Children and Family Services Attorney III

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Legal Division is recruiting for one permanent, full-time Attorney III position in its Children's and Community Care Licensing Policy Branch (CAL), Children's Oversight Bureau (CAL Children's). Attorneys in the CDSS Legal Division provide critical legal services to the CDSS in its mission to serve, protect, and support the people of California. As an attorney in CAL, you will join a team of talented and passionate attorneys from a variety of backgrounds who work on child welfare programs serving children and families. In a highly inclusive environment, CAL attorneys balance collaboration with independence to provide comprehensive legal support to the diverse programs overseen or administered by the Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) of CDSS, a leader in the national child welfare space. The legal issues in child welfare are frequently complex, politically sensitive, and closely scrutinized by child welfare advocates, the public, the media, and various state and federal oversight agencies. The successful candidate will be primarily assigned to provide legal policy support to the CFSD in areas such as: Foster youth behavioral health; Child Welfare Program Improvement; Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (HCPCFC); Foster Care Wraparound Services; Crossover issues for foster care and Medicaid; child welfare and health care data and information sharing As an experienced attorney, the Attorney III is an expert, or has the ability to acquire expertise, in state and federal child welfare law, regulations, and policies. including the California Public Records Act. Experience working for or with other governmental departments or agencies, advocacy groups, legislative staff, and stakeholder workgroups is a plus. The successful candidate will conduct research, prepare correspondence, provide oral and written legal opinions, analyze and advise on pending legislation impacting foster care and child welfare, assist in drafting and reviewing CDSS regulations, review and advise on federal proposals affecting child welfare, draft legislation, and other duties as assigned. The Attorney III will also provide litigation support to the Office of the Attorney General on behalf of the Department as necessary. In addition to other duties, the successful candidate may be required to prepare legal pleadings and represent the Department before the Department of Health Care Services' Office of Administrative Hearings and Appeals in relation to financial audits of short-term residential therapeutic programs. The Department of Social Services does not participate in E-Verify for employment authorization purposes. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment. You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement. There are many benefits to joining our team! The State of California has a generous benefits package that includes medical coverage, CalPERS pension upon retirement, two weeks paid vacation per year, two weeks paid sick leave per year, two paid Professional Development Days, one paid Personal Holiday, pre-tax parking fee program.

TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT

Public transit (mass transit) passes. 100 percent discount on public transit passes sold by state agencies, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 100 percent reimbursement on public transit passes purchased by state employees, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the IRS. Vanpool drivers and riders 100 percent reimbursement on the monthly fee, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the IRS. Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website. Minimum Requirements You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

ATTORNEY III

Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate: A. Knowledge, or the ability to acquire knowledge, in the following areas: state and federal child welfare laws, juvenile dependency law, juvenile probation, administrative law, health care law, privacy, Public Records Act, and/or writs and appeals. B. Demonstrated ability to successfully perform in-house counsel work including but not limited to conducting legal research, preparing legal opinions, reviewing and drafting contractual scopes of work, and analyzing legislation, drafting and reviewing regulations, preparing and reviewing correspondence, and providing litigation support to the Office of the Attorney General; C. Understanding of the executive branch of state government, its agencies and departments, and the role of state and federal oversight agencies; D. Demonstrated ability to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, program staff and management, staff of other state and federal agencies, and client advocacy organizations, while working independently and as part of a team; E. Willing and able to understand CDSS programs and policies in order to provide sound legal advice that is responsive to the organization’s needs; F. Superior verbal and written research, analytical and communication skills and superior interpersonal skills and tact; G. Superior work habits and the ability to complete work under deadlines, shifting priorities as needed; and H. Willingness and ability to perform duties in politically sensitive situations, meet strict deadlines, and work collaboratively with clients and colleagues in a customer service-oriented manner. #J-18808-Ljbffr State of California