City Attorney Jobs
City Attorney jobs are open across municipal government, county agencies, and public sector law offices, from entry-level assistant city attorney roles to deputy and chief city attorney positions, with specializations in municipal law, land use, and public finance. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Job Summary
Join the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office
The Santa Monica City Attorney's office seeks an attorney with at least seven years of experience to serve as a Deputy City Attorney in the Civil Litigation Division. The mission of the Santa Monica City Attorney is to do excellent legal work efficiently and cost-effectively. As advisors to City officials and staff, to provide timely and complete assistance. As advocates, to represent the City and its employees vigorously and fairly. As prosecutors, to diligently and justly enforce the law on behalf of the People of California.
Per the Santa Monica City Charter, the City Attorney’s Office represents and advises the City Council and all City officials pertaining to their official duties. The City Attorney’s Office also prosecutes criminal cases against those accused of committing state and local misdemeanor offenses. The City Attorney’s Office also defends the City, City employees, and Councilmembers in civil lawsuits.
The office currently consists of 26 attorneys and 21 administrative professionals and is part of the citywide Realignment Plan that is working to restore Santa Monica to one of the premiere destination cities in the region. As part of the Realignment Plan, in October 2025, the City Council adopted recommendations that included a series of new investments and policy actions designed to transition the City from organizational stabilization toward economic revitalization. Since the Plan was adopted more than six months ago, the City has delivered measurable results across its five strategic priorities.
The City Attorney’s Office is pleased to be well-positioned to sustain and grow its team in support of the City’s evolving needs.
Position Overview
Duties may include but are not limited to:
The attorney will defend the City and its employees in civil litigation primarily in personal injury, employment, and law enforcement related claims. The successful applicant will have a combination of required and preferred qualifications, including high ethical standards and effective litigation skills.
Required Qualifications:
- Civil litigation experience, including dispute resolution.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and exercise sound legal and strategic judgment under pressure.
- High ethical standards, professional integrity, and commitment to public service.
- Strong communication, advocacy, legal research and writing skills.
- Creative, strategic, and analytical thinking in legal matters, with a positive problem-solving attitude.
- Ability to work collegially with colleagues and clients.
- License to practice law in the State of California and familiarity with the California Code of Civil Procedure.
Preferred, But Not Required, Qualifications:
- Experience litigating cases in Federal Court.
- Jury Trial experience.
Work Schedule
Division work assignments are subject to change based on the operational needs and workload of the City Attorney’s Office overall. The hours of the position are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on alternate Fridays. This is a 9/80 work schedule. Hybrid remote work schedule is currently available but not guaranteed, with a minimum of three days in the office. Evening and weekend duties may be required to attend City Council meetings, and other public meetings or events.
Application Instructions and Compensation
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample of no more than ten pages, and the names of three references (will not be contacted prior to interview). These materials should be submitted in a single pdf document by email to CAO.Opportunities@santamonica.gov with the subject line: “Application – DCA, Civil Litigation Division.” Candidates must apply by Saturday, June 27, 2026, when consideration of applicants will begin.
A background check will be required prior to beginning employment. Salary is dependent on qualifications and experience, excellent benefits.
Salary range is Deputy City Attorney II, Steps 1-5 $140,808 to $173,832 and Deputy City Attorney III, Steps 1-5, $218,124 to $269,292. This position is at will but part of the Public Attorneys Union.
Equal Opportunity Employer. See the EEO Policy on the City Attorney’s Office website.
Job Summary
Join the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office
The Santa Monica City Attorney's office seeks an attorney with at least seven years of experience to serve as a Deputy City Attorney in the Civil Litigation Division. The mission of the Santa Monica City Attorney is to do excellent legal work efficiently and cost-effectively. As advisors to City officials and staff, to provide timely and complete assistance. As advocates, to represent the City and its employees vigorously and fairly. As prosecutors, to diligently and justly enforce the law on behalf of the People of California.
Per the Santa Monica City Charter, the City Attorney’s Office represents and advises the City Council and all City officials pertaining to their official duties. The City Attorney’s Office also prosecutes criminal cases against those accused of committing state and local misdemeanor offenses. The City Attorney’s Office also defends the City, City employees, and Councilmembers in civil lawsuits.
The office currently consists of 26 attorneys and 21 administrative professionals and is part of the citywide Realignment Plan that is working to restore Santa Monica to one of the premiere destination cities in the region. As part of the Realignment Plan, in October 2025, the City Council adopted recommendations that included a series of new investments and policy actions designed to transition the City from organizational stabilization toward economic revitalization. Since the Plan was adopted more than six months ago, the City has delivered measurable results across its five strategic priorities.
The City Attorney’s Office is pleased to be well-positioned to sustain and grow its team in support of the City’s evolving needs.
Position Overview
Duties may include but are not limited to:
The attorney will defend the City and its employees in civil litigation primarily in personal injury, employment, and law enforcement related claims. The successful applicant will have a combination of required and preferred qualifications, including high ethical standards and effective litigation skills.
Required Qualifications:
- Civil litigation experience, including dispute resolution.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and exercise sound legal and strategic judgment under pressure.
