Under the City Charter, the City Attorney is appointed by the City Council to act as the City's general counsel. As the City's general counsel, the City Attorney provides a full range of legal services to the City and manages outside special counsel. Among other things, the City Attorney is the chief legal advisor to the City Council, City Manager, all City departments, and all appointed boards and commissions. In addition, the City Attorney litigates both civil and criminal cases on the City's behalf.
The City Attorney's Office cannot provide private legal advice to residents nor does it ordinarily prosecute violations of State law, including the California Penal Code and California Vehicle Code.
If you need to speak with a lawyer about a matter that is not related to City business, you can contact the