Description

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS TO READ THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT IN ITS

ENTIRETY BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THIS POSITION.

The City of Torrance recognizes the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce, applicants and community members. If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for change, apply to the City of Torrance today.

The City of Torrance is recruiting for a Legal Assistant II to be part of the City Attorney's Office!

The current vacancy is in Civil Litigation.

The City

Torrance, California, the eighth largest city in Los Angeles County, is situated in a region of Southern California known as the South Bay. This City of nearly 150,000 residents, with a peak day-time population that grows to 250,000 or more, spans an area of almost 22 square miles including 1 mile of beach.

Torrance features world-class medical and research facilities, vibrant shopping, four-star dining, as well as an intricate mix of burgeoning industrial and commercial facilities. Torrance is one of the few cities in the South Bay to feature its own municipal airport and support facilities. It is also considered to be a "headquarters" city, with major corporations such as Sunrider International, Alpinestars USA, Health-Ade Kombucha, Pelican Products, L3 Harris Technologies, RapiScan Systems, American Honda Motor Company, and Robinson Helicopter Company all calling Torrance home.

The Office

The Office of the City Attorney advises and represents the City Council and City departments on all legal matters in which they are involved. To accomplish this goal, the office is divided into three divisions: General Advice, Civil Litigation and Criminal Prosecution. City Attorney Patrick Q. Sullivan, Assistant City Attorney Tatia Y. Strader and Administrator Jessica Corona manage the office. Six Deputy City Attorneys, four Legal Assistants and a Systems Analyst complete the office's staffing.

The Civil Litigation Division

The Civil Litigation Division represents the City of Torrance in lawsuits where the City is a party to the lawsuit. Claims filed against the City must be filed with the City Clerk.

The Criminal Prosecution Division

The Criminal Prosecution Division prosecutes, on behalf of the People of the State of California, state law misdemeanors that occur within the City of Torrance. Such crimes typically include domestic violence, drunken driving, drug possession and theft-related violations. In addition, the Division prosecutes violations of the Torrance Municipal Code. The Criminal Prosecution Division hosts a Loss Prevention Workshop once a year. The purpose of the Loss Prevention Workshop is to enhance communication and promote knowledge to our local retail business establishments through training and education.

The General Advice Division

The General Advice Division provides a broad range of general legal advice and services. It drafts and defends local laws as required by the City Council and City departments. The Division provides advisory and transactional work for the City and represents the City in civil cases involving planning, land use, housing, environmental issues, contracts and business disputes.

The Position

As a Legal Assistant II, you will be entrusted with complex legal tasks under the direction of experienced legal professionals. From drafting legal documents to conducting research and maintaining case files, your contributions will directly impact the success of our legal initiatives. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of performing complex legal secretarial tasks with accuracy and speed. As a Legal Assistant II, you will play a crucial role in supporting our legal team by handling a variety of responsibilities, including transcription, document preparation, case and file management, and communication.

Typical office hours include a 9/80 compressed work week schedule from Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., closed on alternate Fridays. Staff is also required to work some off Fridays, evenings, weekends, and holidays, as necessary in order to complete various duties.

For more information about the duties of the position, click here.

The City offers ample opportunities for career growth throughout the organization with its 14 departments, which work together to provide quality service, enriching programs, and exciting events to keep the community safe and thriving. The City also proudly offers exceptional employee benefits and perks! Please click here for more information on Employee Benefits, Discounts, & Incentives!

QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES

Education And Experience

Any combination of education and experience that would have provided the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills would be:

High school graduation or equivalent. Four years of recent experience in a law office or criminal justice setting as a Legal Assistant or Secretary; or two years of experience as a Legal Assistant or Secretary that included civil litigation and completion of a paralegal program that required a minimum of one year of study. Recent experience in civil litigation and a public agency is preferred.

License and/or Certificates

Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License and safe driving record may be required for assignment to some positions in the classification.

Certification as a Paralegal is preferred.

