Michael Lawson


Mr. Lawson has served as City Attorney since 2008. Mr. Lawson has a long record of public service, having also served as City Attorney for the cities of Berkeley, Oakland, and East Palo Alto. He is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, King Hall School of Law (J.D.), and the California State University, Hayward/East Bay (B.A., Journalism/Mass Communications).

Risk Management

The City Attorney's Office manages the Risk Management function for the City. We are dedicated to minimizing or eliminating the exposure of City assets and resources to accidental and business loss, and work with the public through our review of claims against the City.

City Attorney's Office

The role of the Office of the City Attorney is not to provide representation to individual community members, but rather, the City Attorney represents the City of Hayward as an entity, primarily providing legal representation to the Mayor, City Council, and the numerous departments that comprise the City of Hayward's government.