Appointment Type: Permanent Exempt (PEX) position; individuals who are appointed to Exempt Positions are appointed at the pleasure of their appointing officer and are considered to be "at-will." + Application Opening: January 30, 2025 + Application Deadline: Continuous, earliest close 5:00 p.m. Thursday, February 13, 2025 + Compensation Range: $232,492- $282,568 + Recruitment ID: RTF0152861-01152114 The City Attorney’s Office seeks an experienced litigator to supervise and personally handle litigation against the City and County of San Francisco (City) involving constitutional issues (“civil rights cases”). Examples of civil rights cases include defending members of law enforcement in 42 U.S.C. 1983 federal actions and defending the City in state court civil rights actions. About the Office The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office is an innovative, nationally-recognized municipal law office working to protect and advance the rights and interests of the City and County of San Francisco and its residents. With just over 300 talented and dedicated employees, the Office provides exceptional legal services to the City’s Mayor, Board of Supervisors, officials, and departments. Our work empowers City leaders with effective, responsive, and creative legal solutions and representation so they can deliver critical public services, and our affirmative advocacy enhances the lives and wellbeing of San Francisco’s residents and visitors. The Office recognizes that diversity in the backgrounds, identities, ideas, and lived experiences of our employees enriches our workplace and enhances our work. We aspire to recruit, employ, retain, and promote talented individuals representing the full spectrum of our community, and welcome all candidates, including candidates of any race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and age, and candidates with disabilities. We have a clear vision: to be the place where a diverse mix of people want to come and stay, grow professionally, and find purpose and engagement, and where all employees feel welcomed and respected for their full authentic selves, and valued for their work and contributions to the Office and the City. To learn more about the Office’s efforts to provide a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where employees feel they belong and can meaningfully contribute, please click here (https://www.sfcityattorney.org/2020/12/09/herrera-forms-racial-equity-task-force-to-address-racial-equity-and-enhance-diversity-and-inclusivity-at-city-attorneys-office/) . The Office offers remote work to eligible employees, with three days onsite and up to two days remote work. To learn more about the City Attorney’s Office please visit: https://www.sfcityattorney.org/ (about:blank) About the Trial Team The Trial Team is a collaborative, nimble, and dynamic group of over 40 attorneys and support staff and the largest team at the City Attorney’s Office. The Team primarily defends lawsuits filed against the City and County of San Francisco and its employees in state and federal court, handling all phases of litigation, from case intake and assessment, litigation strategy, discovery and document review, motion practice, settlement evaluation and negotiation, trial, and appeal. The Team’s docket is broad, and ranges from personal injury accidents to taxation, land use to constitutional torts. The Trial Team represents employees from all City departments and touches every aspect of the City’s operations, from transit to sewer, law enforcement to public health. Trial Team members also work on cross-team assignments on an as-needed basis, including helping City departments assess litigation risks, respond to third-party discovery, and respond to crisis situations. Deputy City Attorney Position and Responsibilities Attorneys on the Trial Team are assigned defensive matters, primarily involving accidents or injuries involving City operations, but also including constitutional claims and contractual disputes. Attorneys are assigned their own caseloads and have primary responsibility for all aspects of their cases, from responding to lawsuits, filing and arguing motions, trying cases before a jury, all the way to appeal.  Attorneys should expect to make regular appearances in court and depositions as the first chair on all of their cases. The Trial Team regularly schedules weekly meetings for attorneys to roundtable and discuss their cases before the entire team. Attorneys are also supported by direct supervisors, the Assistant Chief, and the Chief Trial Attorney for significant decisions on cases. The ideal candidate for this position will have significant civil litigation and jury trial experience, particularly in federal court, as well as strong writing and editing skills. The ideal candidate will possess excellent oral advocacy and communication skills. Strong organizational skills are also essential, including attention to detail. The ideal candidate must also possess a robust desire to mentor, guide, motivate, and support other attorneys in civil rights cases. The ideal candidate must demonstrate high ethical standards, exemplary judgment, and a creative, problem-solving approach. The ideal candidate must also be comfortable taking deliberate and responsible risks where warranted, and able to competently value litigation matters and recommend settlements to the Chief Trial Deputy for submission to the City Attorney and Chief Deputy City Attorney.  The Head Attorney for Civil Rights Defense will meet regularly with the Chief Trial Deputy, Assistant Trial Deputy, and other lead attorneys on the Trial Team for coordination on new assignments, briefings on significant matters, and other issues impacting the Trial Team. Minimum Qualifications + Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience as a practicing attorney, with emphasis on jury trial and courtroom work, including at least two (2) years of responsible supervisory experience; and  + Licensed to practice law in California. Desired Qualifications + 10 years or more of civil litigation experience, with an emphasis on litigation involving civil rights. + Substantial civil trial experience in federal court, through verdict. + At least five federal civil cases tried to verdict. + Substantial experience defending law enforcement members in federal civil litigation matters. + Strong research, writing, and editing skills. + Strong oral advocacy and presentation skills. + Exhibits excellent judgment. + Diplomatic and tactful. + Humble and empathetic. + Committed to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment. + Ability to effectively manage relationships with team members, peers, and supervisors, including the ability to collaborate, delegate, and motivate others.  + Ability to effectively provide clear and concise guidance and direction. + Ability to deliver constructive feedback and follow up as needed, mentor and guide career development of all team members. + Ability and willingness to seek and incorporate constructive feedback. Verification Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements” Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco. All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application. Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores. Selection Procedures The selection process will include evaluation of applications in relation to minimum requirements. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to the interview. Depending on the number of applicants, the Department may establish and implement additional screening mechanisms to comparatively evaluate the qualifications of candidates. If this becomes necessary, only those applicants whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the Department will be invited to participate in the oral/performance interview. Salary and Benefits The Deputy City Attorney position has a 5-step salary scale ranging from $232,492- $282,568. The successful applicant is appointed to a salary step based on years of experience as a lawyer. The City offers robust health, retirement, and other benefits. For more information please visit: https://sfdhr.org/benefits-overview. Attorneys are represented by the Municipal Attorneys Association. Information about compensation and benefits can be found by entering Classification Code 8182 at https://careers.sf.gov/classifications/. Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco: + Information About the Hiring Process (https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process) + Conviction History + Employee Benefits Overview  (https://sfdhr.org/benefits-overview)   + Equal Employment Opportunity (https://sfdhr.org/equal-employment-opportunity)   + Disaster Service Worker (https://sfdhr.org/disaster-service-workers) + ADA Accommodation + Veterans Preference (http://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process#veteranspreference) + Right to Work + Copies of Application Documents (https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process#copies) + Diversity Statement HOW TO APPLY Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.sf.gov/ and begin the application process. + Select the “Apply Now” button and follow instructions on the screen + Make sure to include your CA Bar Number in the education section on your application + Upload a Cover Letter and a Resume Applicants who advance in the selection process must submit three references and one writing sample. Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com). Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received. Human Resources Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please send your inquires to Asa Nojd, HR Analyst, at asa.nojd@sfcityatty.org. The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.