LEGAL ASSISTANT I - EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION

About UsThe 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 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.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.DescriptionThe Employment Litigation Division is responsible for representing all City departments, other than the proprietary departments, in employment litigation brought by current and former employees. The Division's practice has a strong focus on employment litigation related to public safety employees (Police and Fire); however, cases often are brought by employees of other City departments.Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe Legal Assistant will work closely with attorneys, paralegals, investigators, and City risk managers. The Legal Assistant's primary duties will be to:• Serve as the trial technician at Division's trials and conduct the audio/visual presentation of evidence. Use of Sanction or similar software will be required. Creating video clips of deposition testimony, graphs, charts, and power points will also be required.• Enhance trial proceedings by organizing evidence, assisting paralegals in the preparation of trial exhibits, scheduling witnesses, ensuring that witnesses are ready when needed, and taking notes on courtroom proceedings.• Coordinate initial investigation of facts contained in new complaints with LAPD Investigating Officers, and summarize facts for the handling attorneys.• Assist paralegals in obtaining documents from client departments, including documents produced in electronic form; organize, analyze and compile documents and information from City departments for future use in discovery; flag documents critical to either the plaintiff's claims or the defense.• Update the Division's trial team calendar.• Perform other related duties as assigned.RequirementsSix 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.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. This position also requires a person who: is self-motivated, learns quickly, can exercise independent judgment and work with minimum supervision; is able to work well with other employees of this office and personnel from other agencies, as well as members of the public; takes direction, works well under pressure and pays close attention to detail. Applicants must be proficient in the use of personal computer equipment.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 QualificationsApplicants should be generally familiar with tort law and the California Government Code, or have a general knowledge of labor law or employment law principals. Applicants should also be proficient with Adobe Pro.How to applyRequirements for Application• Cover Letter• ResumeConflict-of-InterestThis position is designated as Category 10 on the Conflict-of-Interest Code.Application and DeadlineInterested candidates should go to: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacityattorney/ to apply onlineby Tuesday, May 5, 2026.Qualified applicants will be invited to interview.ContactQuestions? Please email atty.recruit@lacity.org.exempt employmentIf 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 EmploymentExempt 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 EmployeesThere 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.