Assistant Chief Counsel

State of California; California (MO); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

CalPERS pension upon retirement

Two weeks paid vacation per year

Two weeks paid sick leave per year

Two paid Professional Development Days

One paid Personal Holiday

Pre-tax parking

Job summary

State of California’s Department of Social Services seeks an Assistant Chief Counsel to lead a team of six attorneys in the Family and Adult Programs Policy and Litigation Branch. The ACC will work independently under the Senior ACC, delivering critical legal guidance on complex issues and guiding staff through high-stakes assignments.

The role includes management duties such as workload assessment, recruitment, probation reports, and creating efficient administrative processes.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirement: ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL.
• Desirable qualifications include leadership, mentoring, ability to build collaborative relationships, manage multiple direct reports with varied experience, and knowledge of laws and policies for public social service programs.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize and supervise a dynamic team of six attorneys within FAB.
• Provide expert legal guidance and produce high-quality legal work.
• Oversee workload planning, staffing, recruitment, probation reports and annual reviews; develop administrative processes.
• Support timely and accurate policy-focused legal advice and litigation work.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Team management

Legal writing

Public policy knowledge

Job description

The California Department of Social Services’ Legal Division, Family and Adult Programs Policy and Litigation Branch (FAB) is seeking to recruit one (1) qualified, competent and enthusiastic attorney to serve as Assistant Chief Counsel (ACC) in FAB.

This ACC position is one (1) of three (3) ACC positions within the branch. Under the general direction of the Senior Assistant Chief Counsel, the ACC will, in collaboration with the other ACCs, be expected to work independently with minimal supervision in the planning, organizing and supervision of a dynamic and hard-working team of six (6) attorneys and expanding, who provide critical and complex legal guidance, analysis and work product. FAB is committed to providing oral and written legal guidance that is timely, responsive, and accurate. The ACC is expected to perform their own assigned highly sensitive and complex assignments. In addition to substantive legal work, the ACC will be responsible for executing management responsibilities that include but are not limited to: assessing workload and staffing; preparing position justifications; recruitment; completion of probation reports and annual reviews; and development of administrative processes to facilitate staff work.

The ACC is expected to be an expert or possess the skills and experience to be able to quickly attain an expertise in the laws, regulations and policies applicable to the programs served by the branch as well as possess general knowledge of government, legislative and litigation requirements and processes. Knowledge of, or experience with, providing policy-focused legal advice to a public entity is preferred.

This position is pending DOF approval.

If you would like to share how you learned about this career opportunity, please take a moment to complete our brief Recruitment Survey.

Need help with applying for positions, taking an examination, or preparing for interviews? Our team is here to support you, reach out anytime at [e-mail]. For guidance on applying for a state job, visit Three Steps to a State Job.

Follow us on LinkedIn to stay updated on our latest opportunities.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

There are many benefits to joining our team! The State of California has a generous benefits package that includes:

• medical coverage
• CalPERS pension upon retirement
• two weeks paid vacation per year
• two weeks paid sick leave per year
• two paid Professional Development Days
• one paid Personal Holiday
• pre-tax parking fee program

TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT

• Public transit (mass transit) passes.
• 100 percent discount on public transit passes sold by state agencies, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
• 100 percent reimbursement on public transit passes purchased by state employees, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the IRS.
• Vanpool drivers and riders
• 100 percent reimbursement on the monthly fee, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the IRS. Click here to view all the attractive benefits available to state employees!

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

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL

Desirable Qualifications

1. (1) Experience as a lead, mentor, manager or similar position.
2. (2) Demonstrated leadership skills.
3. (3) Demonstrated ability to build collaborative working relationships.
4. (4) Ability to manage numerous direct reports with a wide range of experience and skill levels and to draft, review and edit various types of legal pleadings and work product involving complex issues, oftentimes under tight deadlines; and
5. (5) Knowledge of the applicable laws and policies for public social service programs.