Deputy City Attorney II/III/IV in Anaheim, California at City of Anaheim

The City of Anaheim seeks a versatile, dynamic, and dedicated Deputy City Attorney II, III or IV for the Anaheim City Attorney's Office. This position offers the opportunity to advise City departments and officials on a broad range of municipal law matters and to work on challenging legal issues affecting one of California's largest and most dynamic cities. Depending on the candidate’s experience, interest, and skill set, as well as the needs of the Office, assignments may include code enforcement, labor and employment counseling, public safety and police advisory work, civil litigation, administrative proceedings, contract drafting and negotiation, Public Records Act compliance, and providing legal counsel on a wide variety of municipal matters. In addition, this position will assist the City Attorney on various city projects as needed.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated knowledge and experience in one or more areas of municipal law, including code enforcement, labor and employment, public safety and police issues, civil litigation, or related practice areas. All candidates must have a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school and be in good standing with the State Bar of California. Technical acumen and strong verbal presentation and writing skills are also highly desired.

Salary Range:

• Deputy City Attorney II: $147,410 - $221,114

• Deputy City Attorney III: $162,519 - $243,114

• Deputy City Attorney IV: $170,645 - $255,967

Note: The City of Anaheim reserves the option to hire at either Deputy City Attorney II, III or IV level based on the candidate’s experience, qualifications and the selection process.

The following functions are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed functions and/or may be required to perform additional or different functions from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

For the full scope of duties: Deputy City Attorney II

For the full scope of duties: Deputy City Attorney III

For the full scope of duties: Deputy City Attorney IV

Act as a legal advisor to the City Attorney and City departments on a variety of legal topics, including constitutional law, contract law, employment law, privacy issues and Public Records Act requests.

Advise City departments on labor and employment issues, including performance evaluations, disciplinary matters, grievances, arbitrations, accommodation requests and discrimination-related complaints; represent the City in lawsuits, grievance proceedings and arbitration hearings.

Prepare and review contracts and policies; draft ordinances, resolutions, staff reports memoranda and other legal and administrative documents.

Advise and participate in legal and administrative proceedings related to Code Enforcement and Business Licensing, including civil and/or criminal actions, abatement proceedings and receivership actions.

Prevent and minimize legal exposure by providing advice to City officers and employees on matters related to the area of assignment/specialty.

Attend and participate in professional group meetings; maintain awareness of new trends and developments in the field of municipal law; incorporate new developments as appropriate.

Perform related duties as required.

Experience and Education;

Deputy City Attorney II: Two years of responsible experience directly related to area of assignment/specialty.

Deputy City Attorney III: Four years of responsible experience directly related to area of assignment/specialty, including two years of advanced journey-level experience within the area of assignment.

Deputy City Attorney IV: Six years of responsible experience directly related to area of assignment/specialty, including two years of advanced journey-level experience within the area of assignment.

License/Certification Required: Membership in the State Bar of California and license to practice in the federal courts. Possession of an appropriate, valid CA driver’s license.

Knowledge of:

• General Municipal law and advising and representing public agencies and officials. Familiarity with the following areas of law is highly desirable: the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the California Public Records Act, the California Peace Officers’ Bill of Rights Act, and Civil Rights and Constitutional law as applied to government actors (particularly 42 U.S. Code section 1983 and the First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments).
• Civil litigation, motions, and trials.
• Municipal, state, and federal laws and policies applicable to public agencies and government operations. Experience in law enforcement, human resources and/or code enforcement is desirable.
• Legal research methods and local court rules and procedures.
• Municipal contracting principles and practices
• Public contact and community relations.

Ability to:

• Advise department heads and City staff on complex issues related to municipal government operations; examine potential legal impacts and risks.
• Provide legal advice and guidance on various matters, including employment disputes, litigation and/or Code Enforcement or law enforcement operations
• Effectively communicate one-on-one, in internal and public meetings that require clear, concise, and objective responses to complex legal questions.
• Creatively and efficiently research and analyze complex legal issues.
• Prepare organized, persuasive, and nuanced legal opinions and briefs.
• Work independently in investigating facts, researching legal precedents, defining legal and factual issues, drafting necessary legal documents and developing conclusions and recommendations.
• Maintain very high ethical standards.
• Navigate California's local government political/financial/legal landscape.
• Work as a member of a team and devise collaborative solutions to issues and problems.
• Meet deadlines and work in a challenging and fast-paced legal environment.

IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION

Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. The deadline for the first review of applications is on Monday, August 24, 2026 at 5:00PM. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Applicants that apply after the first review are not guaranteed to be considered for this recruitment. This recruitment may close at any time without notice after the first review date.

Please submit a cover letter describing your interest in and suitability for the position, as well as a resume. The selection process will consist of a minimum of an oral interview. Writing samples may be required as part of the selection process.

The eligibility list established from this recruitment may also be used to fill the current and/or additional vacancies throughout the City.

Candidates must be specific and complete in describing their qualifications for this position. Failure to state all pertinent information may lead to elimination from consideration. Stating "See Resume" is not an acceptable substitute for a completed application.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a reference / background check (to include a conviction record) and pass a post-offer pre-employment medical examination (which will include a drug/alcohol screening). The City of Anaheim utilizes E-Verify and new employees must provide documentation to establish both identity and work authorization.

Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email regularly throughout the recruitment process as you will not receive communications by any other method.

Equal Opportunity Employer