ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL

California State Controller's Office; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 15,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

The California State Controller's Office in Los Angeles County is seeking an Assistant Chief Counsel to oversee the Legal Office and direct a team of attorneys serving the Controller. This permanent, full-time position features hybrid telework and direct responsibility for legal strategy and compliance in a high-stakes environment.

You will provide expert legal counsel to Senior Executive Staff, manage complex negotiations, and shape legal opinions and risk management across department programs.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and review the work of attorneys whose responsibilities include legal opinions and responding to legal challenges.
• Assist the Chief Counsel in oversight of legal staff, training schedules, leave approvals, and performance evaluations.
• Develop external relationships with other legal offices and coordinate with the Attorney General's Office when needed.
• Oversee preparation for lawsuits, assess risk, and provide regulatory and strategic legal guidance.
• Represent the Chief Counsel in meetings, negotiations, hearings, and counseling sessions across SCO program areas.

Job description

Position Details

• Job Code #: JC-532932
• Position #(s): 051-720-5871-001
• Working Title: Assistant Chief Counsel
• Classification: ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL
• Salary: $14,513.00 - $17,742.00
• New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
• # of Positions: 1
• Work Location: Los Angeles County
• Telework: Hybrid
• Job Type: Permanent, Full Time
• Facility: Executive Office

Department Information

The Office of the State Controller (SCO) is the destination employer within the State of California. As California’s chief fiscal officer, the Controller’s Office ensures accountability and transparency of California’s financial practices while promoting fairness and opportunity for all. Here, you’ll work in a collaborative and supportive environment with diverse opportunities for professional growth and development. A career with the SCO offers meaningful work that directly impacts the state’s future.

The Executive Office (EO) of the California State Controller’s Office is the strategic center point driving the vision and mission of the department. The EO coordinates high-level initiatives, manages key stakeholder relationships, and oversees the implementation of policies and procedures that shape California’s financial landscape. If you’re passionate about public service, policy development, and human resources, this division offers the opportunity to advance your career in a dynamic and impactful environment. Join a team where your insights and contributions will help drive excellence in administrative and financial management.

Job Description And Duties

With general direction provided by the Chief Counsel, assist with the day-to-day oversight of the Legal Office as it serves the Controller in the discharge of her constitutional responsibilities. As the Assistant Chief Counsel, organize and direct the caseload consistent with the direction of Chief Counsel, while identifying and implementing new processes and procedures to expedite responses to programmatic legal challenges or controls. The incumbent will be expected to exercise a high level of independence and judgement, but consistent with the expectations of the Chief Counsel.

• Plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and review the work of attorneys whose responsibilities include, but is not limited to the development of legal opinions, responding to legal challenges, evaluating constitutional law related to the State Controller's responsibilities, etc.; facilitate knowledge transfer amongst existing attorneys; mentor, guide, and direct attorneys who are new or inexperienced to the department;
• Assist the Chief Counsel in providing oversight of legal staff, implementing training schedules, approving and denying leave usage, evaluating performance, imposing progressive discipline, setting caseload expectations; establishing consistency in legal opinion development; reviewing assignments; identifying corrective actions;
• Adhere to and set compliance goals; facilitate negotiations; influence the development of legal strategies in terms of program issues; research complex legal topics in support of decision-making opportunities on behalf of the Chief Counsel;
• Assess legal threats; coordinate the efforts of outside counsel when called upon to represent the department; assess risk and recommend best practice to better manage risk;
• Develop external relationships with other legal offices within different state departments; may be required to coordinate with the Attorney General's Office regarding subject-matter impacting the State Controller’s Office;
• Assist in the development of executive legal strategies by identifying historical context, and data analytics; may be called upon to vet legal position as it related to boards and commission; provide legal counsel to Senior Executive Staff members;
• Oversee the preparation for lawsuits, identifying best approach, case studies, and relevant court decisions on similar subject-matter;
• Establish legal premise to proposed legislation and the resulting impact to the department; coordinate the implementation of legal decisions stemming from court rulings, recommendations, or best practices;
• Participate in legal governance when applicable, providing legal argument and justifying program/department positioning; provide regulatory advice; ensure compliance with all laws and/or court decisions;
• Provide legal insight by applying expert guidance and establishing or promoting legal trends as identified by the Chief Counsel;
• Represent the Chief Counsel during scheduled meetings, negotiations, hearings, or counseling sessions regarding the various program areas within the SCO;
• Provide legal support for cases scheduled for hearing in various venues such as Supreme Court, Federal Courts, Superior Court, State Appellate Court etc.; such cases may include matters of first impression requiring new theories and/or suppositions;
• Engage in the most difficult and complex negotiations, legal research, and opinion development;
• Meet with high-level representatives of other departments, boards, and commissions, or opposing counsel to negotiate, address issues of interest on behalf of the State Controller’s Office, or mutually agree regarding potential resolutions;
• Travel to and from various locations when scheduled for hearings, meetings, or any other representational matters.

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

Special Requirements

Take the required examination here: Attorney V Examination

Who May Apply

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.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

Equal Opportunity Employer

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 work place. 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.