Attorney II (JO# 6781)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Flexible spending

Commuting cost reimbursement

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Retirement savings plans

Job summary

The Judicial Council of California is seeking an Attorney II to support ICWA, tribal issues, and federal Indian law for the Center for Families, Children & the Courts (CFCC). The role drafts rules and forms, develops curricula, and provides technical assistance to judicial officers and justice partners.

The position involves collaboration with tribal and state agencies, preparation of memoranda, and participation in joint jurisdiction ICWA working groups, with hybrid in-person requirements in

Qualifications

• Juris doctor with at least three years of post-bar legal experience.
• Active membership with the State Bar of California prior to hire.
• Experience advising on tribal and federal Indian law issues is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal research and analysis on ICWA and federal Indian law.
• Draft rules, forms, and legislative proposals related to ICWA and federal Indian law.
• Develop curricula, bench guides, and job aids for judicial officers and justice partners.
• Offer training on ICWA and related topics to judges, attorneys, and staff.
• Provide legal opinions and policy memoranda to support tribal consultation and jurisdictional issues.
• Draft, negotiate, review, and monitor contracts and grants.
• Monitor legal literature and changes relevant to ICWA and state/federal Indian law.

Skills

Legal Research

Drafting Legal Documents

Policy Analysis

Tribal Law

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

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

The Attorney II position provides legal support to the judicial branch, including the Tribal Court-State Court Forum and other advisory committees of the Judicial Council, individual judges, and other justice partners on matters related to the Indian Child Welfare ACT (ICWA), tribal issues related to the Violence Against Women Education Project (VAWEP), and other aspects of state and federal Indian law. This position drafts, develops, and revises rules and forms related to ICWA and federal Indian law issues as necessary; drafts legislative proposals on these issues; and provides technical assistance to judicial officers and justice partners concerning ICWA and federal Indian law issues. This position develops curriculum, bench guides, and job aids (such as findings and orders charts, fact sheets, checklists, etc.) for judicial officers and justice partners concerning ICWA, VAWEP, and other aspects of state and federal Indian law. This position participates regularly in meetings convened by the California Department of Social Services, Office of Tribal Affairs, and assists judicial officers in several joint jurisdiction ICWA working groups and roundtables.

In addition to legal research and analysis in ICWA and federal Indian law issues, the Attorney II provides general legal and strategic advice to others within the council and the judicial branch on tribal consultation, tribal and tribal court jurisdictional issues, and other matters related to federal Indian law. This position conducts legal research, develops curricula, and serves as faculty at local, state and national conferences and serves as a subject matter expert on ICWA and federal Indian law issues to state court and tribal court judicial officers. This position requires extensive contact with judges, courts, court staff, attorneys and local, tribal and state agencies, and works independently with little supervision.

The 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 and includes 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, student loan forgiveness as part of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and retirement savings plans. In San Francisco, the office is only a 7-minute walk from the 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.

Responsibilities

• Serve as lead staff counsel to the Tribal Court-State Court Forum, an advisory committee of the Judicial Council, composed of tribal court and state court judges and justice partners.
• With input from cochairs, develop meeting agendas and assist with running Forum meetings.
• Administer all activities and perform work for annual agenda projects.
• Analyze and draft proposals for rules of court (new and amended), court forms (new and revised), legislation, and legislative reports to advance judicial branch objectives and comply with legal mandates.
• Maintain current knowledge and understanding of legal issues related to the Indian Child Welfare Act, federal and state Indian law, and cross-jurisdictional issues based on published decisions, legislative changes, and inquiries and comments from judges, justice partners, tribal ICWA advocates, and others.
• Prepare recommendations for rules and forms or legislation as necessary, including conducting legal research, drafting memoranda of law and policy, and drafting proposed alternatives.
• Provide training and education for judicial officers, attorneys, justice partners, and Judicial Council staff on ICWA and other related topics of federal and state Indian law.
• Analyze and prepare legal memoranda and issues papers, legal opinions, and policy memoranda; provide legal technical assistance to judicial officers, court personnel, and justice partners.
• Monitor legal literature, news, and legal opinions to remain current on legal issues concerning ICWA and state and federal Indian law.
• Write and update legal bench books, judicial practice guides, fact sheets, and job aids.
• Conduct ongoing legal research and analysis of published cases and legislative changes relevant to ICWA, VAWEP, and relevant federal and state Indian law issues.
• Draft, negotiate, review, and monitor contracts and grants.
• Review local court files and provide legal advice and legal technical assistance to those courts on compliance with Title IV-E of the Social Security Act.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as liaison to state and county entities and other organizations and initiatives focused on ICWA, VAWEP, and joint jurisdiction matters and attend meetings as needed.
• Attend all weekly meetings of the Tribal/State Programs Unit, Judicial Resources and Technical Assistance Unit, and Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee meetings.
• Regularly collaborate, exchange, and advise with Court Assistance, Resources, and Education Team (CARE) legal team regarding current legal issues, county issues, and county needs; attend bi-weekly meetings.
• Attend quarterly and annual juvenile training courses for professional development.
• Attend Center for Families, Children & the Courts' (CFCC) staff meetings as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

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

• Experience practicing