Investigator I

The Public Rights Branch pursues civil enforcement matters, including complex, high impact matters, focusing on a variety of areas including unfair business and housing practices, wage theft, environmental protection, consumer protection, nuisance abatement and cannabis regulation. The Branch uses a variety of statutory authorities, including the Unfair Competition Law, the False Advertising Law, the Public Nuisance Law and various Health & Safety Code regulations. The Branch also pursues False Claims Act and other civil claims, and engages in debt collection for the City.

Responsibilities

Reviewing, documenting, analyzing and conducting follow‑up investigations on referrals and complaints concerning all Branch practice areas;

Conducting complex interviews of witnesses and victims;

Gathering evidence and information to establish legal violations;

Conducting complex investigations of problem businesses and properties including ownership status, and compliance history;

Conducting site visits, surveillance and undercover investigations;

Preparing clear written investigative reports and detailed witness statements;

Serving subpoenas and obtaining public records, court records, or other evidence;

Operating a vehicle to perform work tasks;

Using applicable databases and other sources to identify and investigate income, assets, liabilities, and net worth of individuals and businesses;

Maintaining a chain of custody of physical evidence;

Testifying in court;

Handling a high volume of assignments from attorneys.

Qualifications

A valid Driver’s License;

Knowledgeable in the operation of a personal computer, and surveillance equipment including cameras, video cameras and recording devices;

Strong interpersonal skills, and comfort interacting with the public, department staff, and investigators from other law enforcement agencies;

Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing;

Strong analytical skills;

Ability to lift 25 pounds with or without accommodations;

Strong work ethic.

Desired Qualifications

Experience conducting investigations in one or more of the Branch’s practice areas;

Knowledge of investigative procedures and rules of evidence;

Comfort with complex scientific topics;Knowledge of common sampling procedures and the ability to read and understand results;

Fluency in a second language such as Spanish, Tagalog, Mandarin/Cantonese, or Korean.

Application Requirements

Cover Letter

Resume

Writing sample that they personally have authored in the last two years.

Location
201 N. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California. Position is subject to assignment at any location within the County of Los Angeles.

Probation
Appointment to this exempt position (non‑Civil Service) will be subject to a one‑year probationary period as required by Section 1050 of the City Charter. Successful completion of the one‑year probationary period will result in tenure with the office.

Conflict‑of‑Interest
This position is designated as Category 10 on the Conflict‑of‑Interest Code.

Application and Deadline
Interested candidates should go to https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacityattorney/ to apply online by Friday, May 8, 2026. Qualified applicants will be invited to interview.

Contact
Questions? Please email atty.recruit@lacity.org.

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