Attorney II

Judicial Branch of California; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/Dental/Vision benefits

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

CalPERS Retirement

401(k) and 457 plans

Commuting cost reimbursement

Long Term Disability

Job summary

The Judicial Council of California is seeking an Attorney II for the Center for Families, Children & the Courts. The position provides legal analysis and advice on child support laws, drafts rules of court and forms, and collaborates with local courts and stakeholders.

The candidate will work with minimal supervision, serve as subject matter expert on family law and related areas, and help implement federal and state policy with partners across court and child support agencies.

Qualifications

• Juris doctor and three years of relevant post-bar legal experience as a practicing attorney.
• Active membership with the State Bar of California prior to hire.
• Ability to analyze and draft proposed legislation and interpret complex policy directives.

Responsibilities

• Lead responsibility for creating new Rules of Court and Judicial Council forms.
• Develop rules and forms after analyzing new legislation and regulations.
• Draft reports to advisory committees and the Judicial Council; provide information and recommendations to committees and the Council.
• Collaborate with local courts, child support agencies, and justice partners to implement policies.

Skills

Legal analysis

Drafting legislation

Policy interpretation

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Juris doctor

Active State Bar of California

Tools

Child Support Calculator Software

Job description

The Judicial Council of California is accepting applications for the position of Attorney II with the Center for Families, Children & the Courts.

The Attorney II supports the legislatively mandated AB 1058 Child Support Commissioner and Family Law Facilitator Program. The program includes a judicial branch operation in the local courts and an executive branch operation in each of the 58 counties, as well as a state oversight agency in each branch (executive and judicial). This position functions as the program subject matter expert for the judicial branch and provides legal advice and analysis specifically regarding child support laws and practices. This includes assuming lead responsibility for creating new Rules of Court and Judicial Council forms. Developing rules and forms requires conducting legal analysis of new legislation and regulations, collaborating with local courts and stakeholders to determine business needs, drafting new or revising existing rules and forms, writing various reports to the Judicial Council advisory committees and the Judicial Council, providing information to committees and the Judicial Council about the necessary changes and making recommendations.

A subject matter expert on child support law and practices requires a vast knowledge of family law, tax law, civil procedure, and juvenile law. This position provides legal analysis and technical expertise on child support matters to local courts and to other Judicial Council offices. This position is required to work independently with moderate to limited supervision. Finally, this position collaborates on the implementation and interpretation of federal and state child welfare law, regulation and policy with local court staff including child support commissioners, family law facilitators, court executive officers, and with various child support justice partners and stakeholders including the California Department of Child Support Services, the Child Support Directors Association, and local child support agencies.

Judicial Council

The Judicial Council of California is the policy setting body for the state court system and has constitutionally conferred statewide rule-making authority. This authority includes developing, advocating for, and allocating the judicial branch budget. A majority of Council members are California state justices and judges; however, the Council also includes lawyers, legislators, and court administrators.

By enhancing its role as a leadership, knowledge, and service resource for the judicial branch, the Judicial Council’s staff organization seeks to continue to evolve as one of California’s most dynamic public service entities, focused on improving access to justice for all Californians by innovating and responding to the changing needs of the courts and the public. As a government body charged with improving the statewide administration of justice, the Judicial Council has multiple offices with diverse responsibilities relating to court policy and operations. As employees of the council, every member of staff should view and approach their work as one Judicial Council with a public service mission that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Judicial Council strives for work-life balance, including substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package, including pension, medical, dental, and vision coverage, flexible spending, up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and retirement savings plans. The San Francisco office is only a 7-minute walk from the downtown Civic Center BART station. In Sacramento, the office is located minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park.

The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements for many positions. The successful candidate will be expected to work in person at the Judicial Council’s San Francisco or Sacramento office at least two days per week, based on their office leader’s direction, and reside in the areas surrounding these locations. To be eligible for Judicial Council employment and participation in the Judicial Council’s Hybrid Work Program, a prospective or current employee’s primary residence/remote work location must be in the State of California and within a 150-mile driving radius of their assigned reporting location.

Some highlights of our benefits package include:

• Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
• 1 personal holiday per year
• Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• FlexElect Program
• Pretax Parking
• Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Judicial Council of California Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Juris doctor and three (3) years of relevant post-bar legal experience as a practicing attorney. After passing a state bar, work experience as a Law Clerk to a federal or state judge prior to formal bar admission will be considered qualifying experience.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS

-Current active membership with the State Bar of California prior to hire.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Specialized knowledge of title IV-D child support program-related local, state, federal laws, contracts procedures and administration, regulations, rules of court, policies and practices
• Operational knowledge of approved Child Support Calculator Software Programs
• Ability to analyze and draft proposed legislation
• Ability to interpret and carry out complex policy directives
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with advisory committees, judges, court staff, legislative staff, and executive members of justice/program partner organizations