How we can do Better

By Michael J. "Mike" Emling

Basic law office management will give us better results.

There is no reason why the City Attorney's Office should not be the best law firm in Long Beach. It has a solid financial footing. It has many talented lawyers. The job of being a deputy city attorney is attractive, and should allow us to draw top talent.

We need to establish procedures for improving the quality of legal advice given to city officials, including review of significant projects by two or more lawyers.

We need an outreach program to help city departments and employees learn how to avoid claims.

We need an early intervention procedure to identify and dispose of high risk cases before they result in high judgments.

We need to improve in-house readiness to handle litigation and trials, possibly through joint training exercises with the City Prosecutor's Office.

We need to look at improvements to Worker's Compensation practices, including the possibility of collectively bargained alternative dispute resolution, to reduce litigation and expense attendant on worker's compensation claims.

Above all we need the City Attorney's Office to be accountable for time spent, work product created, and for results.