Attorney II - Construction Attorney (JO#6803)

JOB TITLE: Attorney II – Construction Attorney

UNIT: Real Estate Unit

LOCATION: San Francisco or Sacramento

JOB OPENING: 6803

OVERVIEW

The Legal Services office of the Judicial Council of California provides quality, timely, and ethical legal advice and services to the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, trial courts, Judicial Council, and its advisory bodies and staff. Legal Services is currently searching for an attorney to join its dynamic law office made up of a highly skilled workforce that provides effective legal support to judicial branch clients on challenging, varied, and significant legal issues.

The Attorney will work in the Real Estate Unit (REU) that provides in-house legal support for all aspects of the California judicial branch’s real property portfolio consisting of more than 425 existing courthouse facilities as well as the courthouse capital construction program. The work includes providing direct legal support for the acquisition, procurement, construction, operation, maintenance, leasing, dispute resolution, financing, and disposition of court facilities for the trial courts, appellate courts, and the California Supreme Court. The Attorney will provide critical support on a wide range of matters ranging from day-to-day facilities operations to highly complex courthouse construction projects. In addition, the Attorney will occasionally conduct research and draft legal memoranda and opinions related to facilities issues, provide facilities-related advice to support the work of other Legal Services units and other Judicial Council offices, and provide legal support for the Judicial Council’s facilities-related advisory committees and working groups. The attorney will independently manage a workload in a collegial and collaborative environment.

Attorneys within the Legal Services office often support the work of units other than their primary assignment. Depending upon experience, the REU Attorney may be called upon to work with other Legal Services units and may also be called upon to write legal opinions, staff advisory bodies, and draft rules of court and legislation.

The Judicial Council

The Judicial Council of California is the policy setting body for the state court system and has constitutionally conferred statewide rule-making authority. This authority includes developing, advocating for, and allocating the judicial branch budget. A majority of Council members are California state justices and judges; however, the Council also includes lawyers, legislators, and court administrators.

By enhancing its role as a leadership, knowledge, and service resource for the judicial branch, the Judicial Council’s staff organization seeks to continue to evolve as one of California’s most dynamic public service entities, focused on improving access to justice for all Californians by innovating and responding to the changing needs of the courts and the public. As a government body charged with improving the statewide administration of justice, the Judicial Council has multiple offices with diverse responsibilities relating to court policy and operations. As employees of the council, every member of staff should view and approach their work as one Judicial Council with a public service mission that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Judicial Council strives for work-life balance, including substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package, including pension, medical, dental, and vision coverage, flexible spending, up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs, and retirement savings plans. The San Francisco office is only a 7-minute walk from the downtown Civic Center BART station. In Sacramento, the office is located minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park.

The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements for many positions. The successful candidate will be expected to work in person at the Judicial Council’s San Francisco or Sacramento office at least two days per week, based on their office leader’s direction, and reside in the areas surrounding these locations. To be eligible for Judicial Council employment and participation in the Judicial Council’s Hybrid Work Program, a prospective or current employee’s primary residence/remote work location must be in the State of California and within a 150-mile driving radius of their assigned reporting location.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide legal advice and support for courthouse construction projects including construction-related contract procurement, contract administration, contract close-out, warranty enforcement, disputes, claims, and litigation.
• Provide legal advice and support for courthouse modification and improvement projects, facilities maintenance contracts, and contract procurements.
• Research and draft legal memoranda, opinions, and policies related to facilities’ issues.
• Supervise work of outside counsel on real estate and construction matters or litigation.
• Provide legal support for the Judicial Council’s facilities-related advisory committees and working groups.
• Provide facilities-related advice to support the work of other Judicial Council offices.
• Draft and assist in negotiating site acquisition agreements including related environmental (i.e. CEQA) compliance.
• Provide legal advice and support in connection with the management of a real estate portfolio of approximately 20 million square feet (450+ buildings) including issues connected with on-going building maintenance, facility modifications, and changing court space needs.
• Handle issues connected with the transfers of responsibility for trial court facilities from the 58 counties to the Judicial Council under SB 1732 including issues that arise with respect to shared-use facilities.
• Draft and negotiate leases, licenses, and renewals thereof, as well as provide legal advice concerning lease disputes and terminations.
• Depending upon background and experience that may be of direct service to the courts and the Judicial Council, the attorney may be called upon to perform additional duties or assist other Legal Services units in areas of labor and employment law, litigation management, ethics, transactions and business operations, as well as draft rules of court and legislation, prepare written legal opinions, and support Judicial Council advisory bodies focused on civil law and procedure and court operations.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

Juris Doctor, and three (3) years of relevant post-bar legal experience as a practicing attorney.

After passing the state bar, work experience as a law clerk to a federal judge prior to formal state bar admission will be considered qualifying experience.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Current active membership with the State Bar of California prior to date of hire.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience with large scale construction projects, including drafting complex construction contracts, procurement, and resolution of construction disputes.
• Knowledge of and experience with public entity administration and legal issues, including procurement, public records, governing bodies/governance, and advisory roles.
• Experience in real estate matters, including drafting real estate agreements, leases, property acquisitions, and environmental laws.

SKILLS

• Excellent critical thinking, problem solving capabilities, and judgment.
• Ability to present issues and advocate positions in writing and orally in a manner that is clear, concise, and logical.
• Superior contract and document drafting skills.
• Ability to manage workloads, coordinate deadlines, and prioritize competing demands.
• Ability to work autonomously while being a team player with a positive and enthusiastic attitude.
• Ability to listen to and consider different points of view.
• Ability to build consensus and resolve conflicts.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships.
• Utilizing a computer, relevant software applications, and/or other equipment as assigned.
• Effectively communicating.
• Maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues, clients, and the public.

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and/or ordinances.
• Principles and methods of legal writing.
• Principles and methods of legal research and analysis.
• Principles and practice of court administration, as assigned.
• California legislative process, as assigned.
• Applicable business equipment and desktop applications.

OTHER INFORMATION

If you are selected for hire, verification of employment eligibility or authorization to work in the United States will be required.

PAY & BENEFITS

Salary Range: $13,383 - $16,058 per month

Please note due to statewide fiscal conditions, the posted salary range is subject to a temporary 3% reduction. In exchange for this reduction, judicial branch employees accrue an additional 5 hours of paid personal leave per month through June 30, 2027.

Some highlights of our benefits package include:

• Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
• 1 personal holiday per year
• Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• FlexElect Program
• Pretax Parking
• Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility

The Judicial Council of California Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.