Deputy City Attorney (Civil Litigation Division, Land Use, Writs, and Appeals Unit)

See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

The San Diego City Attorney's Office protects the people of San Diego by serving as chief legal counsel to the City of San Diego’s elected officials and operational departments; prosecuting and defending civil cases involving the City; and as the City’s prosecutor on behalf of the People of the State of California, by holding accountable those who commit crimes against the public health and safety and violate other local and state laws. Our municipal law firm employs over 180 lawyers and approximately 230 support staff, dedicated to providing legal services to the City of San Diego.

The Civil Litigation Division of the San Diego City Attorney’s Office is conducting a recruitment to fill a Deputy City Attorney position in the Land Use, Writs, and Appeal Unit. This position reports directly to the Chief Deputy City Attorneyof this Unit.  

The Land Use, Writs, and Appeal Unit prepares and defends civil actions on behalf of the City in state and federal court, including challenges based on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), eminent domain, constitutional issues related to the use of land, real estate development, failure to comply with the Municipal Code or City procedures, and land use-related decisions by the City Council, Planning Commission, and City staff. 

In addition to land use related cases, the Unit handles validation actions, declaratory relief actions, and Code of Civil Procedure sections 1085 and 1094.5 writs, including, but not limited to, challenges to funding and revenue sources such as City taxes and fees, pension/retirement claims, California Public Record Act cases, as well as pre and post-election challenges. The Unit also handles numerous land use appeals and assists or handles appeals from other Litigation Units.