ATTORNEY III

California-Energy-Commission; California; Hybrid; USD 121,000 - 171,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of California, Energy Commission, seeks an Attorney III in the Chief Counsel’s Office – Transactions Unit to advise on transactional matters including contracts, grants, and loans related to clean energy initiatives.

The role emphasizes strong analytic, research, and writing skills, with duties spanning drafting and negotiating documents, ensuring compliance, and representing the Commission in administrative proceedings. This is a hybrid, remote-centered position in California.

Qualifications

• Must be a member of the State Bar of California.
• Experience with state transactional work including contracts, grants, and loans.
• Knowledge of the California Environmental Quality Act and related laws.
• Experience with administrative hearings and proceedings.
• Strong analytic, research, and writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts, grants, and loans and related procurement processes.
• Advise on compliance with applicable laws and participate in litigation with the Attorney General’s Office as needed.
• Represent the Commission in administrative proceedings.

Skills

Analytical skills

Research skills

Writing skills

State transactional law

Administrative hearings experience

Education

Member of the State Bar of California

Job description

$10,852.00 - $15,325.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 11/19/2026

The California Energy Commission seeks a Clean Energy Transactions Attorney in the Chief Counsel’s Office. The Chief Counsel’s Office is a mission-driven group that values teamwork that fosters an environment of trust and collaboration. Attorneys have an opportunity to work directly and closely with the state’s principal energy policymakers to support the CEC’s work to create the energy system of the future – one that is clean, resilient, reliable, and safe.

This opportunity is within the Chief Counsel’s Office Transactions Unit. Under the general direction of an Attorney Supervisor, the Clean Energy Transactions Attorney will be responsible for advising the Commission on transactional matters, including:

Job Description and Duties

• Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating contracts, grants, and loans and the non-competitive or competitive processes to award them in such areas as clean transportation, which includes increasing the number of electric vehicle chargers, hydrogen refueling stations, and electric school buses in California; energy efficiency, cutting edge research, development, and demonstration projects related to electricity, natural gas, and geothermal energy; renewable energy, including offshore wind and energy storage; equitable building decarbonization; and improved ventilation and plumbing in schools.
• Reviewing and drafting legislation, regulations, solicitations and resulting agreements, including terms and conditions; provide advice on compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and other laws; act as a subject matter expert when the Chief Counsel’s Office works with the Attorney General’s Office on litigation over transactional agreements; and
• Representing the Commission in administrative proceedings.

Working Conditions

The CEC supports a hybrid workplace model with office-based and remote-centered workers. Limited in-person attendance and occasional travel may be required based on the needs of the division. Regular and consistent attendance is essential to successful performance. This position is remote-centered, which means the incumbent works 50 percent or more of their time from an alternate work location.

Teleworking is only available for employees who reside in California. You must be located in California and provide your in-state address prior to your start date.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

ATTORNEY III

ATTORNEY III $10,852.00 - $15,325.00 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

Telework: Hybrid

Job Type

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

The CEC was established by the Legislature in 1974 to address energy challenges facing the state. Today, the CEC is the state's primary energy policy and planning agency and is leading the state to a 100% clean energy future. Serving all Californians, the CEC embodies diversity, equity, and inclusion, and has taken an active and meaningful role in creating an environment that enables each employee to thrive. The CEC operates under the umbrella of the California Natural Resources Agency and shares offices with the agency in a LEED Platinum Certified Building in downtown Sacramento.

The California Energy Commission seeks an Attorney III in the Chief Counsel’s Office – Transactions Unit. If you are interested in a challenging and exciting career in clean energy and are passionate about renewable, efficient, and reliable energy that addresses climate change, join our diverse team of global energy leaders! The California Energy Commission plays a lead role in creating the energy system of the future, not just in California, but globally.

This position is open to interested applicants who qualify. This can be a multi-step process. To be eligible to be hired:

1) Create an online CalCareers account. For a tutorial on the state application process, visit California State Hiring Process Instructional Video Series – YouTube or contact [e-mail].

2) Complete and pass the Attorney III exam to be eligible to be hired for available positions. See information on Energy Commission Assessments and Exams.

3) To apply for this position, submit an application package through your CalCareers account. An application package must include all items under the “Required Application Package Documents” section. Resumes will not be accepted in place of a State Examination and Employment Application (STD. 678). Applications must include “to” and “from” dates (month/day/year), time base (full-time/part-time/number of hours per week/month), and applicable civil service classifications.

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate’s relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

The successful applicant should have strong analytic, research, and writing skills and have knowledge and experience, or demonstrated interest in (1) state transactional work, including grants, contracts, and loans, and the competitive and non-competitive methods for selecting them; (2) the State Contract Manual, Volumes 1 and 2, and Public Contract Code laws applicable to state agencies; (3) legislation related to programs that issue contracts, grants, and loans; and (4) state and federal environmental and energy law, including the California Environmental Quality Act; and (5) experience with administrative hearings and proceedings, such as before the California Public Utilities Commission and the Department of General Services. All applicants must be a member of the State Bar of California*.

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.