laws related to municipal legal affairs.
• Read and comprehend legal documents quickly and efficiently.
• Use sound judgment in providing legal advice
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships
• Work well under the pressure of a heavy caseload and complete assignments within specified time limits.
• Begin to recognize issues of political sensitivity and notify supervisor of the same.
• Deal effectively and diplomatically with City officials, outside agencies and attorneys, and the public.
• Deal effectively and diplomatically with other office support and professional staff.
• Draft and present persuasive legal arguments.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Research a variety of technical and legal issues and make recommendations demonstrating the exercise of sound legal advice.
• Apply legal knowledge to varied problems.
• Analyze and prepare a wide variety of legal documents.
• Prepare appropriate pleadings and other documents in litigation cases, and represent the City in administrative and judicial proceedings, at the trial and appellate level.
• Work effectively and cooperatively in a team environment.
• Provide general direction to support staff.
• Demonstrate skill in learning to understand varied non-legal subjects, in analyzing non-legal problems, and in relating non-legal subjects and problems to applicable law.
• Undertake and complete assigned projects on own initiative with supervision and direction.
• Inspire and impart confidence and trust.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned by a Supervising Deputy City Attorney, the City Attorney or Assistant City Attorney.

Experience And Education

Experience

General knowledge of the practice of law to moderate knowledge and experience in municipal law.

Education

LLB, JD or other equivalent law degree which entitles a candidate to sit for the California Bar Examination.

PROOF OF EDUCATION

Should education be used to qualify for this position, then proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment . Unofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable.

An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credential's evaluation service. Evaluation of education records will be due at time of appointment.

Special Qualifications

Member in good standing with the California State Bar Association with no record of practice related discipline; have no felony convictions and be of moral character. Qualified to practice law before all courts in California and relevant Federal Courts, including the Ninth Circuit and U.S. Supreme.

PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP

Proof of the required membership and/or license should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment. Unofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable.

THE SELECTION PROCEDURE

Please note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e-mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox.

• Application: (Pass/Fail) – All applicants must complete and submit online a City of Sacramento employment application by the final filing deadline;
• Employment applications must be submitted online; paper applications will not be accepted.
• Employment applications will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified:
• If applicants do not list current and past job-related experience in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week).
• If "see resume" is noted in the "Work Experience" section; a resume will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section.
• Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position.
• Proof of certification and/or license should be submitted online with your application. Proof of certification and/or license will be required at time of appointment.
• Supplemental Questionnaire: (Pass/Fail) – In addition to the City of Sacramento employment application, all applicants must complete and submit online responses to the supplemental questionnaire to the City of Sacramento Employment Office by the final filing deadline;
• Responses to the supplemental questionnaire must be submitted online; paper questionnaire will not be accepted.
• Incomplete supplemental questionnaire will not pass the review process; omitted information cannot be considered or assumed.
• A resume will not substitute for the information required in the supplemental questionnaire.
• Possession of the minimum qualifications is not necessarily a guarantee for further advancement in the selection process.
• Screening Committee: (Pass/Fail) - All applications received by the final filing deadline will be forwarded to the hiring department for review. The hiring department will select the most competitive applications for further consideration. Human Resources will only evaluate employment applications for the minimum qualifications, as stated on the job announcement, for applications selected by the hiring department.
• Interview Process: Human Resources will forward applications to the hiring department. Those determined to be the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in an interview process.
• Conditional Hire: Upon receipt of a conditional offer, the selected candidate must complete and pass Live Scan/fingerprinting. If applicable, candidates may also need to pass a pre-employment medical exam, controlled substance and/or alcohol test, and possess any required licensure or certification prior to receiving a start date from the Department. Failure to meet these prerequisites will be grounds for withdrawal of your conditional offer of employment.

Questions

For questions concerning this job announcement and the application process:

• Please visit for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the application process.
• For technical support between 6 AM - 5 PM PT, contact Live Application Support at View phone number on workus.org.
• Visit the City of Sacramento Human Resources Department website at
• Send an email to ***email_hidden***; or
• Call the Human Resources Department at View phone number on workus.org

Bilingual Pay

Did you know that the City offers bilingual pay? That's right, most labor agreements offer the option of providing employees with bilingual pay if the department deems it to be operationally necessary.

Pension Reform Act

The City of Sacramento is covered by the California Public Employees' Retirement System, and as such, must adhere to the California Public Employee's Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) of 2013. Please note that the provisions within this act may affect or impact an applicant's eligibility and/or selection for open vacancies at the City of Sacramento.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Sacramento is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Additional Information

Civil Service Rules:

Union Contracts:

Salary Schedule:

APPLICATION : I understand my application must meet the minimum qualifications for consideration of employment with the City of Sacramento. The experience I list in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section of the employment application will be used to determine if I meet the minimum qualifications as stated on the job announcement. A resume, responses to the supplemental questions requiring a narrative response, employment history listed elsewhere in the application or attachments will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section of the employment application. Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week). Please refer to the City of Sacramento's Applicant Resources Page for Screening Instructions:

• Yes

PROOF OF EDUCATION: To qualify for this classification you may use any combination of education and/or experience as listed to provide required knowledge, skills, and abilities. I understand proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with my application and will be required at the time of appointment if I am using education to qualify for this position. Please refer to the City of Sacramento's Proof of Education Requirements ( ) for information on accepted documentation.

• Yes

EDUCATION CONFIRMATION: If I am using education to qualify for this position, I attest I possess or will possess the following level of education by time of appointment if I am selected for this position.

• No units from an accredited college or university
• Less than 30 semester or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• 30 semester or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• Associates Degree
• 90 semester or 135 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctorate

PROOF OF MEMEBERSHIP: I understand proof of membership to the California State Bar Association should be submitted with my application and will be required at the time of appointment.

• Yes

MEMBERSHIP CONFIRMATION: I attest I am in good standing with the California State Bar Association with no record of practice related discipline; have no felony convictions and am of moral character. Furthermore, I attest I am qualified to practice law before all courts in California and relevant Federal Courts, including the Ninth Circuit and U.S. Supreme.

• Yes
• No
• Required Question