City Attorney

THE POSITION

See the full recruitment brochure here:

City of Sacramento - City Attorney | CPS HR Consulting

Ideal Candidate

The next City Attorney for the City of Sacramento will be a highly intelligent, solutions-oriented legal strategist who brings deep expertise in California municipal law, an appreciation for the complexities of state and federal frameworks, and the creativity to help the City achieve its goals within the law. The Council seeks a legal advisor who begins with “how we can” rather than “why we can’t”.

This individual will possess the intellectual rigor, confidence, and composure to navigate the full range of issues that come before a dynamic and visible capital city — from intergovernmental relations and high-profile litigation to emerging policy priorities in areas such as housing, equity, and public safety. The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable, thoughtful, and measured, recognizing when to advise, when to listen, and how to provide clear, factual counsel that empowers decision-makers.

As the leader of a high-performing, well-respected legal team, the City Attorney must be an effective manager and mentor — one who values collaboration, builds trust, and sustains a culture of professionalism and stability. The office has long been recognized for its quality, integrity, and low turnover, and the next City Attorney will be expected to preserve that strength while continuing to develop the team’s bench of talent. Strong leadership and communication skills are critical, as is the ability to manage risk thoughtfully — not by avoiding it, but by identifying, mitigating, and managing it responsibly.

The Council values a City Attorney who is ethical, nonpartisan, and steady — someone who provides candid legal advice without engaging in political or interdepartmental drama. While intellectually curious and creative, this person will also embody humility, discretion, and a “no-flash” approach to public service. In short, Sacramento’s next City Attorney will combine legal excellence, sound judgment, managerial skill, and a service mindset — protecting the City’s interests while enabling progress.

DEFINITION
Under legislative authority and executive-level policy direction, the City Attorney performs executive management duties by overseeing the activities and functions of the City Attorney's Office and supervises staff; performs highly advanced administrative and legal management work by providing legal advice, opinions, and services to the City Council, City Boards and Commissions and full time city staff; plans, directs, manages and oversees the activities and operations of the City Attorney's Office including civil counsel, criminal prosecution, and administrative proceedings.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is a single-position executive-level classification. The City Attorney is appointed by the City Council, and serves as the principal administrative officer for the City Attorney's Office. Duties are administrative/analytical and unusually difficult and complex in nature, involving highly specialized legal issues. The incumbent has functional authority/ responsibility for overseeing activities that have a Citywide legal impact, and for overall management of the day- to-day operations of the Office. This classification is distinguished from the classification of Assistant City Attorney by its executive responsibility and management of the Office and its broad responsibility for all City legal activities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Executive-level policy direction is provided by the City Council, though the City Attorney's authority and responsibilities are primarily established by City Charter and State Law. The incumbent has broad supervisory authority over a diverse group of management, supervisory, professional, technical, and clerical staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

- Assumes full management responsibility for all City Attorney's Office services and activities, including civil and criminal prosecution, general law sections; establishes priorities; performs short-term and long-term strategic planning and develops management goals and objectives for the Office; monitors the efficiency and effectiveness of work products through quality control and related activities; directs, prepares, and administers the Office budget.
- Selects, assigns, trains, directs, and evaluates subordinate staff, including subordinate managers, supervisors, professionals, and others.
- Provides legal-related advice, support, and information to City executives, department managers, and others; negotiates and resolves sensitive, significant, controversial, and complex legal matters; renders advice and opinions.
- Performs the most complex legal tasks and work including representing the City before appellate courts and administrative bodies; prepares civil cases for trial; investigates claims and complaints by or against the City; try cases before County, State and Federal courts; prosecute criminal cases as required.
- Analyzes legislation affecting the City, the City Attorney's Office and other legal matters; may testify before State or Federal legislative bodies on civil or criminal proceedings.
- Participates on committees and boards as required; attends meetings, conferences, and workshops as assigned; makes presentations to various groups and individuals; represents the City Attorneys' Office to other City departments, elected officials and outside agencies; explains and justifies City Attorney's Office policies and activities.
- Directs and/or prepares complex statistical and narrative reports, correspondence, and other documents.
- Performs other or related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:
- Current literature, laws, regulations, and developments, as well as various agencies, that impact municipal legal activities.
- Current principles and practices of public legal practice program development and administration, tort law and liability insurance litigation.
- Judicial procedures and rules of evidence, methods of legal research; established precedents applicable to municipal activities.
- Principles and applications of civil, criminal and administrative law; pertinent laws relating to zoning, subdivision of land, redevelopment, eminent domain, conflicts of interest, public records and labor law.
- Principles and practices of human resources management, supervision, and training.
- Public relations practices and techniques.
- Research methods and report writing techniques; advanced statistical analysis techniques.

Skill in:
- Advanced use of modem information technology equipment, including computers, software applications and peripherals.

Ability to:
- Lead, administer, and oversee a large city attorney's office; meet critical deadlines; make decisions under pressure; analyze complex legal issues and develop/recommend/implement solutions.
- Organize, interpret and apply legal principles and knowledge of complex legal problems; effectively apply legal knowledge and principles in court; present statements of law, facts and arguments clearly and logically.
- Analyze and interpret a wide variety of legal documents; prepare and present difficult and complex matters before the appellate courts and administrative tribunals.
- Conduct research on complex legal issues and prepare and sound legal opinions.
- Supervise subordinate personnel, including managers, supervisors, and professional staff, in performing complex legal-related duties.
- Read and interpret laws and regulations impacting municipal city attorney activities.
- Establish effective working relationships with public officials, public/private agencies, the general public, and others on a variety of issues.
- Prepare and present complex narrative, financial, and statistical reports, correspondence, and other documents.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:
Five years of supervisory analytical work in a city attorney or county counsel's office, including at least two years at a management level equal to or higher than the Sacramento City class of Assistant City Attorney. Ideally, such experience should have been gained in a large (population 250,000 or higher) metropolitan jurisdiction.

Education:
Equivalent to a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Must be a current member of the State Bar of California. Qualified to practice law before all California State and Federal Courts.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commitment:
Develop, engage in, and advance the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mission Statement for the City Attorney’s Office. https://www.cityofsacramento.org/CityAttorney/Overview

THE SELECTION PROCEDURE

HOW TO APPLY:
For consideration, apply by Monday, November 24, 2025 at: https://cpshr.us/recruitment/2538/

QUESTIONS?
For further information contact:

Pam Derby

(916) 263-1401

E-mail: pderby@cpshr.us

Bilingual Pay
Did you know that the City offers bilingual pay? That's right, most labor agreements offer the option of providing employees with bilingual pay if the department deems it to be operationally necessary.

Pension Reform Act
The City of Sacramento is covered by the California Public Employees' Retirement System, and as such, must adhere to the California Public Employee's Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) of 2013. Please note that the provisions within this act may affect or impact an applicant's eligibility and/or selection for open vacancies at the City of Sacramento.

Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Sacramento is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Additional Information

Civil Service Rules: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/hr/documentlibrary/CivilServiceBoardRules62012.pdf

Union Contracts: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/labor-agreements.html

Salary Schedule: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/hr/documentlibrary/SalarySchedule.pdf

Closing Date/Time: 11/24/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of Sacramento

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