Legal Team

Mitch Kander

Attorney

Attorney Mitch Kander brings over 30 years of experience in Los Angeles County law, with an extensive background representing Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department personnel. Throughout his career, Mr. Kander has developed a strong understanding of County policies, procedures, workplace investigations, disciplinary matters, and employee rights. His decades of experience have provided him with valuable knowledge of the challenges County employees face. Mr. Kander is dedicated to protecting the rights of LACCEA members, ensuring they receive fair treatment, professional representation, and the respect they deserve.

Donna Wells

Attorney

Donna Wells has been an attorney with the Los Angeles County Chicano Employees Association (LACCEA) since 2010. The legal services she provides include representation in disciplinary actions and discrimination matters to hearings before the Civil Service Commission.

Prior to joining LACCEA, Wells was in private practice, handling labor, employment and civil rights law litigation, as well as representing and counseling municipalities and public employees on labor issues.

Previously, she was also General Counsel at Film L.A., Inc., and Director of Government Relations for the Motion Picture Association of America.

Wells is a graduate of UCLA School of Law and serves on the UCLA Law School Alumni Board. She is a member of the California Employment Lawyers Association and the Labor & Employment Law sections of the California and L.A. County Bar associations. She also serves on the County Bar President’s Advisory Committee for the Status of Women in the Legal Profession.

Legal Services

Do you need help on the job?
We are here for you!

Our team of attorneys focuses on providing County-specific representation for many of the issues encountered by today’s County employees. You do not want to find yourself in the “hot seat” without one of our attorneys available to represent you.

Our services include:

  • Representation at Interactive Process Meetings (IPM) to discuss your work restrictions and need for reasonable accommodation.
  • Representation at Internal Affairs Interview for Law Enforcement and Safety Sensitive positions.
  • Representation at Administrative Interviews/Investigations conducted by your Department’s Human Resources or Performance Management Section
  • Representation at Equity Interviews (aka CPOE or CEOP)
  • Representation at Skelly meetings
  • Appeals of Major Disciplinary Actions (6+ Day Suspensions, Reductions, and Discharges)
  • Department of Human Resources Appeals of Suspensions of 5 days or less, Examination Non-Qualification, Application Rejection, and Discrimination-based adverse action
  • Grievances for Suspensions of 5 days or less, Letters of Warning, and Letters of Reprimand
  • Consultations to discuss workplace issues such as difficult co-workers, supervisors, and managers

You must be a dues-paying member for 90 days before you are eligible for representation, so don’t delay submitting your application!

Legal Representation Highlights

  • An Intent to Discharge was reduced to a 30-Day Suspension at a Department of Health Services Skelly
  • A 20-Day Suspension was reduced to 10 Days prior to a Civil Service Hearing
  • 2 Grievances regarding 5-Day Suspensions were reduced from 5 Days to 3 Days with Backpay
  • An Intent to Discharge was reduced to a 30-Day Suspension at a Department of Health Services Skelly
  • A 20-Day Suspension was reduced to 10 Days prior to a Civil Service Hearing
  • 2 Grievances regarding 5-Day Suspensions were reduced from 5 Days to 3 Days with Backpay
  • A 30-Day Suspension was reduced to 7 Days at a DACC Skelly
  • The Civil Service Commission sustained our Objections to the Hearing Officer’s Report which Affirmed a Discharge, instead voting to reduce the Discharge to a Reduction without Suspension