Attorney I, II, and III

County of Orange; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Orange, Department of Child Support Services, seeks attorneys at levels I–III to establish and maintain an open eligible list for current and future vacancies. Attorneys will handle establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support orders, working with parents, staff, and court partners in a fast-paced environment.

Position requires CA State Bar membership, strong drafting and courtroom skills, and the ability to provide legal analyses on policies.

Qualifications

• Active membership in the State Bar of California is required.
• Ability to manage and advocate for cases in court and in-house settings.
• Strong drafting, research, and analytical skills essential for advising on child support matters.

Responsibilities

• Establish, modify, and enforce child support orders in court and through department processes.
• Prepare and review motions, pleadings, and briefs with attention to accuracy and timeliness.
• Appear in court or hearings as required and provide legal analyses to inform decisions.
• Collaborate with department staff, parents, and court partners to resolve issues efficiently.
• Provide case follow-up and ensure compliance with orders and policies.

Skills

Legal drafting

Courtroom experience

Legal research

Communication skills

Policy analysis

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

ATTORNEY I, II, and III

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment will establish an open eligible list that will be used to fill current and future Attorney positions. The eligible list established may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

This recruitment will close on December 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (PST)

CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES (CSS)

Child Support Services (CSS) is an award-winning, forward-thinking agency of over 350 professionals, dedicated to helping parents financially support their children. The core mission is to facilitate the financial support of children by engaging parents and providing professional child support services. Under the direction of the Department Director, CSS delivers human services to the community based on a balanced approach emphasizing Customers, Staff, Business Efficiencies, and Performance. CSS also works in close partnership with the Orange County Superior Court, California Department of Child Support Services, and other local child support agencies throughout California.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is an excellent opportunity for you to enhance your career with the County of Orange Department of Child Support Services. Child Support Services is looking for attorneys who are committed to serving the community.

The Child Support Services Attorney Team consists of dedicated attorneys whose primary responsibilities include establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support orders. Attorneys are assigned to court and in-house operations depending on departmental needs. They work collaboratively with staff throughout the Department, the parents we serve through the program, and our court partners.

The Attorney's goal is to work with parents to resolve matters prior to court and represent the County in matters at court. The attorney's role is to provide support to all activities of the Department including, but not limited to, providing legal analyses on policies and making recommendations. Additionally, attorneys are required to meet with parents, review motions to establish, modify and enforce reasonable child support orders, prepare responses, appear in court in a fast-paced and high-volume environment, draft and review stipulations and provide case follow-up.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with expertise in drafting legal documents
• Knowledge of legal principles, evidence rules, and court proceedings
• Proficiency in legal research methods and civil legal processes
• Competence in preparing and presenting cases in court, drafting legal documents, and analyzing legal problems
• Understanding of legal procedures and court systems
• Flexibility and adaptability to change
• Strategic thinking abilities
• Competence in preparing legal documents like pleadings, briefs, and opinions
• Capability to present information clearly to both legal and non-legal audiences
• Commitment to community service and direct engagement with parents
• Drive for personal and professional development, as well as for fostering growth in others
• Leadership and project management capabilities to enhance the child support program
• Vision for contributing to organizational success as an Attorney

ABILITY TO

• Skillfully prepare, present, and manage legal cases in court proceedings
• Draft a variety of legal documents such as pleadings, briefs, depositions, and reports with precision and attention to detail
• Conduct legal research effectively and collaborate with colleagues across different units and departments
• Thoroughly analyze complex legal problems and apply appropriate legal principles and practices
• Articulately present factual information, legal arguments, and statements in both written and oral formats, ensuring clarity and logical coherence
• Expertly draft ordinances and regulations, conducting thorough legal research to support decision-making processes
• Work harmoniously and collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders, fostering a productive and supportive working environment

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

License Required for All Three Levels: Active membership in the State Bar of California.

Special Requirements

Selected candidates must pass a background investigation to the satisfaction of the Department of Child Support Services.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and desirable qualifications. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)

Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Application Review (Weighted 100%)

An Appraisal Panel (AAP) of job knowledge experts will thoroughly screen and evaluate the application and supplemental questionnaire for job knowledge, competencies and related experience described above.

Only the most qualified candidates will advance to the next step in the recruitment process or will be placed on the eligible list.

Eligible List

Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. Applicants will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.

Veterans Employment Preference

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings.

Please Note:

The information you provide on your application and/or response to the supplemental questions may be used as a scoring device, so please be thorough and complete in your response. "See Resume" is not a qualifying response and will not be scored in lieu of the required information.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

The County of Orange is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals who require a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should notify the recruiter listed on the job posting as soon as possible. Documentation supporting the accommodation request may be required.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Cindy Silva at [phone] or [e-mail]

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.