Torrance Municipal Code Art. 7 City Attorney

700 ELIGIBILITY.

No person shall be eligible for the office of City Attorney unless they shall have been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the State of California and shall have been engaged in the practice of law in the State of California for at least five (5) years prior to their appointment by the City Council.

701 APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL, AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.

The City Attorney shall be appointed by the City Council.

The City Attorney shall be chosen by the City Council based on the Council’s assessment of their qualifications.

The City Attorney shall be an at-will employee of the City and shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council. The City Attorney is exempt from the Civil Service System of the City.

The terms and conditions of employment of the City Attorney shall be set forth in an employment agreement between the City Council and the City Attorney.

If the City Attorney is absent from work for reasons other than use of vacation leave, the City Council has the discretion to appoint either an Acting or Interim City Attorney. If the City Attorney’s employment ends with the City, the City Council shall proceed to appoint a new City Attorney. In that situation, the City Council may also appoint an Acting or Interim City Attorney.

702 POWERS AND DUTIES.

The City Attorney shall have the power and be required to:

a) Represent and advise the City Council and all City officials in all matters of law pertaining to their respective offices and/or duties.

b) Represent and appear for the City and any City officer, employee or former City officer or employee, in any and all actions or proceedings in which the City or any such officer or employee, in or by reason of their official capacity, is concerned or is a party. The City Council, at the request of the City Attorney, may employ other attorneys to assist in any litigation, administrative law proceedings, or other matter of interest to the City.

c) Approve the form of all bonds given to and all contracts made by the City, and amendments thereto.

d) Prepare any and all ordinances or resolutions for the City and amendments thereto.

e) To have charge of prosecuting on the behalf of the people all criminal cases for violations of this Charter, of City ordinances or of misdemeanor offenses arising upon violation of the laws of the State.

f) The City Attorney may appoint such Assistant or Deputy City Attorneys as may be required to carry out the functions of the office of the City Attorney and they shall have the duties as may be assigned to them by the City Attorney. Any such Assistants or Deputies so appointed shall be members of the classified service of the City.

g) Upon ending their employment, surrender to their successor all files and documents pertaining to the City’s affairs.