ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL

Job Description and Duties

The Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel position is in the Office of the Director, Legal Unit (known as “OD Legal”). OD Legal serves as the general counsel’s office for DIR and provides advice and representation to the DIR Director, department leadership, and division chiefs in the performance of their statutory functions. The Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel manages the work of Attorney Supervisors, attorneys, ranging from the Attorney to Attorney V classifications, investigators, analysts, and legal secretaries. Under the direction of the Chief Counsel and in coordination with other Assistant Chief Counsels, the Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel oversees the office’s representation and legal advice to the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), the Department, and division chiefs and managers in a variety of subject areas within the responsibility and jurisdiction of the Department, which are broadly in the labor and employment area.

The Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel is responsible for ensuring that the unit attorneys provide the best representation to the Director of DIR in special types of workers’ compensation cases involving trust funds administered by the Director (SIBTF, UEBTF and DWD). In addition, the Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel leads one or more of the unit’s practice teams, such as the unit’s SPB appeals and internal labor and employment team; the hearing officer team; or the contracts review and advice team, among others. The Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel must also ensure that unit attorneys provide prompt and accurate legal advice to Department executives and division chiefs with respect to issues involving public works, prevailing wages, Public Records Act, public contracting, privacy, litigation, and other matters concerning a wide variety of legal issues that may arise in the operation of the Department. In the absence of the assigned unit attorneys, the Assistant C hief Counsel may perform these duties directly.

The Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel plans, directs, and reviews the work performed by legal staff who advise and represent the Department and its executive leadership. The position directly supervises Attorneys, Attorney IIIs, Attorney IVs, Attorney Vs, and Attorney Supervisors involved in the most difficult and complex work of the Department. In the absence of the Chief Counsel the individual may assume the role of the chief legal counsel to the Department and its executive leadership. The Assistant Chief Counsel also assists and works with the Attorney General’s Office and serves as in-house counsel in litigation matters. The Assistant Chief Counsel works with broad discretion and independence with minimum supervision.

This posting may be used to fill future vacancies in accordance with 2 CCR §249.3

To be considered for this Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel job opportunity, applicants must be either reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility or have reinstatement eligibility. To take the exam and gain employment list eligibility, please click here to access the exam bulletin: 

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Special Requirements

The Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel position requires active membership in the California State Bar and at least nine years of legal experience in the practice of law following admission to the bar; one year of which must have been at a level equivalent to an Attorney V or Attorney Supervisor, or three years at a level equivalent to Attorney IV, or four years at a level equivalent to Attorney III.

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must be submitted along with the State Application and serves as documentation of candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. It should be typed, no more than three (3) pages in length, using Arial 12-point font, and normal margins.

In your SOQ, be sure to include your total years of experience, when applicable, in addressing the following statements:

• Describe your experience in the practice of law related to state personnel and labor and employment.
• Describe your experience in the practice of administrative law.
• Describe your knowledge of or experience with public works, prevailing wages, apprenticeship, self-insurance, wage and hour, worker safety, or workers’ compensation.
• Describe your experience leading teams or supervising or managing attorneys or other individuals.
• Describe the approaches you use to motivate colleagues, track progress, and achieve desired outcomes.

Applications received without the SOQ addressed as stated will not be considered.

Note: Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be evaluated or considered as a response to the SOQ. As part of the application package for this position, you must submit a legal writing sample.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 9/16/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Industrial Relations

Cert Mailing Address Sacramento

Attn: Human Resources/Certs Unit

1416 9th Street, 13th Floor

Sacramento , CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Industrial Relations

Cert Drop Off Address Sacramento

Human Resources/Certs Unit

1416 9th Street, 13th Floor

Sacramento , CA 95814

08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Other - Cover Letter. 
• Statement of Qualifications - Please see Special requirements section of the posting for instructions on the Statement of Qualifications .
• Other - A recent legal writing sample of your own work product.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website .

DIR employees are eligible for medical benefits (health, dental, vision) and retirement benefits.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website:

Human Resources Contact:
Certification Unit
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Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Diversity and Inclusion Office
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California Relay Service: View phone number on us.fitly.work (TTY), View phone number on us.fitly.work (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Additional Information

Preference will be given to persons with State Restriction of Appointments (SROA) or Surplus status. Applicants must attach a copy of their most recently dated letter that specifies their designation as either SROA or surplus candidate as proof.

Qualified candidates must have eligibility in State employment, be in a reachable rank on an employment list for this classification, be currently in this classification, or have transfer eligibility to this classification.

If you do not hear from us in 4-6 weeks, you may assume the position has been filled by another applicant. Please note that all additional vacancies that become available may be added to this advertisement.

Please note that the Exam and Certification Online System (ECOS) does not allow you to resubmit your application once you withdraw it. If you have any updates to your online application, please contact the Personnel, Recruitment, & Hiring Unit at View phone number on us.fitly.work.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey: DIR Applicant Survey