THE OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY

The City Attorney is elected by the people of Los Angeles to serve as the chief legal advisor and prosecutor for the City of Los Angeles. The Office of the City Attorney is the third largest municipal law office in the nation, with over 500 attorneys practicing both criminal and civil law.

Criminal Prosecutor

The City Attorney is the chief prosecutor for the City of Los Angeles with jurisdiction to prosecute all misdemeanor criminal offenses and infractions occurring in the City of Los Angeles. The Office of the City Attorney reviews more than 104,499 misdemeanor criminal cases annually, and has a 94% overall conviction rate. Additionally, the City Attorney administers a number of Citywide crime prevention initiatives focused on proactively addressing criminal problems and preserving the quality of life throughout Los Angeles’s neighborhoods, including the Neighborhood Prosecutor Program and the Citywide Nuisance Abatement Program.
For additional information about the Criminal Branch of the Office of the City Attorney, see Criminal Branch.

Civil Law

The City Attorney is the chief legal advisor and general counsel to the Mayor and City Council, as well as all boards, departments, and officers in the City of Los Angeles. As General Counsel, the City Attorney provides advice and opinions on matters of municipal concern, drafts contracts and ordinances and approves them as to form and legality, and is frequently called upon to interpret the City Charter, federal and state statutes, and other laws that govern Los Angeles. In addition, the City Attorney litigates all civil actions on behalf of the City and represents the City, its boards and officers in all civil trials and legal proceedings in local, state, and federal court.

For additional information about the Municipal Counsel Branch of the Office of the City Attorney, see Municipal Counsel Branch.

For additional information about the Civil Liability Management Branch of the Office of the City Attorney, see Civil Liability Management Branch.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE