Deputy City Attorney (Criminal and Community Justice Division)

Salary: $99,195.00 - $168,397.00 Annually
Location : 1200 Third Avenue, Suite 700, San Diego, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number:
Division: Criminal
Unit/Section: Division-wide
Opening Date: 09/15/2026
Closing Date: 10/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

JOB INFORMATION
The of the San Diego City Attorney's Office is conducting a recruitment to fill a Deputy City Attorney position. Our deputies prepare and prosecute misdemeanor criminal cases in the City of San Diego by handling a variety of motions, misdemeanor jury trials, and conducting legal research. Strong preference will be given to applicants with some courtroom experience who have tried cases to jury verdict. These are entry-level positions (Deputy City Attorney I & II) and positions for applicants with some experience prosecuting criminal cases (Deputy City Attorney III). Those hired will be assigned initially as prosecutors in our , the , or assigned as needed to strengthen our diverse units within the Please see the website for the different units within the Division.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES

Deputies in the Criminal and Community Justice Division routinely:

• Provide effective prosecution of misdemeanors and infractions occurring within the City.
• Review citations, arrest reports, and other law enforcement documents for legal sufficiency and constitutional compliance to determine whether misdemeanor charges should be filed based on the facts and evidence.
• Represent the People of the State of California in pre-trial, trial, post-trial, and appellate matters.
• Independently manage assigned cases; confer with witnesses and victims of crime; negotiate plea agreements with defense counsel; anticipate problems and pursue solutions; and formulate a trial strategy.
• Conduct legal research; draft complaints; analyze and draft accurate and complete legal documents such as pleadings, legal responses, affidavits, memoranda, and briefs as required.
• Identify and subpoena witnesses, records, and other information required to present the case; and prepare discovery responses.
• Coordinate follow-up investigations by City Attorney investigators, law enforcement personnel, and regulatory agency personnel.
• Independently conduct jury and bench trials; competently examine witnesses; develop and present jury instructions; demonstrate excellent oral advocacy skills from jury selection to closing argument.
• Handle a variety of court appearances including sentencing and restitution hearings.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Applicants are required to:

• Possess a J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association or foreign equivalent.
• Be licensed to practice law and an active member in good standing with the State Bar of California at the time of hire.
• Possess strong analytical, research, writing, and oral presentation skills; be a practical problem-solver and team player; have good time management skills; and demonstrate effective communication and conflict resolution skills.

Ideal candidates will have:

• 1+ years of criminal law experience at a prosecutorial agency, which may include work as an intern, law clerk, or volunteer attorney for DCA I & II positions.
• 4+ years of experience practicing criminal law for DCA III positions.
• Strong criminal justice background.
• Strong legal writing and oral presentation skills; and exceptional organizational skills.
• Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may also be considered.

Attorneys in this position must be able to travel to locations outside the office for court hearings, depositions, or meetings; therefore, possession of a valid California Class C driver's license and personal vehicle or other means to travel are required. Successful applicants must pass a criminal background and reference checks. Employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Work-life balance is important to us! The City Attorney's Office generally supports remote teleworking and the position may allow for a hybrid schedule with a mix of in-office and remote work after the introductory and probationary period. Please refer to the Office's teleworking policy.
Compensation and Benefits: The successful candidate's annual salary is based on the Deputy City Attorney salary table and dependent on qualifications and level of relevant legal experience. For further salary information, refer to the
In addition to a competitive salary, the City of San Diego offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Participation in the City's Flexible Benefits Plan, which offers several optional benefit plans or a taxable cash option.
• $50,000 in City-paid life insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Paid annual leave (paid time off) accruing at 22 days per year for the 1st through 15th year of service.
• San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS) defined benefit (pension) plan.
• Voluntary Defined Contribution Plans (401(k)/457(b)).
• Post-Employment Health Reimbursement Account (PEHRA)
• Holidays - Eleven paid holidays are provided annually and one Floating Holiday in a fiscal year.
• Long-Term Disability Income Plan.

Other Miscellaneous Benefits:

• Free MTS transit pass.
• City-awarded discretionary leave (paid time off).
• Up to eight weeks of paid Parental Leave.
• Paid time off for jury duty.
• Up to 40 hours of paid Bereavement Leave each fiscal year.
• Employee Assistance Program.

To learn more about all the employee benefits, please review the

For further information, please contact the Risk Management Department at (619) 236-6600. Retirement benefits for this unclassified position depend on the candidate's eligible status (new hire, rehire, etc.).

How to Apply:
The San Diego City Attorney's Office accepts To apply, select the position title of the job opportunity and click the "Apply" link. If you need assistance, please refer to our

To be considered for this position, applicants will need to submit the following by the closing date:

• San Diego City Attorney employment application, including supplemental questions.
• Cover letter, resume, and unofficial law school transcript.
• A writing sample (no more than 5 pages; can be an excerpt of a document) that demonstrates their legal writing skills and reflects their own original work product.
• List of 3 (professional and personal) references.

Following the closing date, resumes will be screened according to the qualifications outlined above. Only the most qualified candidates will be invited to interview. If a job has an extended deadline, applications will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached. The interview process may be used to fill additional, future vacancies.