Job Description

Job Description and Duties

PENDING DOF APPROVAL

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 Chief 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 is a full-time, permanent position. The hours are usual business hours Monday through Friday. Employees in this position are expected to work all hours as necessary to accomplish their assignments. Although they will generally average a 40-hour week, longer work hours may occasionally be required. There is some flexibility as to the specific work schedule, which will be determined after hire in consultation with the Chief Counsel. This position may be eligible for some amount of telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the position.

In order to apply for this position, please submit:

• The State standard application form, completed completely and carefully;
• A cover letter that addresses your work experience and your interest in the position; and
• A recent legal writing sample of your own work product.

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: 

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

This position is located at:
1515 Clay St, Suite 701
Oakland, CA 94612

This is a full-time position located in the Department of Industrial Relations, Office of the Director, Legal Unit (known as “OD Legal”). Employees in this position work in an office environment, have assigned offices and work at desks, and are required to work extensively on computers as necessary for the drafting of correspondence, briefs and other documents, and for research, email communication, file review, training and other purposes.

Special Requirements

Statement of Qualifications :

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.

Additional Special Requirement : 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.

NOTE: As part of the application package for this position, you must submit a legal writing sample.

See section below regarding the required application documents.

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:

• Strong legal research, analysis and writing skills.
• Strong oral and written communication and advocacy skills.
• Knowledge of state and/or federal civil procedure and experience in civil litigation or administrative law experience.
• Ability to independently organize and manage a high volume of work, and perform in potentially stressful situations.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability and desire to contribute to a collegial office environment.
• Experience with state employment issues, including knowledge of the State Civil Service Act, State Personnel Board rules and procedures, and CalHR policies and procedures.
• Familiarity with State contracting principles, including contracts under the oversight of DGS and CDT.

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.

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 (800) 564-0771.

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.
• Other - A Cover Letter is required.
• Other - A recent legal writing sample of your own work product is required.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Apprenticeship, Work experience placement, Work at office, Remote work, Monday to Friday

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