Deputy City Attorney I/II - Workers' Compensation

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Description

The Workers’ Compensation Division is responsible for defending the City of Los Angeles in industrial injury claims litigated before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. Attorneys in the Workers’ Compensation Division represent the City of Los Angeles in workers’ compensation cases filed by City employees.

Duties and Responsibilities

The responsibilities of these positions require appearances before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) and on occasion, in the State Appellate Courts. The City also has several Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs in operation and some attorneys will be required to handle mediation and arbitration for claims filed by city employees who are covered by ADR Agreements. The WCAB is a state administrative agency with exclusive jurisdiction over disputed employee claims for benefits for injuries arising out of employment. Pre-trial discovery and appellate processes often accompany these cases. Other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Applicants for this position must have a license to practice law in all of the courts in the State of California. Additional requirements include:

• A least two years of experience practicing in California workers' compensation law;
• Familiarity with medical terms and the ability to analyze medical reports and diagnostic records;
• Familiarity with WCAB rules and regulations and hearing procedures;
• An understanding of the California disability rating system;
• Attorneys must be willing and able to handle a case load that requires travel throughout Southern California for court appearances, as well as perform other duties as assigned.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience practicing in California’s workers’ compensation law of four years or more;
• Demonstrated excellent research and writing skills in complex areas of law;
• Familiarity with ADR programs and the ability to represent the City in mediation and arbitration in ADR claims;
• Ability to deal effectively with public officials, personnel from many City Departments, and members of the public;
• Strong oral communication skills; and
• Appellate experience.

Required for Application

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Writing sample - A Petition for Reconsideration, Trial Brief or Petition for Writ of Review are preferred.

Supplemental Information

Current Location

The Workers Compensation Division is located at 700 East Temple Street, Room 220, 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

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 Conflict-of-Interest Code.

Contact

Questions? Please email [email protected].