Municipal Transactional & Public Agency Attorney Associate

Job Description

Job Description

Direct Counsel is seeking an experienced Municipal Associate with 5–7 years of transactional municipal experience to join a sophisticated and growing Public Law practice in Los Angeles, California .

This is an excellent opportunity for an attorney with significant experience advising cities, counties, special districts, and other public agencies on complex transactional, contracting, procurement, governance, and regulatory matters.

Location: Mainly Remote - Must reside in California! Responsibilities

• Advise public agency clients on sophisticated municipal transactional matters .
• Draft, review, and negotiate:
  • Public works contracts
  • Professional services agreements
  • Development agreements
  • Joint powers agreements
  • Other municipal and public agency agreements
• Advise public agencies regarding:
  • Public contracting requirements
  • Open meeting laws
  • Conflict-of-interest regulations
  • Related statutory and regulatory requirements
• Prepare staff reports, resolutions, ordinances, and agenda materials .
• Assist with public procurement processes, including drafting and reviewing RFPs and bid documents .
• Attend and present at city council, board, and commission meetings as needed.
• Interface directly with public officials, agency staff, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with attorneys across practice areas on matters involving land use, real estate, infrastructure, and regulatory compliance .
• Independently manage matters while providing practical and strategic advice to public agency clients.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of transactional municipal law experience.
• Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar .
• Significant experience advising public agencies on transactional matters .
• Strong contract drafting, review, and negotiation experience.
• Excellent legal research, writing, drafting, and analytical skills.
• Ability to independently manage matters and work directly with public officials and agency staff.
• Strong client-service orientation and sound professional judgment.
• Self-motivated with a strong work ethic and collaborative approach.

Preferred Experience

• Municipal and public agency representation.
• Public works and government contracting.
• Public procurement and RFP processes.
• Development agreements and joint powers agreements.
• Open meeting and conflict-of-interest laws.
• Preparing resolutions, ordinances, staff reports, and other municipal documents.
• Land use, real estate, or infrastructure-related public agency matters.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $170,000–$206,000 , depending on experience and qualifications.
• Annual performance-based bonuses.
• Discretionary and billable-hours bonus opportunities.
• Reasonable billable-hours requirement.
• Mainly remote work arrangement for California-based attorneys.
• Competitive health insurance benefits.
• 401(k) with partial employer match.
• Strong mentorship and professional development opportunities.
• Opportunities for meaningful client responsibility and career advancement.

Why This Opportunity

This role is particularly well suited for an experienced transactional municipal attorney who wants significant responsibility and direct interaction with public agency clients. The attorney will work on sophisticated government contracts, public works, procurement, development, infrastructure, and regulatory matters while advising public officials on important day-to-day municipal issues.

Direct Counsel is committed to connecting exceptional legal talent with premier legal employers and fostering inclusive hiring practices.