ATTORNEY III

State of California; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 121,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, health, dental, and vision

Paid Holidays and vacation

Defined retirement program

Savings Plus Program (401(k), 457)

Job summary

State of California’s Department of Health Care Services seeks an Attorney III to join the Office of Legal Services. You will serve as senior counsel, handling a broad spectrum of legal matters, support program implementation, and provide litigation support to the State and DOJ in a collaborative team.

The role emphasizes timely, confidential legal work across health care programs, with telework options and a statewide footprint. Competitive HAM salary; multiple locations.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements described in the Class Specification.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of initiative, flexibility, and confidentiality.
• Ability to use good judgment on assigned work.
• Background and interest in health law.
• Familiarity with legal ethics and conflicts of interest under the California Rules of Professional Conduct, State Bar Act, and selected California Rules of Court.
• Commitment to public service.
• Dependable and reliable attendance.

Responsibilities

• House counsel and litigation services, including development of sound legal strategies to support program implementation.
• Senior-level counsel to the DHCS on complex and sensitive legal issues; provide litigation support to the State and U.S. Department of Justice.
• Work expeditiously with minimal supervision under time constraints and in politically sensitive situations.

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: 11/9/2026

Application Methods: Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account) By Mail Drop-off

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is the backbone of California's health care safety net. Our success is made possible by the hard work of more than 4,800 DHCS team members and through collaboration with the federal government and other state agencies, counties, and partners for the care of low-income families, children, pregnant women, older adults, and persons with disabilities. This is an exciting opportunity to join our diverse team in the following role.

About this Role:

The DHCS, Office of Legal Services (OLS), Delivery Systems & Behavioral Health Branch (DSBHB) is seeking an Attorney III to join the team. Under the direction of the Assistant Chief Counsel, the Attorney III will have the opportunity to handle a broad spectrum of matters and work on complex and evolving legal issues in a collaborative and supportive team committed to supporting and protecting California’s health care programs. The Attorney III position is crucial in reaching our mission of providing Californians with access to affordable, integrated, high-quality health care, including medical, dental, mental health, substance use treatment services and long-term care. Help us actualize our vision to preserve and improve the overall health and well-being of all Californians.

The DSBHB provides advice and counsel to support DHCS program implementation, policy development and ongoing administration (managed care, integrated systems of care and behavioral health delivery systems); waiver administration and initiative implementation; provider licensing, certification, oversight and enforcement; contract development; delivery system and Medicare innovation and integration (dually eligible models of care); and civil rights issues related to delivery systems.

As an Attorney III, the incumbent is responsible for house counsel and litigation services including the development of sound legal strategies and recommendations necessary to support program implementation and ongoing administration; and the provision of litigation support to the State and United States Departments of Justice. The Attorney III provides senior-level legal support and counsel to the DHCS on complex and sensitive legal issues, as well as any litigation of any other legal issues that arise as a result of the DHCS'activities and programs. The Attorney III must work on an expedited basis with minimal supervision under time constraints and in politically-sensitive situations.

The Attorney III qualifies for a "Hire Above Minimum" (HAM) salary. The starting salary for the classification will be $12,046.

Have questions and/or need assistance? Contact [e-mail] , we are here to help walk you through the state hiring process! This position is subject to the Department's Conflict of Interest Code and filing a Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) when assuming office, annually while in office, and upon leaving office.

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

Working Conditions

Please see the Telework and Salary Information section below for telework, reporting location, and temporary statewide salary reduction details. This is a statewide recruitment, and the position may be located in, but not limited to, the following locations: Sacramento, San Francisco, Orange County (Santa Ana), San Bernadino (Rancho Cucamonga), San Diego and Los Angeles.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ATTORNEY III

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

Number of Positions

1

Work Location

United States

Telework

Hybrid

Job Type

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

DHCS' purpose is to provide equitable access to quality health care leading to a healthy California for all.

DHCS is a dynamic organization with ambitious goals and talented, committed employees. We work hard every day to fulfill our vital responsibility to support the delivery of quality health care to Californians. DHCS is committed to addressing disparities within our organization and in our communities through efforts toward greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is accomplished, in part, by a commitment toward employing a diverse workforce that reflects the many communities we serve, and by promoting and enforcing equal employment opportunity.

The Office of Legal Service (OLS) provides comprehensive legal support and services to DHCS programs and its employees.

Take a look at some of DHCS' recent projects and happenings that our Department has accomplished in the DHCS Newsroom.

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:

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to exercise a high degree of initiative, flexibility, and confidentiality
• Ability to use good judgment on assigned work
• Background and interest in health law
• Familiarity with legal ethics and conflicts of interest under the California Rules of Professional Conduct, State Bar Act, and selected California Rules of Court
• A commitment to public service
• Dependable and reliable attendance

DHCS is dedicated to creating an innovative workplace for its team members that is inclusive, diverse, and interactive! Here are a few of the ways we stay engaged with our team:

• Continuous and ongoing training
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program activities
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Additionally, as a team member of the State of California, you may be eligible for many benefits, such as:

• Medical, including health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid Holidays and vacation/leave
• Defined retirement program
• Savings Plus Program (401(k), 457)
• Medical/Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts

We need your help! Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief optional survey: SurveyMonkey link. This survey is not required to be considered for this position.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Officer
[phone]
[e-mail]

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Telework Information

Telework: This position is currently eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change consistent with DHCS' Telework Program and Government Code sections 14200 - 14203. Telework is available to California residents, and proof of residency may be required.

Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated office and residence subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the reporting location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The DHCS office location for this position may be located in Sacramento, San Francisco, Orange (Santa Ana), San Bernardino (Rancho Cucamonga), San Diego and Los Angeles.

For a list of possible DHCS office assignment locations, please reference the reporting location document attached to the duty statement on this job advertisement.

Salary: Effective July 1, 2025, the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) implemented the temporary Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 directs that each employee receive a temporary reduction in pay in exchange for PLP 2025 leave credits. The temporary salary reduction percentage and the number of PLP 2025 leave credits are based on the position’s associated bargaining unit. The salary range(s) included in this job advertisement do not include the temporary salary reduction. Please reach out to the hiring unit contact listed on this job advertisement for details.

Additional Information

Using the online application system as specified in the announcement is the preferred method of applying for civil service job opportunities; however, applicants may instead apply by way of U.S. mail, parcel delivery or courier service, or in person, as set forth in this announcement.

Paper applications must include a signature. Dates printed on envelopes by mobile barcodes or equivalent mobile print technology are not acceptable proof of the date the application and any other required documents or materials were filed.

Applicants must state their basis of eligibility (List Eligibility, Lateral Transfer, Reinstatement, T&D, or Surplus/SROA), and the Job Control (JC) number and/or position number in the "Examination(s) or Job Title(s), For Which You Are Applying" section on the STD. 678. Surplus/SROA candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application. Please remove any confidential information (i.e.,social security number, date of birth, etc.) as well as any information regarding your LEAP eligibility and/or exam scores from your documents prior to submission.

All information on the Employment Application (STD 678) must be completed. Applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678), including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week, and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY). Resumes or other documents may not be substituted for the Employment Application (STD 678).

If applying electronically, please note that CalCareers no longer allows applicants to withdraw their applications. If you need assistance to withdraw your application, please contact [e-mail]. For all other questions regarding your CalCareer account, please contact CalHR’s CalCareers Unit at [phone] or [e-mail]

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.