SUPERVISING ATTORNEY - PUBLIC PENSIONS

SUPERVISING ATTORNEY
PUBLIC PENSIONS GENERAL COUNSEL DIVISION
MUNICIPAL LAW BRANCH
SALARY
Deputy City Attorney IV: $ 184,286 - $ 269,414
Assistant City Attorney: $ 202,118 - $ 295,514

About Us
The Los Angeles City Attorney's office is one of the nation's largest municipal law offices. With over 1,000 legal professionals, including 500 attorneys, the Office provides the City with the highest caliber of legal services, ranging from prosecuting criminal misdemeanors and playing a leading role in criminal justice reform, advising on homelessness initiatives, defending civil lawsuits and claims, and bringing civil enforcement actions in the name of the People of the State of California.
Guided by an overarching commitment to integrity, accountability and transparency, we find great meaning in the work we do and the services we provide.

The Public Pensions General Counsel Division (the Division) serves as general counsel to the three Los Angeles City retirement plans: the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS), Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions (LAFPP), and the Water and Power Employees’ Retirement Plan (WPERP) (together, the Plans). The Plans cumulatively invest more than $70 billion in trust funds and administer retirement and healthcare benefits as fiduciaries for tens of thousands of Plan members and their beneficiaries. Division attorneys work closely with the pension boards of commissioners (Boards), executive management, and staff.

Division attorneys enjoy a complex and diverse practice. Division attorneys: (1) advise on fiduciary and ethical duties, conflicts of interest, municipal law, constitutional law, plan benefits and administration, City Charter and Administrative Code interpretation, real estate and investment transactions, trust and probate law, tax law, securities regulations, health care law, and data privacy and cybersecurity law; (2) draft contracts, City legislation, and administrative policies; (3) represent the Plans in litigation, including defending against petitions for writs of mandamus and civil lawsuits challenging Board actions and affirmatively prosecuting securities litigation; (4) regularly participate in commission and committee meetings, including presenting in open and closed session, providing Board trainings, and assisting the Boards to conduct disability retirement hearings; and (5) assist the Plans to serve their members by resolving legal issues and reviewing documents that affect members’
retirement benefits, including trust, dissolution, and probate documents. Attorneys also supervise and partner with specialized outside counsel on real estate, investment, tax compliance, cybersecurity, data privacy, fiduciary, and securities litigation and corporate engagement matters.

Division attorneys have opportunities to participate in public pension attorney educational conferences on both state and national levels and to pursue professional development courses and continuing legal education.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Supervising Attorney will report to the Municipal Branch Chief and Assistant Branch Chief and be responsible for the following:
• Staffing Board and Board committee meetings and advising the Boards in open and closed session on procedural and substantive matters;
• Overseeing the Division’s work to assure strong, collaborative client relations, consistently high-quality work product, and efficiency in operations and flexibility in staffing assignments;
• Overseeing and providing procedural, substantive, and strategic guidance to the Division’s attorneys in their representation of the Boards and the Plans;
• Interacting directly with City leadership, Plan leadership, and Office Executive Management on issues being handled by the Division;
• Overseeing the training and professional development of the Division’s attorneys and staff
• Counseling attorneys and staff regarding performance;
• Collaborating with other sections of the Office to assure consistent, integrated advice;
• Assisting with establishing Office policies and ensuring uniform implementation of the goals, policies and procedures of the Office; and
• Coordinating the selection and oversight of outside counsel, in coordination with the Outside Counsel Oversight Division and Outside Counsel Committee

Requirements
• Applicants must be licensed to practice law in all courts in the state of California, the United States District Court for the Central District of California and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit;
• Excellent writing and editing skills;
• Strong verbal communication and advocacy skills;
• At least five (5) years of practice in public pension law;
• Strong leadership and managerial skills; and
• Ability to successfully manage multiple projects and meet client and Office deadlines

Desired Qualifications
• Experience supervising, coaching, and/or mentoring attorneys and support staff;
• Ability to use discretion and sound judgment to resolve sensitive issues and handle confidential information;
• Knowledge of and experience with laws and regulations applicable to public retirement plans, including laws impacting benefits and investments;
• Experience managing, working within, or interacting with, private law firms, including outside counsel;
• Ability to work effectively and professionally with public officials, including appointed and elected officials;
• Enthusiasm for engaging collaboratively and respectfully across City departments and with diverse pension plan stakeholders, including labor groups and public safety officers;
• Familiarity with California municipal law, including the California Public Records Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act; and
• Experience with Office-led, Bar association-affiliated, or other organizations and programs furthering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Writing Samples
Candidates are required to submit two (2) writing samples personally composed by the applicant in the last four (4) years, which may include briefs and/or legal memoranda.

Benefits Offered

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Tax-Advantage Spending Accounts
• Retirement Plan (LACERS)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457(b))
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• 13 Yearly Holidays
• Vacation
• Personal Leave
• Floating Holidays
• Sick Leave
• Bereavement Leave

Telework
This position may qualify for up to 3 days of telework per week.

Location
LACERS’ headquarters building 977 N. Broadway Ave., Los Angeles, California 90012.

Probation
Appointment to this exempt position (non Civil-Service) will be subject to a two (2) years probationary period as required by Section 1050 of the City Charter. Successful completion of the two (2) years probationary period will result in tenure with the office.

Classification
Internal applicants: Placement in this position will initially be as a lateral transfer with the selected candidate assuming the position in their current classification. Upon six months of satisfactory performance, individual may be considered for promotion.

Application and Deadline
Attorneys interested in applying should submit their cover letter, resume, and writing samples in ONE (1) MERGED PDF FILE to [email protected] specifying #3403 SUPERVISING ATTORNEY – PUBLIC PENSIONS GENERAL COUNSEL DIVISION in the subject line by JULY 12, 2024.
Qualified applicants will be invited to interview.

Conflict of Interest
This position is designated as Category 1 on the Conflict of Interest Code.

Contact
Questions? Please email [email protected].