Water Rights Attorney Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $131,669.28 - $192,513.60 Annually
Location : Fig Plaza
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-3559
Branch: Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Division: Customer Operations, Privacy and Technology
Opening Date: 06/09/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Bargaining Unit: LACAA - MOU 29
About Us
The Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney is one of the nation's largest municipal law offices. With over 1,000 legal professionals, including 500 attorneys, the Office provides the City of Los Angeles ("City") with the highest caliber of legal services, ranging from prosecuting criminal misdemeanors and playing a leading role in criminal justice reform to advising on homelessness initiatives, defending civil lawsuits and claims, and bringing civil enforcement actions in the name of the People of the State of California.
Guided by an overarching commitment to integrity, accountability and transparency, we find great meaning in the work we do and the services we provide.
We seek collaborative team players who understand that fulfilling our mission is key to making a positive impact.
Description
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Division acts as General Counsel to the Board of Water & Power Commissioners, its officers, and employees. Division attorneys are responsible for legal representation, counsel and advice, and handling litigation related to LADWP operations. The attorneys in the Customer Operations, Privacy, and Technology Section help LADWP to provide reliable, cost-effective water and electricity to over four million customers.
As a municipally owned utility, LADWP exists by and for its customer-owners. With an annual operating budget exceeding $6 billion, LADWP strives to provide the quality customer-focused service of its Fortune 500 counterparts, but with the core values of transparency, fiscal responsibility and accountability of a government agency.
Duties and Responsibilities
The attorney selected for this position will serve as general counsel for LADWP and the City's other proprietary departments, the Port of Los Angeles and Los Angeles World Airports, on legal matters related to intellectual property (IP) and cybersecurity. On intellectual property, the attorney will be responsible for drafting licensing agreements, enforcement of rights in IP assets (including trademarks, copyrights and digital infrastructure), and portfolio management.
On cybersecurity, the attorney will advise the proprietary departments on information security policies and procedures (including breach/incident response management, investigation, and remediation), data and data protection standards (including data mapping and retention and deletion programs), and data anonymization. The attorney will also provide support to the procurement and contracting team with respect to information security aspects of contracts as well as handle specialized litigation relating to City departments, contracts, and ordinances. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong oral and written skills and enjoy a team-based approach to representing clients.
The attorney will also be responsible for matters handled by the Customer Operations, Privacy, and Technology Section, which include customer disputes and litigation, specialized litigation, drafting contracts, and providing general representation and advice on issues involving utility service and privacy. The scope of work includes analyzing and litigating matters arising under state and federal laws, including the California Public Records Act. Because LADWP is a municipal utility and a proprietary department of the City, matters relating to the City Charter, general municipal law, the fixing of rates and enforcement of the rules and regulations under which LADWP operates will be implicated.
Requirements
Minimum three years of practice in California and Federal Courts. Ability to review and draft contracts, ordinances, settlement agreements, resolutions, and Board letters, and the ability to draft clear, concise pleadings and motions and argue persuasively before courts, administrative hearing boards, and other tribunals. Licensed to practice law in all courts in the State of California and the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Desired Qualifications
The following qualifications are desirable:

• Strong intellectual property experience;
• Experience with information security policies, data governance and data standards, and incident response and investigation;
• Demonstrated analytical skills;
• Ability to deal effectively with public officials, departmental personnel, and members of the public; and
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Requirements for Application

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Writing Sample personally authored in the last two years.

Supplemental Information
Current Location
221 N. Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA. Position is subject to assignment at any location within the County of Los Angeles.
Work Location and Parking
This position requires regular onsite work. Employer-provided parking is limited and may not be available for this classification. Employees may be responsible for securing and paying for parking at nearby facilities.
Applicants are encouraged to review available commute and transportation resources through the City's COMMUTEwell program. For more information, please visit:
Probation
Appointment to this exempt position (non Civil-Service) will be subject to a two year probationary period as required by Section 1050 of the City Charter. Successful completion of the two-year probationary period will result in tenure with the office.
Classification
For internal applicants only - Placement in this position will initially be as a lateral transfer with the selected candidate assuming the position in their current classification.
Retirement Benefits
Employees participate in the Los Angeles City Employees' Retirement System (LACERS), which includes mandatory employee pension contributions through payroll deduction. The City also contributes toward the employee's retirement benefit. Contribution rates are established by the applicable retirement system and may vary based on employee classification, membership status, and other factors. For more information, please visit:
Application and Deadline
Interested candidates should go to: to apply online.
Conflict-of-Interest
This position is designated as Category 1 on the
Contact
Questions? Please email
AS A COVERED ENTITY UNDER TITLE Il OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY AND, UPON REQUEST, WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO ITS PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES. TO REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, PLEASE CALL THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION AT (213) 978-7160.