Staff Attorney

City of West Hollywood; West Hollywood (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work up to 50%

Job summary

The City of West Hollywood invites applications for a Staff Attorney in the Rent Stabilization Division. The role involves conducting hearings to determine rent amounts, reviewing tenant harassment complaints, and performing legal research and writing to support the Rent Stabilization Ordinance.

You will oversee a quasi-judicial hearings process, draft ordinances, update regulations and provide counsel as part of a dynamic municipal team. Remote work up to 50% may be approved.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university; and Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Five (5) years working as a licensed attorney.
• Progressively responsible professional work experience related to landlord-tenant rights and/or rent stabilization; or,
• Any combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Admission to and an active member of the California State Bar.

Responsibilities

• conduct hearings, reviewing tenant harassment complaints, and performing legal research and analysis for the Division.
• interpreting ordinances, codes, etc., drafting ordinance and regulation amendments and related correspondence.
• representing the City in administrative hearings and in court in conjunction with and under the auspices of the City Attorney.

Skills

Government experience

Rent stabilization knowledge

Landlord-tenant law

Analytical skills

Leadership

Legal research

MS Office

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bachelor's degree

Tools

OnLAW Pro Library

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Notice (Updated 12/2/2025): The Minimum Qualifications for this recruitment have been revised. Applicants who submitted applications prior to this update are not required to resubmit. All applications will be reviewed in accordance with the updated Minimum Qualifications.

This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and may close without prior notice once a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.

The City of West Hollywood has an ideal opportunity for an attorney who is passionate about public service. The Rent Stabilization Division seeks a Staff Attorney who will conduct and adjudicate hearings to determine rent amounts and decreases due to loss of housing services, review tenant harassment complaints to assess the viability of enforcement action, perform legal research and writing, and ensure compliance with the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance. The right candidate will have an understanding of the fundamentals of rent stabilization and landlord-tenant law and will be prepared to engage in overseeing a quasi-judicial hearings process, perform complex legal analysis, draft ordinances, update regulations, and provide counsel as part of a dynamic team of municipal government professionals.

Why WeHo

The City of West Hollywood is like no other city in the world. Located in the heart of metropolitan Los Angeles and only 1.9 square miles, the City of West Hollywood was incorporated in 1984 by a unique collaboration of people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender activists, seniors, and advocates for affordable housing. West Hollywood is an international tourism destination with a diverse population and is also the location of many entertainment, design, technology, and hospitality-based businesses. The City is a robust economic and cultural center instilled with idealism, creativity, and innovation. A spirit of community activism and civic pride thrives in West Hollywood for many of its approximately 36,500 residents. The City of West Hollywood has a strong progressive voice, is a leader among communities, and is filled with a rich history. The City prides itself on strong core values: Respect and Support for People; Responsiveness to the Public; Idealism, Creativity, and Innovation; Quality of Residential Life; Promotion of Economic Development; Public Safety; and Responsibility for the Environment – as well as being proactive in responding to the needs of its diverse community.

How We Serve

The Rent Stabilization Division administers rent stabilization and tenant protections through the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) and Rent Regulations. The Division provides resources for tenants and landlords in the community such as protections and policy, property registration, rental assistance programs, and legal support.

What You'll Contribute

The City of West Hollywood seeks a Staff Attorney to join our Rent Stabilization Team. In this position, you will play a crucial role in conducting hearings, reviewing tenant harassment complaints, and performing legal research and analysis for the Division. As a lead staff member, you will performs a variety of complex professional functions related to legal services, including: providing legal advice and technical assistance; interpreting ordinances, codes, etc., performing legal research, drafting ordinance and regulation amendments and related correspondence, representing the City in administrative hearings and in court in conjunction with and under the auspices of the City Attorney.

Ideal Candidate

• is a detail-oriented legal professional with strong governmental experience who thrives in a collaborative environment.
• understands the fundamentals of rent stabilization and landlord-tenant law.
• possesses excellent analytical skills and the ability to manage complex hearing-related processes and prepare high level reports with accuracy and efficiency.
• is prepared to engage in complex legal analysis, drafting of ordinances, updating regulations and providing counsel as part of a dynamic team of municipal government professionals.
• Is an impactful leader with the ability to effectively guide and mentor staff members while maintaining high standards of reporting.
• is proficient with legal research platforms, including OnLAW Pro Library, and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• is committed to maintaining programmatic integrity while ensuring organizational compliance

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in a related field; and Juris Doctor from an accredited law school;
• Five (5) years working as a licensed attorney;
• Progressively responsible professional work experience (legal or non-legal) related to landlord-tenant rights and/or rent stabilization; or,
• Any combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Licenses and Certifications

• Admission to and an active member of the California State Bar.

For full position details, please click the job description: Staff Attorney Job Description.

This position is eligible to work remotely for up to 50% of its time, subject to approval and based on the ongoing operational needs of the City.

Reports to: Rent Stabilization Manager

If you have problems creating a user account or submitting your online application, please contact NEOGOV applicant support directly at 855.524.5627 (Applicant Support Hours: 8am - 5pm, Monday through Friday).