Deputy Attorney IV – WRITS, Appeals AND Critical Motions

Position Summary

The Office of the City Attorney seeks a well-qualified individual with significant writs, appeals and critical motion and appellate experience for the position of Deputy City Attorney IV.

The City Attorney may assign the selected attorney to new, additional or different duties or practice areas in either litigation or transactional work. The City Attorney’s Office represents the City in lawsuits filed against or on behalf of the City, its officers, employees and agencies. The lawsuits, which are litigated in the state and federal court systems, include but are not limited to inverse condemnation actions, complex civil rights actions, high‑value personal injury actions, wrongful death actions, eminent domain actions, personnel disputes, collection of monies for the City, and employee disciplinary appeals before the Civil Service Board or hearing officers.

This is an unclassified position in which incumbents serve at the will of the City Attorney. Incumbents may receive general supervision from a Deputy City Attorney V, Special Counsel, Chief Assistant City Attorney or the City Attorney.

• Perform legal research, interpret and apply laws
• Appear in court to present, argue and try cases
• Prepare pleadings and other papers in connection with trials, hearings, discovery and other legal proceedings
• Review and evaluate case files and make decisions regarding proper disposition
• Study, interpret and apply laws, court decisions and other legal authorities in the preparation of cases, opinions and briefs
• Oversee outside counsel
• Skillfully and professionally present legal advice to attorneys and lay people and defend legal analyses
• Inspire confidence and respect for legal advice
• Interact with other in‑house attorneys as part of a team and occasionally as team leader to provide the best product for clients of the City Attorney’s Office

• Interpret and apply various government codes and ordinances
• Conduct research on legal problems; prepare sound legal opinions
• Analyze and prepare a wide variety of legal documents
• Present cases in court and administrative proceedings
• Handle stressful or sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy
• Communicate effectively in both oral and written form with City officials, representatives of outside agencies and the public
• Complete varied assignments within a narrow time frame
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties
  
  Possess working knowledge of legal research methods
• Inspire confidence and respect for legal advice
• Skillfully and professionally present legal advice to clients including the elected and high‑level appointed officials
• Interact with other in‑house attorneys as part of a team, and occasionally as team leader, to provide the best product to clients of the City Attorney’s Office

Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• DCA IV – Five years of increasingly responsible work experience comparable to a Deputy City Attorney III in the City of Oakland.

• Graduate of accredited school of law.

• A member in good standing of the California State Bar

This is a continuous recruitment. This recruitment may close without notice at any time. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:

Our online application system is provided by Neo Gov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact Neo Gov’s Live Applicant Support at  between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday – Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at  for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system.

Candidates selected to proceed in the hiring process will be asked to submit additional information (e.g., a writing sample, references, answers to supplemental questions, and a formal City of Oakland employment application). If you have questions about the position, email (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).