Attorney Development Assistant

The Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney is one of the nation’s largest municipal law offices. With over 1,000 legal professionals, including 500 attorneys, the Office provides the City of Los Angeles ("City") with the highest caliber of legal services, ranging from prosecuting criminal misdemeanors and playing a leading role in criminal justice reform to advising on homelessness initiatives, defending civil lawsuits and claims, and bringing civil enforcement actions in the name of the People of the State of California.

Description There is an immediate opening for a Deputy City Attorney in the Housing and Homelessness Division (Division) of the Real Estate Branch for an attorney with experience in litigation, transactional matters, and advising public agencies.

The Division acts as legal counsel to: the City Council’s Housing and Homelessness-related committees; the Los Angeles Housing Department of Housing; the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), and various other housing-related boards and commissions. The Division regularly advises clients on various housing laws, such as the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Housing Code; housing production laws such as the State Density Bonus Law and Housing Crisis Act; the Community Redevelopment Act; fair housing and accessibility laws; state and federal statutes and regulations, and affordable housing financing programs. The Division also provides advice on issues related to the on-going operation of the City’s various homelessness related programs including Inside Safe, Interim Housing, the Coordinated Entry System (CES), the Homelessness Management Information System, and the annual homeless count.

The Division handles a wide range of advisory, transactional, and litigation matters, including drafting loans, grants, covenants, ground leases and related real estate documents for the development of affordable housing; drafting professional service (PSA) and funding agreements for various housing and homelessness related services, handling litigation in state and federal court arising out of the City’s housing-related work; The Division is also responsible for drafting all homelessness and housing-related ordinances. In addition, the Division provides municipal law advice, regarding the Ralph M. Brown Act and California Public Records Act to various City agencies, commissions, and committees, including the Rent Adjustment Commission, the Housing and Homelessness Committee, the United to House LA Citizens Oversight Committee, the LAHSA Commission, the Los Angeles Continuum of Care, and the Homeless Strategy Committee. The Division also provides legal advice to other City departments and officials regarding housing-related matters and projects.

Duties And Responsibilities The attorney selected for this position will handle a variety of advice, transactional, and litigation matters, as needed. Such duties may include the handling of complex real estate transactions involving the drafting of documents including, but not limited to loan agreements, disposition and development agreements and ground leases for affordable housing developments; assisting with the enforcement and administration of regulatory agreements and land use covenants; assisting with the review of Requests for Proposals (RFP’s), drafting PSA’s and funding agreements, interpreting federal and state statutes and regulations, and/or handling overflow assignments for the Division, as needed.

Requirements Minimum of five years of legal practice that includes litigation experience;

Licensed to practice law in all courts in the State of California and United States District Court for the Central District of California;

Strong legal analytical, written & oral communication, advocacy, and problem-solving skills;

Desired Experience / Knowledge Knowledge of and working experience with the California Redevelopment Act, Americans With Disabilities Act, Fair Housing Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is highly desired.

Knowledge of the Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Housing Code.

Familiarity with Municipal law and California housing laws.

Employees may be responsible for securing and paying for parking at nearby facilities. Probation Appointment to this exempt position (non Civil-Service) will be subject to a two year probationary period as required by Section 1050 of the City Charter. Successful completion of the two-year probationary period will result in tenure with the office.

Classification Current employees selected for this assignment will be placed through a lateral transfer and retain their current classification, unless otherwise determined by the City Attorney in the exercise of the appointing authority.

Retirement Benefits Employees participate in the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS), which includes mandatory employee pension contributions through payroll deduction. The City also contributes toward the employee’s retirement benefit. Contribution rates are established by the applicable retirement system and may vary based on employee classification, membership status, and other factors. AS A COVERED ENTITY UNDER TITLE Il OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY AND, UPON REQUEST, WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO ITS PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES.