Attorney

Austin Community College; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A state environmental agency is seeking an attorney to provide legal support related to climate change regulations. Responsibilities include advising on legal issues, developing regulations, and ensuring compliance with laws. The position is based in Sacramento or Riverside County, with opportunities for hybrid work, subject to agency policy and operational needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide written and oral legal advice related to California's climate change program.
• Assist in the development and implementation of regulations.
• Support legal requirements for Cap-and-Trade Program and related programs.

Job description

This position can be located in Sacramento or Riverside County.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is a global leader in protecting air quality, fighting climate change, and furthering environmental justice. CARB’s Executive Office plans, organizes, and directs the activities of staff to further the Board's mission to protect and preserve California’s air quality while considering the effects on the State's economy. The Legal Office is part of the Executive Office. Its mission is to provide the highest quality legal advice and representation to the Board and staff to support programmatic efforts to improve air quality to protect public health and the environment and to ensure that all legal obligations of CARB are met in carrying out these efforts. The Legal Office provides legal support to the agency on a variety of complex topics related to the control of air pollution (criteria pollutants, toxic air contaminants, and greenhouse gases), including, but not limited to: adoption, interpretation, implementation, and enforcement of State and federal environmental and administrative laws and regulations, litigation in conjunction with the Attorney General's Office, personnel matters, contracts, grants, conflicts of interest, hearing procedures, and proposed legislation. The Legal Office maintains the primary responsibility for assisting CARB staff in the development of regulations and the documentation necessary to support their adoption. The Legal Office also provides legal assistance to California's 35 Air Pollution Control and Air Quality Management Districts.

The Legal Office maintains primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and providing necessary legal support. Under direction of an Assistant Chief Counsel, and under direction of the Deputy Counsel and Chief Counsel, this position is responsible for providing written and oral legal advice to CARB's executives, management, and staff on legal issues, many of them relating to California's climate change program. The attorney in this position will focus on developing, implementing, and enforcing regulations, including regulations related to climate change programs. These assignments may include legal support for the Cap-and-Trade Program, direct control requirements, and related programs.

For further details, please see the Duty Statement.

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

Working Conditions

This position may be eligible for hybrid in-office work and in-state telework. The amount of telework is at the agency's discretion and is based on the California Air Resource Boards' (CARB) current telework policy. While the CARB may support telework, some in-person attendance is also required.

The positions at the CARB may be eligible for telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the position under Government Code 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California, subject to the candidate meeting telework eligibility criteria outlined in the CalEPA telework policy and/or future program need. Employees not residing in California are not eligible for telework. Regardless of hybrid telework eligibility, all employees may be required to report to the position’s designated headquarters location at their own expense, as indicated on their duty statement.

• Position located in a high‑rise building.
• Requires being stationary, consistent with office work, for extended periods.
• Standard office environment (artificial lighting, controlled temperature, etc.).
• Daily use of a personal computer, office equipment, and/or telephone.