Susana Alcala Wood, City Attorney

Background and Experience

Ms. Wood was appointed City Attorney on March 19, 2018. An attorney specializing in municipal law, she has worked for multiple cities throughout California, including as City Attorney for the City of Modesto and as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Stockton. Throughout her career Ms. Wood has worked every aspect of a city municipal law practice, including criminal prosecution, general counsel duties, personnel, and police advisory. She’s overseen hundreds of investigations involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, and related complaints.

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Ms. Wood began her career with the City of El Monte in 1988 while in law school as a law clerk, and was promoted to deputy city attorney upon passing the bar. She credits this work as a law clerk with embedding her with a deep desire to serve communities and considers being appointed Sacramento City Attorney as her dream work.

Ms. Wood serves on the Board of Directors for the International Municipal Lawyers Association, working collaboratively with her counterparts across the Country. She was recently elected as an officer on the California League’s City Attorney’s Department where her primary focus is advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. She has spoken at and provided training capacities to organizations and public agencies throughout the state on various topics of local government law.

Ms. Wood received her Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy-Ethics and Public Policy in 1987 from U.C. Santa Barbara and her Juris Doctorate from Whittier College, School of Law in 1991.

Professional Affiliations

Ms. Wood served as a member and as the Chair of the League of California Cities, City Attorney’s Department Legal Advocacy Committee, City Attorney’s Department Municipal Law Handbook Committee, and has served in various training and speaking capacities to organizations and public agencies throughout the state on the topics of Local Government Law as well as Code Enforcement.

Ms. Wood is a member of the Top 50 National City Attorney group of the International Municipal Lawyers Association, where she has served as a Board member since 2019.

Education

Ms. Wood received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy-Ethics and Public Policy in 1987 and received her Juris Doctorate from Whittier College, School of Law – Los Angeles, California in May 1991.

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