PAGA Unit Attorney

Job Description and Duties

THIS IS A RE-ADVERTISEMENT, IF YOU PREVIOUSLY APPLIED, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO RE-APPLY.

THIS POSITION MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE. THE AMOUNT OF TELEWORK IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS BUSINESS NEEDS ARISE.

Are you a top-notch attorney looking to take your career to the next level? The Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), a dynamic cabinet-level executive branch agency, is seeking an exceptional Attorney III to implement a key priority of the Governor--reform of the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).  

Under the general direction of the PAGA Unit Attorney Supervisor, the PAGA Unit Attorney (Attorney III) will focus primarily on implementing and administering the new PAGA employer cure process by conducting analysis of incoming employer proposals to resolve cases, providing a new avenue for effective, early resolution of PAGA claims.

This position may be filled in one of the following locations: Sacramento, Los Angeles, Oakland, or San Francisco. Please indicate your preferred location on your application.

Join us in making a difference in the lives of California's workforce.

Position exists at 1416 9th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

This position is headquartered at the New Labor Agency Building (NLAB), a newly remodeled high-rise building. Located in the heart of Downtown Sacramento and in close proximity of the State Capitol and the Golden1 Center, this beautiful and modern building provides the following amenities: Break areas, wellness/lactation rooms, coffee points, a fitness center with private showers, a Career Center for LWDA Employees, a micro market, building-wide WiFi, an outdoor terrace, bike storage, nearby public transit options, and much more.

Schedule: The duties of this position regularly take place between 8AM - 5PM. A hybrid telework schedule is an option, but is at the discretion of the supervisor, operational needs, and guiding authorities.

This position is out stationed in either Sacramento, Los Angeles, Oakland, or San Francisco. California Government Code Section 14200 requires employees to reside in California to telecommute. Employees are required to report to their outstation and headquarters office, as needed. Travel expenses to and from the assigned outstation facility is the responsibility of the employee. Travel expenses to and from Unit Headquarters (Sacramento) will be the Agency's responsibility.

Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for hours in the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) per month. For more details, please click  here to visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Visa Sponsorship
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

Employees in this position work extensively on computers either in an Agency or home office environment. Attorneys must handle their own word processing, and administrative support is limited. This position may require occasional in-state travel, either locally, or for one to two-night stays at other locations within California, based on assignments. This is a full-time, Monday through Friday, position. Occasionally, you may work beyond the average work week of 40-hour. There is some flexibility on work schedules, which will be determined after hire in consultation with the attorney's immediate supervisor.

Special Requirements

It is strongly encouraged to apply through your CalCareer Account at  .

Please only submit ONE application.  Electronic applications submitted through your CalCareer Account are highly recommended and will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing.

If you are unable to apply electronically through your CalCareer account, please mail a completed and signed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 and application package to the mailing address provided in the “Application Instructions’ section below and ensure the following:

• Clearly indicate the Job Code #, Position Number and the Classification Title of this position in the “Examination or Job Title(s) For Which You Are Applying” section located on Page 3 of your State Examination/Employment STD Form 678.

• Clearly indicate the basis of your eligibility (list, transfer, reinstatement, etc.) in the “Explanations” section located on Page 3 of your State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678.

• Remove and do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (Page 10) with your completed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678.  This page is for examination use only.

• Do not include your full Social Security Number on your documents and/or do not provide any LEAP information.

Examination/Assessment

To apply for this position, you must obtain list eligibility by taking and passing the examination. If you already have list eligibility for this classification, you do not need to retake the examination unless your list eligibility has expired.

Click the examination link below for more information and to take the exam:

Attorney III Bulletin

For more information about the State hiring process,  click here . To watch tutorials on how to apply for a State job,  click here .

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:

We seek to foster an inclusive applicant pool, where we value candidates' abilities demonstrated through their diverse experiences. We want to encourage applicants to apply, regardless of whether they possess all the qualities listed below. We welcome applicants who bring various life experience and perspectives to apply, your unique strengths and potential contributions are important to us and the communities we serve.

• Experience with labor and employment law, particularly the California Labor Code.
• Excellent research, analysis, and writing skills.
• Litigation experience.
• Experience mediating or adjudicating disputes is a plus, including serving as a mediator, ALJ, hearing officer, judicial law clerk, or similar role.
• Attention to detail and ability to independently organize and manage work.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the desire to contribute to a collaborative and collegial team and office.
• Ability to work under pressure and to work effectively with all levels of staff.
• Proficiency in Word and other Microsoft applications.

Benefits

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

Statement of Qualifications Requirements

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required as part of the application package. The SOQ outlines how your background, training, education, and skills align with this role. It's crucial for demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively in writing. Resumes, cover letters, and other documentation cannot replace the SOQ. Failure to submit an SOQ will result in disqualification, as will not adhering to the SOQ guidelines or submitting an incomplete SOQ. Applicants who do not follow the instructions for an SOQ, or who submit an incomplete SOQ, may be disqualified.

Instructions:

Your SOQ must be no more than two pages, using one-inch margins and 12-point Century Gothic font.

You must answer the following statement in your response:

Briefly summarize the reasons for your interest in this position and how your prior experience qualifies you for it. 

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 -
  A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is Required.  Please see “Statement of Qualifications Requirements” section for more information about the SOQ.