ATTORNEY

State of California; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 89,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of California is seeking an Attorney in the Executive, Office of the General Counsel, Sacramento, to support the Division of Water Resources and related offices. The role involves providing high‑level legal advice, handling civil matters, and coordinating with senior lawyers to guide agency decisions.

You will work in a hybrid environment, assist with civil litigation, and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Qualifications

• Desirable Qualifications include: ability to work with a variety of individuals and organizations
• Strong professional communication with DWR executives, colleagues, and external stakeholders
• Knowledge of DWR and experience in civil litigation, administrative hearings, or APA

Responsibilities

• Perform legal duties for DWR, IAO, OCR, and DBS divisions under guidance of senior attorneys
• Advise program management and staff on cases and matters involving opposing counsel
• Provide written legal advice and support for civil proceedings and agency compliance

Skills

Civil litigation

Administrative hearings

Legal writing

Employment law

Stakeholder communication

Job description

$7,969.00 - $12,026.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 9/8/2026

Under the direction of the Assistant General Counsel and/or the guidance of a senior lead attorney, and consistent with good customer service practices, the incumbent performs legal duties related to the legal support of the Division of Human Resources (DHR), the Internal Audits Office (IAO), the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), and the Division of Business Services (DBS). The incumbent, in coordination with the Assistant General Counsel and/or a senior lead attorney, advises DWR program management and staff about cases and/or matters involving opposing counsel with a high level of specialization.

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

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ATTORNEY

ATTORNEY $7,969.00 - $10,473.00A $8,969.00 - $12,026.00B New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Number of Positions

1

Work Location

Hybrid

Job Type

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

Executive, Office of the General Counsel, Sacramento

Department of Water Resources (DWR) was established in 1956 by the California State Legislature. We manage California’s water resources, systems, and infrastructure, including the State Water Project, in a responsible sustainable way.

At DWR, we are embedding climate change response into every project we undertake. We have set standards to help evaluate how each project incorporates climate resilience principles and ensure consistency across the Department. Our mission is to sustainably manage the water resources of California, in cooperation with other agencies, to benefit the state’s people and protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments.

DWR also strives to create a trusting and welcoming workplace where employees embrace diverse viewpoints and treat each other with civility and respect. An important component of DWR’s equal employment opportunity program centers around justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Free virtual career consultation services including one-on-one DWR career consultations, application/resume review, tips for applying, and mock interviews, provided by DWR’s Recruitment and Workforce Planning section can now be scheduled via https://water.ca.gov/About/Careers.

Special Requirements

This position is covered in the Political Reform Act and requires financial disclosure within 30 days of the first and last day physically worked in a covered position and annually by April 1.

Eligibility

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Required Application Package Documents

• 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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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.
• Cover Letter
• Legal Writing Sample

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

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:

• Able to work cooperatively with a variety of individuals and organizations
• Must be able to professionally communicate with DWR executive management, colleagues, and internal and external stakeholders
• Knowledge of DWR
• Experience with civil litigation, rules of evidence, or civil procedure
• Experience in/with administrative hearings, administrative law, or the Administrative Procedure Act (APA)
• Experience providing written advice to a client
• Experience in employment law or labor law
• Experience with California Government Code
• Experience in legal research principles

Personal Leave Program 2025: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit. The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings. For additional information please visit Human Resources Manual - CalHR

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Office of Civil Rights
[phone]
[e-mail]

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Legal Writing Sample Criteria: Be compelling and organized, and free of grammatical errors and typos; contain persuasive supporting arguments and a clear conclusion or purpose; limited to 10 pages. Legal writing samples authored in any part by Artificial Intelligence (AI) must be disclosed and will not be considered.

The following basis of eligibility will be considered: List eligibility, transfer, LEAP, reinstatement, and SROA/Surplus.

Employment History on the STD 678 must be complete and include dates, accurate hours per week, total hours worked, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. Resumes, cover letters, and/or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free workplace. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.