- High ethical standards, professional integrity, and commitment to public service.
- Strong communication, advocacy, legal research and writing skills.
- Creative, strategic, and analytical thinking in legal matters, with a positive problem-solving attitude.
- Ability to work collegially with colleagues and clients.
- License to practice law in the State of California and familiarity with the California Code of Civil Procedure.
Preferred, But Not Required, Qualifications:
- Experience litigating cases in Federal Court.
- Jury Trial experience.
Work Schedule
Division work assignments are subject to change based on the operational needs and workload of the City Attorney’s Office overall. The hours of the position are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on alternate Fridays. This is a 9/80 work schedule. Hybrid remote work schedule is currently available but not guaranteed, with a minimum of three days in the office. Evening and weekend duties may be required to attend City Council meetings, and other public meetings or events.
Application Instructions and Compensation
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample of no more than ten pages, and the names of three references (will not be contacted prior to interview). These materials should be submitted in a single pdf document by email to CAO.Opportunities@santamonica.gov with the subject line: “Application – DCA, Civil Litigation Division.” Candidates must apply by Saturday, June 27, 2026, when consideration of applicants will begin.
A background check will be required prior to beginning employment. Salary is dependent on qualifications and experience, excellent benefits.
Salary range is Deputy City Attorney II, Steps 1-5 $140,808 to $173,832 and Deputy City Attorney III, Steps 1-5, $218,124 to $269,292. This position is at will but part of the Public Attorneys Union.
Equal Opportunity Employer. See the EEO Policy on the City Attorney’s Office website.
See All 48+ City Attorney Jobs
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Find City Attorney JobsCity Attorney Job Market
A snapshot from current openings nationwide, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- City of New York9
- Epic6
- City and County of San Francisco4
- City of Philadelphia, PA3
- CITY OF SANTA MONICA2
Top Industries Hiring
- Government & Public Sector21
- Law & Legal Services20
- Technology & Software8
- Healthcare & Medical Services6
- Education3
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in city attorney jobs.
- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school
- Active bar admission in the applicable state
- Experience advising government agencies or public entities
- Knowledge of municipal law, zoning, and land use regulations
- Litigation experience in civil and administrative proceedings
- Familiarity with open meetings laws and public records requirements
Tips for Your City Attorney Job Search
Tailor your resume for municipal law
City attorney hiring panels look for direct experience with government contracts, ordinances, and public agency litigation. Rewrite your resume bullets to name the specific types of public law work you've handled, not just the practice area in general.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists city attorney openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Highlight bar admissions in every state
Many city attorney postings require admission to the bar of the state where the municipality sits. List every active bar admission prominently near the top of your resume so screeners don't overlook your eligibility before reading further.
Study the city charter before applying
City attorney panels frequently ask how you'd handle conflicts between state law and a local ordinance. Reading the hiring city's charter and any recent council resolutions before you apply lets you give concrete, jurisdiction-specific answers in your cover letter and interview.
Prepare written work samples in advance
Many city attorney searches require a writing sample of a legal memo, ordinance draft, or opinion letter. Identify two or three clean examples from prior public or municipal work now so you're not scrambling when a posting requests them on short notice.
Ask about council relationship expectations in interviews
City attorneys advise elected officials, which creates unique professional dynamics. Asking interviewers how the office handles situations where legal advice conflicts with a council member's preferred course of action signals political awareness that generic law firm candidates often miss.
City Attorney Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most city attorneys?
The companies hiring the most city attorneys right now include City of New York, Epic, and City and County of San Francisco, with the largest share of openings in New York, California, and New Jersey, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. Openings tend to cluster in rapidly growing municipalities that are expanding their in-house legal teams.
How many city attorney jobs are remote?
About 35% of city attorney openings are fully remote or hybrid as of June 2026, which is lower than most legal roles given that the position requires in-person attendance at council meetings and hearings. Advisory and drafting work, such as contract review and opinion writing, is the sub-area most likely to allow partial remote arrangements.
How do you become a city attorney?
You become a city attorney by earning a Juris Doctor, passing the bar in the state where you want to practice, and building experience in public agency law through assistant city attorney roles, government law clerkships, or civil litigation with public entity clients. Demonstrating knowledge of local government procedures, open meetings laws, and municipal finance strengthens your candidacy considerably.
Can you get hired as a city attorney with limited experience?
Yes, smaller municipalities and assistant city attorney positions regularly hire candidates with a few years of general civil litigation or government law experience rather than extensive municipal-specific backgrounds. Clerkships with state or federal courts, internships with county counsel offices, and any exposure to administrative law or regulatory practice all help bridge the experience gap when applying.
What does the city attorney interview process look like?
The city attorney interview process typically involves an initial screening with HR or a search committee, followed by a panel interview with department heads or council representatives who ask scenario-based questions on legal ethics, council relations, and specific municipal law problems. Finalists are often asked to submit a writing sample and may meet separately with the mayor or city manager before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to city attorney jobs?
You can find and apply to city attorney jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from municipalities and public agencies across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience, bar admissions, and preferred location, then apply directly to each position that fits.
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