The mission of the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office is to serve the City by providing the highest caliber legal services, with clarity and consistency, promoting public safety, pursuing justice and equity in the City's criminal justice system, protecting the City's interests and protecting its people and communities from unlawful and unfair practices, and helping the City serve its constituents with integrity, accountability, efficiency and transparency.
About Hydee
Hydee Feldstein Soto is the 43rd Los Angeles City Attorney, elected in November 2022 and sworn into office in December 2022. She is the City’s general counsel and serves as legal advisor to the Mayor, City Council, and to the hundreds of boards, departments, officers and entities that make up the City of Los Angeles.
The Office of the City Attorney is responsible for providing advice and legal opinions to every officer, department head, board, commission or other unit of the City and preparing and signing off on all contracts and other legal relationships of the City of Los Angeles. The City Attorney interprets federal, state, county and municipal laws for Los Angeles, drafts City ordinances and is responsible for the application, implementation, and enforcement of all laws within the jurisdiction, defending the City and its charter. In addition, the City Attorney approves and documents all transactions to which the City is a party, oversees all litigation and other proceedings in which Los Angeles is involved and is responsible for civil and criminal misdemeanor enforcement actions. As the City’s chief prosecutor, Feldstein Soto oversees the prosecution of misdemeanors and the administration of criminal justice, including alternatives to incarceration. Her team of nearly 1,000 legal professionals, including 500+ attorneys, carries out the City’s legal work at her direction and under her supervision.
Feldstein Soto was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moved to the mainland United States to attend Swarthmore College and then Columbia University School of Law. After law school, she moved to Los Angeles and has called Los Angeles home for more than 40 years. Feldstein Soto raised her family and built her career as a partner in private practice at large international law firms, earning wide recognition and acclaim for her leadership, problem solving acumen and legal ability. Feldstein Soto is fully committed to serving Los Angeles and its people in this position.
Media Kit
- Download City Attorney Feldstein Soto's Bio
- Download City Attorney Feldstein Soto's Picture
- Download City Attorney Feldstein Soto's Introduction (for special events)
Branches
Municipal Branch
The City Attorney’s Municipal Branch provides legal guidance to the municipal government, including to the Mayor, City Council and City departments. In addition to drafting and reviewing proposed legislation, it manages a broad range of legal matters, including contracts, labor and employment law, and constitutional law.
Civil Litigation Branch
The City Attorney's Civil Litigation Branch manages the vast majority of claims and lawsuits where the City is either a plaintiff or a defendant in civil court. These cases can include personal injury, civil rights, employment, challenges to City ordinances and policies, and workers’ compensation.
Criminal Branch
The City Attorney’s Criminal Branch prosecutes criminal misdemeanors and infractions committed within the City limits. Working closely with LAPD and other law enforcement agencies, the 200+ prosecutors in the Criminal Branch prosecute a broad range of criminal offenses including domestic violence, driving under the influence, firearms, environmental, animal cruelty, theft and vandalism.
Housing, Land Use & Real Property Branch
The City Attorney’s Housing, Land Use & Real Property Branch is responsible for advising elected officials, staff and non-proprietary departments on all matters involving land use, planning, real estate and housing. The Real Estate Branch focuses on all homelessness-related issues, working closely with those responsible for implementing the Mayor's plan to address this crisis via the Inside Safe Initiative and other City-led projects to decrease homelessness.
Public Rights Branch
The City Attorney’s Public Rights Branch brings civil enforcement actions in the name of the People of the State of California pursuant to legal authorities such as California's Unfair Competition Law. The Branch vindicates public rights relating to many areas including unfair or fraudulent business practices, consumer protection, environmental justice, nuisance abatement and intellectual property.
Operations and Finance Branch
The City Attorney’s Operations and Finance Branch ensures the smooth day-to-day functioning of the Office, with global oversight of human resources, budget and grants issues, facilities, technology and communications. Key functions include attracting skilled employees and developing the nearly 1,000 legal professionals on staff.