Staff Counsel

Job Description and Duties

This is a re-post. If you previously applied, there is no need to re-apply as your application is on file and will be considered.

Under the direction of the Chief Counsel of the Office of the Director Legal Unit (OD--Legal), and the Assistant Chief Counsels, Attorneys represent the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, the Department, and division chiefs and managers in a wide and interesting variety of subject areas that are within the responsibility and jurisdiction of the Department. Attorneys are expected to independently handle a caseload, to have solid lawyering skills, and to have some level of subject matter expertise in one or more areas of the Department's responsibility.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Representing the Director of DIR in workers' compensation cases involving special funds administered by the Director;
• Representing the Department, Director, or one of DIR's divisions in civil and writ litigation, including litigation involving constitutional issues;
• Representing the Department in internal personnel matters;
• Analyzing requests for public works coverage determinations and drafting proposed decisions for the Director's review;
• Providing counsel on apprenticeship matters;
• Analyzing and drafting recommended decisions in appeals from retaliation complaint investigations;
• Providing analysis and advice concerning Public Records Act requests;
• Analyzing and drafting proposed legislation;
• Providing legal services with respect to contract matters involving the Department;
• Drafting proposed regulations; and
• Providing legal services on a wide variety of other issues that may arise in the operation of the Department.
  

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

To be considered for this Attorney 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 .

Working Conditions

This position is located at: 355 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

This position in an office environment on the 18th floor of a 45-story private office building.

Central location with easy access to public transportation, bike parking, cultural institutions, eclectic dining, and fitness centers. Subsidized commuter transportation passes.

Employees in this position work in an office at desks, and are required to work extensively on computers as necessary for the drafting of letters, briefs and other documents, and for research, email communication, file review, training and other purposes. Attorneys are expected to handle their own word processing, and secretarial support is generally limited to the finalization and filing process. This position requires in-state travel, either locally within Southern California, or for one to two-day overnight trips within California, based on assignments, and as determined according to the needs of the Department.

Special Requirements

Must be a member of the California Bar and qualified to practice law in California.

Legal Writing Sam ple. Please submit a legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages written preferably within the past three years. The date the writing sample was written must appear on the document submitted.

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:

Knowledge concerning the work of the Department, labor and employment law, wage and hour law, and/or workers’ compensation law.

• Prior experience serving as counsel to a public agency.
• Prior experience writing and filing briefs in the California Courts.
• Prior civil litigation or administrative law experience.
• Prior experience analyzing and working on legislation and/or administrative regulations.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability and desire to contribute to a collegial office environment.
• Proficiency in Word and other Microsoft applications.

Benefits

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

Health benefits package with medical, dental, and vision options.

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

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 optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Other - Legal Writing Sample.