Ideal Candidate

Successful Candidates Will Possess The Following

Experience and proficiency in civil litigation, including but not limited to:
- Drafting pleadings, discovery and correspondence;
- Preparing court filings, calendaring, service of process;
- Summarizing records and discovery, issuing and tracking subpoenas, scheduling depositions, coordinating with experts, and trial preparation; and
- Procedural knowledge in motions and discovery.
Positive attitude, and professional office, telephone and e-mail etiquette;
Excellent organizational, multitasking and self-starter abilities;
High level of discretion and ability to maintain confidentiality;
Proficiency in using computer software commonly used in a law office; and
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

How To Apply & Exam Process

Interested candidates must submit an online application and supplemental questionnaire at www.TorranceCA.Gov/Jobs.

Application submission will be accepted on a continuous basis until the position is filled. First review of applications will be those received by Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. If a sufficient number of qualified applications are received by the first review date, there is the possibility that the recruitment may close at that time.

Only Those Candidates Who Best Meet The City And Department's Needs Will Be Invited To Participate In The Examination Process, Which Will Consist Of The Following Weighted Components

Written Exam: Weighted 50%: (Tentatively scheduled for September 23, 2025.)

Panel Interview: Weighted 50%) (Tentatively scheduled for October 1, 2025.)

SPECIAL NOTES

Visit www.TorranceCA.Gov to find out more information about the City of Torrance.

Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must contact Human Resources. If you have a disability for which you require an accommodation, please contact us at (310) 618-2915 prior to the test date. For further information, click here.

As a condition of employment, candidates must pass a background check.

In addition, the City of Torrance Conflict of Interest Code requires that employees in this classification file an annual Financial Disclosure Statement. Information about this requirement may be obtained from the City Clerk's office.

The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract, and any provisions contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.

City of Torrance Inclusion Statement

The City of Torrance is a welcoming and culturally-rich community. As a pillar of public service, we strive to be an employer of choice by attracting and retaining a talented workforce where people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, religions, and lifestyles are valued. Our mission is to create an inclusive environment where our staff are empowered to perform at their highest level and contribute towards making a positive impact.

The City is an equal opportunity employer and works towards building collaborative teams from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. Come join us to help cultivate a workplace that welcomes and celebrates the diversity of our employees!

The City of Torrance offers a range of benefit programs for employees and their eligible dependents. Benefits may include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a variety of voluntary benefits. Programs and benefits amounts vary and are based on bargaining unit, family size, hire date, plan selection, and number of hours worked.

To view the current benefits for Torrance City Employees Association bargaining unit, visit:: https://www.torranceca.gov/our-city/human-resources/salary-resolutions#

For additional information about the City's benefits, visit: https://www.torranceca.gov/government/human-resources/employee-services.

RETIREMENT BENEFITS – The City contracts with the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) to provide retirement benefits. Retirement formula is based on appointment date and membership status with CalPERS.

01

The following supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Resumes are encouraged but will NOT be used in lieu of the application or supplemental questions. Please read each question carefully and provide a thorough and complete response. Do NOT state "see resume" or "see application" to respond to any of the following questions. Failure to respond to all questions will be considered an incomplete application and may not be considered for further processing. Do you understand the foregoing?

02

I UNDERSTAND that I am required to describe IN DETAIL my qualifying experience in the Work Experience Section of my application. In addition to including my qualifying experience, I UNDERSTAND that I should list ALL JOBS, regardless of duration, including part-time jobs, military service and any volunteer experience during my entire work history. I UNDERSTAND that when providing my work history, ALL DATES should be UPDATED, starting with my most recent job. I UNDERSTAND that answers that I provide to the supplemental questions should be reflected in the Work Experience Section of my application. I UNDERSTAND that if I am currently employed by the City of Torrance, I MUST provide my appropriate job classification/title and provide a description of my duties in the Work Experience Section of my application. I have read these statements in their entirety and understand them completely and to their fullest.

03

Do you possess a high school diploma or equivalent?

04

Do you possess a valid California Class C Driver's License?

05

Do you possess a certification as a Paralegal?

06

Indicate your amount of recent experience in a law office or criminal justice setting as a Legal Assistant or Secretary.

None
Less than two years
More than two years, but less than four years
More than four years

07

Indicate your amount of recent experience in civil litigation.

None
Less than two years
More than two years, but less than four years
More than four years

08

Indicate your amount of recent experience in a public agency?

None
Less than two years
More than two years, but less than four years
More than four years
Required Question

City of Torrance

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LEGAL ASSISTANT II