Supervising Deputy City Attorney for Affirmative Litigation, Innovation, and Enforcement--DCA V

Salary Range: $200,244.48 - $245,841.84 annually (Salary based upon experience)

Benefits: Health, dental, vision, retirement, telecommuting, and other competitive benefits Recruitment Opens: August 26, 2025

Initial Application Requirements: Cover letter and resume

Deadline to Apply: Open until filled

THE POSITION

The Office of the City Attorney seeks a highly qualified, innovative, and community-oriented experienced attorney who is committed to public service. This attorney will be a Deputy City Attorney V (DCA V), the most senior deputy city attorney classification, and will handle, oversee and coordinate the most complex cases and supervise other attorneys. This DCA V will (1) supervise the attorneys in the Community Lawyering and Civil Rights, Housing Justice Initiative, and Worker Protection units of the Affirmative Litigation, Innovation and Enforcement Division, as well as other affirmative litigation attorneys; (2) collaborate with and mentor other attorneys; and (3) serve as team leader on a number of cases.

The ideal candidate for this position will have expertise in affirmative litigation and advocacy, including but not limited to: (1) experience leading complex civil litigation in state and/or federal court, such as for other local, state, or federal government agencies, nonprofits, law firms, and/or unions; (2) experience working with partner/peer governments, organizations, firms, and/or other stakeholders on significant cases, campaigns, and/or negotiations; (3) subject matter expertise regarding at least some of the work of the Affirmative Litigation Division (e.g., workers’ rights, tenants’ rights, civil rights, public nuisance, environmental justice), and (4) experience with state and/or local legislative and/or regulatory policy, processes, and analysis. The ideal candidate also will have at least some experience and/or training in management and supervision.

In addition to the above, specific affirmative civil litigation experience involving constitutional law; climate justice; housing justice; economic justice; discrimination based on race, sex, or immigration status; unfair business practices; and/or consumer protection is desirable. Other beneficial knowledge and experience include: building and housing codes, blight and nuisance enforcement, foreclosed and vacant housing ordinances, advice to boards or commission and/or city councils or county boards or government departments or agencies; legislation and regulation drafting; administrative procedures, including administrative enforcement, remedies, and rule-making; other forms of litigation (including writs and appeals), and experience responding to press inquiries. 

It is a plus for candidates to be familiar with federal, state, and local authority for local government(s) to bring affirmative cases. Regardless of its origin, the candidate’s litigation experience should be sufficient to both directly handle complex affirmative litigation matters and to supervise and guide other attorneys.

The attorney will report to the Chief Assistant City Attorney and may receive general supervision from a Special Counsel, Chief Assistant City Attorney and/or the City Attorney. The City Attorney may assign the selected attorney to new, additional or different duties or practice areas in litigation, advice, or transactional work, including non- supervisory work.

Attorneys in this diverse and exciting Office and in this Division frequently work collaboratively with other attorneys, other City Departments, other municipalities and governmental institutions, and non-profits on a wide variety of issues. 

Department Description

The City Attorney’s Office provides legal advice and counsel to the City in areas including but not limited to land use, real estate, personnel, elections, conflicts of interest, municipal finance, retirement, housing, public contracting, and economic development. Services include drafting and reviewing contracts, legislation and other documents and potentially providing litigation services in the defense of ordinances and other administrative actions and in specialized areas including probate and bankruptcy. The City Attorney’s Office provides counsel to the City Council, Mayor, City Administrator, City Auditor, City departments, agencies and offices, and City boards and commissions, and various City-wide task forces. Incumbents perform a variety of professional legal duties involving civil municipal law issues.

The City Attorney’s Office also advocates the City’s interests in claims and lawsuits litigated in state and/or federal trial and appellate courts, including high-value personal injury cases, complex civil rights actions, breach of contract, personnel disputes, eminent domain actions, inverse condemnation and alleged constitutional violations. 

Affirmative Litigation Division Description

In 2016 City Attorney established the Affirmative Litigation, Innovation and Enforcement Division to focus on social, racial, economic and environmental justice for Oakland residents and the People of California. The missions of the City Attorney’s four Affirmative Litigation units – the Neighborhood Law Corps (NLC), the Housing Justice Initiative (HJI), the Community Lawyering and Civil Rights unit (CLCR), and the worker protection unit – all focus on injustices that impact Black, Indigenous, Latina/o/x, Asian / Pacific Islander, and other historically and/or presently marginalized communities.

The NLC is a longstanding community-facing unit that focuses on core life, health, and safety issues such as tenant protection, substandard housing, and public nuisance. There are five budgeted NLC attorneys; and they typically are relatively new to the practice of law. The NLC was established in 2002.

The HJI is dedicated to protecting marginalized Oakland tenants and preserving affordable housing in Oakland by enforcing tenants’ legal rights. HJI was founded in 2020 and is typically staffed by two attorneys.

The Community Lawyering and Civil Rights unit is dedicated to advancing systemic rights and opportunities for historically and presently marginalized communities in Oakland by enforcing, strengthening, and creating laws responsive to those communities’ needs, in furtherance of racial, economic, and environmental justice. CLCR was founded in 2016 and is typically staffed by at least two attorneys.

The City Attorney also seeks to establish a Worker Protection unit. Currently, the division has up to two worker protection attorneys funded by a state grant who focus on enforcing local and state labor laws in areas such as wage theft, paid sick leave requirements, worker misclassification, and safe working conditions.

Job Description

This position focuses on litigation, legislation, and policy work related to advancing racial, environmental, housing, economic, and other forms of justice in Oakland’s diverse neighborhoods. We are seeking candidates who are highly motivated problem-solvers, able to communicate effectively with diverse communities and stakeholders inside and outside of the City, and who enjoy a high level of responsibility and dynamic practice. 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: supervising other attorneys in litigation tasks (e.g., investigations; case evaluation; preparing pleadings; propounding and responding to discovery; taking and defending depositions; and preparing for and representing the City and/or the People of California in court, including settlement conferences, motions, at trial and on appeal), as well as performing those tasks themselves from time to time. The position may also require supervising attorneys on other, non-litigation projects (e.g., administrative enforcement of local ordinances, drafting of ordinances and resolutions, developing strategies to engage local civil society partners, and working closely with attorneys in a variety of public law offices), and may also require the attorney to perform those tasks themselves from time to time. 

Please view the complete job description, including minimum qualifications and benefits provided, at: https://www.oaklandcityattorney.org/wp-content/uploads/Job-Announcement-DCA-V-Affirmative-Lit.-August-2025-1.pdf

APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE THROUGH THE NEOGOV LINK ONLY--DO NOT APPLY VIA LINKEDIN.

You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm

The City of Oakland is an Equal Opportunity / ADA employer