Legal Unit Supervisor

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 general direction of the Assistant Chief Counsel (ACC), the Attorney Supervisor is responsible for the management and oversight of a team of Attorneys responsible for interpreting and enforcing provisions of employment and labor law compliance and enforcement across the state and in support of the Wage Claims Adjudication Unit and related policy initiatives and strategic priorities of the Labor Commissioner’s Office. The attorney supervisor, in coordination with the Chief Counsel and other ACC’s, plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the work of the Labor Commissioner Office’s legal staff, including attorneys, legal analysts, and other legal support staff, and helps oversee the day-to-day operations of the Legal Office. The Attorney Supervisor will assist the ACC and ensure direct managerial support and oversight is in place to improve the coordination and efficiency of the workflow, mitigate errors or oversights of pertinent information, and allow the completion and attention to special requests or escalated requests that may receive media attention.

Wage Claim Adjudication (WCA)

Additional information about LCO can be found here 

It is strongly encouraged to apply through your CalCareer Account at

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

To be considered for this Attorney Supervisor 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: 

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 e to visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

The recruitment is being conducted to fill 1 vacancy, which may be filled at any of the following locations listed below:

Sacramento

Oakland JC-517732

San Jose JC-517755

San Francisco JC-517762

Lodi JC-517765

The incumbent will have responsibilities across program offices and may be redirected to oversee other offices.

Extensive travel will be required. The incumbent will work in an office setting. Travel as required to assigned district offices. Travel may be via land or air and may require overnight stay. This position may require working irregular hours. The incumbent will have a hybrid work environment including in-person and remote work consistent with operational needs and may work in a high-rise office building. The incumbent will be required to sit for long periods of time while in the office and/or while driving to and from field activities. Travel may be via land or air and may require overnight stay. The incumbent will have access to a state vehicle, laptop computer, printer, cellular phone, and other equipment necessary to stay in touch with the assigned field offices and their staff. The assigned state vehicle will be parked at a departmental-designated location. The incumbent will also traverse various ground surfaces and/or buildings while managing between 2- 5 lbs of equipment (laptop or tablet, and chargers) while out in the field training field staff.

Special Requirements

Active membership to the California State Bar

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ).

The SOQ is a narrative of how your experience, training, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities qualify you for this position. The SOQ also serves as documentation of each applicant's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. Resumes, cover letters, and other documentation DO NOT take the place of an SOQ. Applicants who do not submit an SOQ will be disqualified. Applicants who do not follow the instructions for an SOQ, or who submit an incomplete SOQ, will be disqualified.

Instructions for SOQs: SOQs must have the applicant's name in the document and be no more than five (5) pages in length with one inch-margins on each page in Arial 12-size font. You must answer the following statement in your response:

(1) Describe your personal mission and how it relates to the LCO’s mission and vision.

(2) Describe your experience and approach to supervising, coaching, leading and mentoring attorneys or legal staff. Include examples of how you have led team members, supported professional growth, and ensured high quality legal work.

(3) Summarize your interest in this position and how your prior experience qualifies you for it.

(4) Identify up to five (5) matters in which you have served as lead trial counsel in a civil or criminal court trial, or as lead counsel in an administrative hearing that lasted more than one day (including both morning and afternoon sessions). Please format your response as follows:

Case Name/No. Court name/location/dept. Judge/Hearing Officer Dates Issues

(5) Identify up to five (5) matters in which you have served as lead appellate counsel in any California appellate court (including the California Court of Appeal or California Supreme Court) or in any United States Court of Appeals. Please format your response as follows:

Case Name/No. Court name/location/dept. Judge/Hearing Officer Dates Issues

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:

• Experience with labor and employment law, particularly the California Labor Code.

• Excellent legal research, analytical, and writing skills.

• Significant litigation experience is highly desirable, with a preference for candidates who have served as first or second chair in trials or evidentiary hearings in both civil and administrative forums.

• Experience in labor law or related enforcement efforts, including investigating violations, developing cases, pursuing remedies through litigation, settlement, or administrative proceedings.

• Proven ability to manage all phases of litigation, including developing case strategy, conducting discovery, handling motion practice, examining witnesses, and overall trial advocacy.

• Demonstrated experience taking and defending depositions, presenting evidence in administrative or court proceedings, and handling labor or employment related disputes.

• Experience with mediation, settlement negotiations, or other dispute resolution process in the labor or employment context.

• Supervisory or comparable leadership experience, including the ability to mentor or guide legal staff.

• Experience in and mediating or adjudicating disputes is a plus, including serving as a mediator, ALJ, hearing officer, or judicial law clerk.

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and the ability to independently organize and manage work.

• Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a collegial team and office environment.

• Ability to work under pressure and to work effectively with all levels of staff.

• Commitment to LCO’s mission, vision and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Proficiency in Word and other Microsoft applications.

Benefits

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

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 required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications - Please see Special Requirements section of the posting for instructions on the Statement of Qualifications.