LEGAL COUNSELOR I (ATTORNEY) (AT WILL) - City of Torrance
Torrance, CA
About the Job
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS TO READ THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THIS POSITION.
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The City of Torrance recognizes the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce, applicants and community members. If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for change, apply to the City of Torrance today.
The City of Torrance invites your interest in the position of
LEGAL COUNSELOR I (ATTORNEY) to be part of the City Attorney's Office!
The current vacancy is in Criminal Prosecution.
The current vacancy is in Criminal Prosecution.
The City
Torrance California, the eighth largest city in Los Angeles County, is situated in a region of Southern California known as the South Bay. This City of nearly 150,000 residents, with a peak day-time population that grows to 250,000 or more, spans an area of almost 22 square miles including 1 mile of beach.Torrance features world-class medical and research facilities, vibrant shopping, four-star dining, as well as an intricate mix of burgeoning industrial and commercial facilities. Torrance is one of the few cities in the South Bay to feature its own municipal airport and support facilities. It is also considered to be a "headquarters" city, with major corporations such as Sunrider International, Alpinestars USA, Health-Ade Kombucha, Pelican Products, L3 Harris Technologies, RapiScan Systems, American Honda Motor Company, and Robinson Helicopter Company all calling Torrance home.
The Department
The Office of the City Attorney advises and represents the City Council and City Departments on all legal matters in which they are involved, and prosecutes state law misdemeanors and Municipal Code violations that occur within the City of Torrance. To accomplish this goal, the office is organized across three divisions: Criminal Prosecution, Civil Litigation, and General Advice. City Attorney Patrick Q. Sullivan, Assistant City Attorney Tatia Y. Strader, and Law Office Administrator Alice Rusa manage the office that is steeped in tradition and encourages a collegiate environment with cohesive camaraderie. The Office is comprised of six Deputy City Attorneys, four Legal Assistants, and a Systems Analyst.
The Criminal Prosecution Division
The Criminal Prosecution Division prosecutes, on behalf of the People of the State of California, state law misdemeanors that occur within the City of Torrance. Such crimes typically include domestic violence, driving under the influence, drug possession and theft-related violations. In addition, the Division prosecutes violations of the Torrance Municipal Code.
The Civil Litigation Division
The Civil Litigation Division represents the City of Torrance in lawsuits where the City is a party to the lawsuit, including but not limited to civil rights, employment, and tort matters.
The General Advice Division
The General Advice Division provides a broad range of general legal advice and services. It drafts and defends local laws as required by the City Council and City departments. The Division provides advisory and transactional work for the City and represents the City in civil cases involving planning, land use, housing, environmental issues, labor issues, contracts, and business disputes.
The Position
Legal Counselors are entry-level attorneys that perform a wide variety of duties involving criminal prosecution (infractions and misdemeanors), civil litigation, and general municipal practice. There is currently one vacancy in the Criminal Prosecution Division. In the Criminal Prosecution assignment area, incumbents file, prepare, and prosecute misdemeanor criminal cases in the City of Torrance by conducting legal research, handling a variety of motions and appeals, and conducting misdemeanor trials. Legal Counselors report to a Deputy City Attorney that serves as a working supervisor.
Typical office hours include a 9/80 compressed work week schedule from Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., closed on alternate Fridays. Staff is also required to work some off Fridays, evenings, weekends, and holidays, as necessary in order to complete various duties.
Other key responsibilities of the Legal Counselor I position include:
- Marshaling facts, conducting legal research, and analyzing applicable legal issues.
- Reviewing police reports, supplemental reports, and evidence to determine sufficiency for filing of criminal complaints.
- Conducting criminal pretrial hearings, arraignments, trials, motions, appeals, and otherwise handles all phases of criminal prosecution.
- Developing strategies, arguments, and gathering and reviewing evidence in preparation for presentation of cases.
- Maintaining calendars, files, and docketing information for prosecution and other matters.
- May direct the work of clerical employees, making detailed work assignments, frequently reviewing work in progress and carefully reviewing completed work.
- Representing the City in administrative hearings, litigation, arbitrations, trials, and appeals.
- Drafting, reviewing, and amending correspondence, memoranda, agenda reports, written opinions, real property transactional documents, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and other legal documents.
Monthly Salary Range
$8,910 (Minimum) - $10,692 (Reference) - $12,296 (Maximum)
Appointments are made between the minimum and the reference point of the range, depending on qualifications. This position is on a merit pay plan which is based on performance. During the first year of employment, meritorious work may be recognized with a special wage adjustment up to a maximum of 10% outside of the merit pool upon approval by the City Manager.
$8,910 (Minimum) - $10,692 (Reference) - $12,296 (Maximum)
Appointments are made between the minimum and the reference point of the range, depending on qualifications. This position is on a merit pay plan which is based on performance. During the first year of employment, meritorious work may be recognized with a special wage adjustment up to a maximum of 10% outside of the merit pool upon approval by the City Manager.
Job Type: Permanent Full-time
Agency: City Attorney's Office
Location: Torrance
Source : City of Torrance
