City Attorney Jobs in California
City Attorney jobs in California are concentrated in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where city governments, county agencies, and large public sector bodies maintain active legal offices staffed at every level from staff attorney to city attorney general. The City of Los Angeles, the City of San Francisco, and the City of San Diego are among the most established and consistent employers of city attorneys in the state. California's most in-demand specialties include municipal law, land use and zoning, labor and employment, and civil litigation on behalf of public entities. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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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 five 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.
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.
Compensation
- Annual Salary: DCA II Steps 1-5 $143,628 - $177,312
- Annual Salary: DCA III Steps 1-5 $222,492 - $274,680
- Work Schedule: 9/80 schedule with alternating Fridays off
- Hybrid Work: Currently available
- Application Deadline: Thursday, October 1, 2026
- Benefits: Comprehensive City benefits package
- Employment Status: At-will position represented by the Public Attorneys Union
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 two days in the office, moving to a minimum of three days in the office in January 2027 (Tuesday – Thursday). Evening and weekend duties may be required to attend City Council meetings, public meetings or events.
Application Instructions
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 Thursday, October 1, 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 $143,628 to $177,312 and Deputy City Attorney III, Steps 1-5, $222,492 to $274,680. 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 five 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.
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.
Compensation
- Annual Salary: DCA II Steps 1-5 $143,628 - $177,312
- Annual Salary: DCA III Steps 1-5 $222,492 - $274,680
- Work Schedule: 9/80 schedule with alternating Fridays off
- Hybrid Work: Currently available
- Application Deadline: Thursday, October 1, 2026
- Benefits: Comprehensive City benefits package
- Employment Status: At-will position represented by the Public Attorneys Union
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 two days in the office, moving to a minimum of three days in the office in January 2027 (Tuesday – Thursday). Evening and weekend duties may be required to attend City Council meetings, public meetings or events.
Application Instructions
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 Thursday, October 1, 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 $143,628 to $177,312 and Deputy City Attorney III, Steps 1-5, $222,492 to $274,680. 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.
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Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
City Attorney Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
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What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in city attorney jobs across California.
- Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California
- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school
- Experience advising government bodies on municipal or public agency law
- Demonstrated expertise in California land use, zoning, or public contracts law
- Strong written and oral advocacy skills for litigation and council presentations
- Familiarity with the California Public Records Act and Brown Act compliance
City Attorney Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a city attorney in California?
To become a city attorney in California, you must earn a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and pass the California Bar Examination administered by the State Bar of California, which licenses all attorneys practicing in the state. Most city attorney positions also require several years of experience in municipal, government, or civil litigation work. Larger California cities typically prefer candidates with a public law background before hiring at the city attorney level.
Which companies hire city attorneys in California?
Companies currently hiring city attorneys in California include City and County of San Francisco, City of Oxnard, and CITY OF STOCKTON, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's large municipal governments and regional public agencies are consistently among the most active employers, given the state's size and the volume of regulatory, land use, and public contract work that requires dedicated in-house legal counsel.
Which California cities have the most city attorney jobs?
San Francisco, Irvine, and Oxnard have the most city attorney openings in California. Los Angeles and San Francisco generate the highest volume because of their large city government structures, dense regulatory environments, and concentration of county and regional agencies, while San Diego's strong municipal infrastructure and growing public sector support steady demand for legal professionals across city departments.
Are there remote city attorney jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. City attorney work is largely on-site by nature, requiring attendance at council meetings, court appearances, and in-person consultation with department heads. About 88% of city attorney openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with remote arrangements most common for contract review, research-heavy advisory roles, or positions at smaller agencies that rely on outside counsel.
How can I get hired as a city attorney in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a staff attorney or deputy city attorney role within a California city attorney's office, which are entry-level positions that larger cities like Los Angeles, San Jose, and Sacramento fill through structured recruiting cycles. The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office and the San Francisco City Attorney's Office both run new attorney programs that accept recent bar admissions. Lateral moves from public defender offices, county counsel offices, or state agency legal departments are also common routes, and passage of the California Bar Exam is the credential that matters most at this stage.
Where can I find and apply to city attorney jobs in California?
You can find and apply to city attorney jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across city governments, county agencies, and public sector legal offices. Search the listings, find the roles that match your experience and practice area, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 13 City Attorney Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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