JOB

History of the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office

"The city attorney is both the city government's lawyer and a criminal prosecutor. In its early days, Los Angeles had a prosecutor whose duty was to defend public rights. One of the municipal officers specified in the 1850 Act of Incorporation was the city attorney. The 1925 charter added a city prosecutor. That office was abolished in 1932, and the city attorney assumed its duties. The city attorney shares responsibility for prosecuting crime in the city with the elected district attorney of the county of Los Angeles. The district attorney prosecutes felonies while the city attorney prosecutes misdemeanor violations occurring in the city. The city attorney handles more than 100,000 misdemeanor cases a year. The city attorney's Municipal Counsel Branch acts as the lawyer for departments, elected officials and city commissions. As counsel to the city, the city attorney may be asked to interpret the city charter, a document that may sometimes be open to several interpretations. Another important duty of the city attorney is to represent the city in civil litigation. The city attorney works with city departments on risk management issues to reduce legal liability for the city and also defends the city in cases involving workers' compensation. City officials. departments and commissions rely on the city attorney for advice on how to provide public notice of meetings and how to run meetings with due regard for public comment. The city attorney now also advises neighborhood councils, as it does other city bodies and departments. on an as-needed basis". -Dr. Raphael J. Sonenshein . Los Angeles: Structure of a City Government. League of Women Voters of Los Angeles. 2006

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES

Internship

The Office of the City Attorney invites students currently enrolled in high school, an undergraduate program or a master’s program. We have opportunities available in various branches and divisions of the office. Review the description of each branch and division here.

Law Clerk

The Office of the City Attorney invites students currently enrolled in Law school (1L, 2L or 3L) or in an LLM program to consider us for an internship. We have opportunities available in various branches and divisions of the office. Review the description of each branch and division here.

Law clerk applicants may qualify to be a certified law clerk. For more details visit. Ihttps://www.courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index.cfm?title=nine&linkid=rule9_42

Internship / Law Clerk Sessions

Session

Program Dates

Fall

September - November

Spring

March - May

Summer

June - August

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Location

Placement can take place in any of the city attorney's offices throughout the City of Los Angeles. Location options and preferences will be discussed with applicants selected for an interview.

Questions

Contact Danette Garcia danette.garcia@lacity.org.

Welcome to the Hire Law Job Board!

Los Angeles City Attorney's Office (CA) jobs

Internship / Law Clerk (Fall 2026)