Salary : $113,796.00 - $256,803.12 Annually
Location : Los Angeles, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
Branch: Criminal Branch
Division: Prosecution
Opening Date: 09/21/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Bargaining Unit: LACAA - MOU 29

Description
Criminal Branch attorneys prosecute misdemeanor criminal cases in courts located throughout Los Angeles. Typical cases include domestic violence, child abuse and endangerment, theft, assault and battery, vandalism, driving under the influence, violations of protective and other court orders, and other violations of state and local laws. Most prosecutors are placed in one of six courthouses staffed by the Office. Prosecutors may also be placed in the Regulatory Division that vertically prosecutes violations of building, fire, and other codes enforcement; the Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID) unit that vertically prosecutes drug-impaired driving cases; the Mental and Behavioral Health Unit that handles cases in which defendants' competency has been declared in doubt; or the Criminal Appellate Unit that handles writs, appeals, and some post-trial motions. The Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney works closely with local law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol and numerous city, county, state, and federal regulatory agencies to prosecute crimes against adults occurring in the City of Los Angeles.

The Criminal Branch offices are:

Central: 200 N. Main Street, 5th Floor, Los Angeles 90012

Metropolitan: 1945 S. Hill Street, Room 501, Los Angeles 90007

Pacific/Airport: 11701 S. La Cienega Blvd., Room 430, Los Angeles 90045

Pacific/Long Beach: 100 Oceangate, Suite 510, Long Beach, CA 90802

Van Nuys: 6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 160, Van Nuys 91401

San Fernando: 900 3rd St., San Fernando, CA 91340

Hollywood: 5925 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Annual Salary Range

Deputy City Attorney I: $113,796 - $166,413

Deputy City Attorney II: $135,636 - $198,297

Deputy City Attorney III: $175,642 - $256,803
Duties and Responsibilities
The essential job functions of the attorneys assigned to the Criminal Branch include reviewing referrals presented by a variety of law enforcement agencies for filing determination; making filing decisions including pre-filing diversion; initiating criminal complaints; assessing the value of cases for purposes of possible charge reductions, pleas and sentences; appearing in arraignment court; negotiating case dispositions; engaging in case preparation, including visiting the crime scene when appropriate; retrieval and review of digital evidence such as body worn video, digital in car video and social media posts; handling discovery, law and motion matters, and making related court appearances; handling and arguing diversion, mental competence, and similar motions; staffing and appearing in master calendar courts, direct set trial courts and post-conviction courts; conducting jury and court trials, including interviewing and preparing witnesses for trial, preparing and arguing pre-trial motions, delivering opening statements and closing arguments, examining and cross-examining witnesses, making appropriate evidentiary objections; handling all post-deliberation motions and appropriate sentence recommendations; handling writs and appeals and other post-conviction or post-disposition matter; and, all other duties and responsibilities associated with the prosecution of misdemeanor offenses handled by the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney.

Requirements
Requirements

• Licensed to practice law in all courts in the State of California.
• Current member in good standing with the California State Bar Association.

Desired Qualifications

Candidates with litigation and trial experience are strongly encouraged to apply. Additional preferred qualifications include:

• A broad knowledge of criminal law and procedure.
• Experience prosecuting misdemeanors.
• Experience with filing procedures and handling arraignment, master calendar, trial and post-conviction courts.
• Excellent oral communication skills and the ability to effectively engage in oral advocacy.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully interact with a wide variety of members of the public, law enforcement, and the court system with tact, sensitivity and good judgment.
• Strong research and writing skills.
• Familiarity with electronic databases and the electronic and digital presentation of evidence.
• Ability to assist in the preparation of reports, memoranda and legal research.
• Strong ethics and a desire to do justice.

Requirements for Application

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Summary of Qualifications - a brief written summary of their experience, including all pertinent training conducted and received
• Two writing samples that they personally have authored in the last two years.

Supplemental Information
Current Location

City Hall East, 200 N. Main Street, Los Angeles. Position is subject to assignment at any location of the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney.

Work Location and Parking

This position requires regular onsite work. Employer-provided parking is limited and may not be available for this classification. Employees may be responsible for securing and paying for parking at nearby facilities.

Applicants are encouraged to review available commute and transportation resources through the City's COMMUTEwell program. For more information, please visit:

Probation

Appointment to this exempt position (non Civil-Service) will be subject to a two year probationary period as required by Section 1050 of the City Charter. Successful completion of the two-year probationary period will result in tenure with the office.

Classification

Classification and salary placement will be determined based on the selected candidate's qualifications, relevant experience, the level and nature of the work, and other relevant considerations. Appointment at the DCA III level generally reflects experience performing more complex or specialized legal work.
Current employees selected for this assignment will be placed through a lateral transfer and retain their current classification, unless otherwise determined by the City Attorney in the exercise of the appointing authority.

Retirement Benefits

Employees participate in the Los Angeles City Employees' Retirement System (LACERS), which includes mandatory employee pension contributions through payroll deduction. The City also contributes toward the employee's retirement benefit. Contribution rates are established by the applicable retirement system and may vary based on employee classification, membership status, and other factors. For more information, please visit:

Application and Deadline

Interested candidates should go to: to apply online.

Conflict-of-Interest

This position is designated as Category 1 on the

Contact

Questions? Please email