Attorney IV

California Department of Industrial Relations; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

California Department of Industrial Relations in Oakland seeks an Attorney IV to provide high-level legal counsel to the Division of Workers’ Compensation. You will handle complex, sensitive matters and advise leadership on regulatory and legislative issues.

The role requires independence, strong analytical skills, and experience in administrative law, litigation support, and training of junior attorneys. In-office presence is four days a week at 1515 Clay St, with telework options per policy.

Qualifications

• Membership in the State Bar of California.
• Final Filing Date: 9/29/2026.
• Experience handling complex, sensitive legal matters in workers’ compensation or administrative law.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal representation and counsel to the Division on complex and sensitive matters.
• Draft regulations and provide litigation support for QME, ADR carve-out program, and related actions.
• Perform legal research and prepare memoranda, briefs, and other written work product.
• Advise Division staff on workers’ compensation issues and legislative analyses.
• Appear in state and federal courts and administrative bodies as needed.

Job description

Job Description And Duties

Under the general direction of the Chief Counsel and/or Assistant Chief Counsel but working directly for the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, the Attorney IV acts as legal counsel on the most complex and sensitive matters relating to the Division. The Attorney IV exercises broad discretion and acts with great independence in providing legal representation and counsel. The Attorney IV is expected to perform the more complex, novel, difficult and sensitive legal work of the unit, and to have a high level of experience, strong technical lawyering skills, and subject matter expertise in multiple areas of the Division’s responsibility.

The Attorney IV’s duties include, but are not limited to: handling the most complex and sensitive rulemaking actions for the Division, including providing litigation support in writ petitions associated with Qualified Medical Evaluators (QME) and the alternative dispute resolution carve-out program; drafting and updating regulations pertaining to, among other things, alternative dispute resolution and the alternative dispute resolution carve-out program; performing legal research and drafting legal memoranda and correspondence on the most sensitive and complex issues; providing legal counsel, analysis, and advice to Division, Department, and Agency staff on issues pertaining to the workers’ compensation system; analyzing and drafting proposed legislation and preparing bill analyses; analyzing requests for determinations and drafting proposed decisions for the Administrative Director’s review; acting as counsel for the Audit Unit and Medical Unit in administrative enforcement actions; representing the Division in proceedings in both state and federal court and administrative bodies throughout the state; and providing legal advice and support on a wide variety of other issues that may arise in the operation of the Division.

The Attorney IV may serve as a practice team lead who helps organize and track assignments of other attorneys, and who uses their expertise to train less experienced attorneys and to support the delivery of high-quality legal services to the Department. Essential functions of this position are to perform competently and with strong technical skills as a senior-level attorney in the specific job duties identified below; to accomplish assigned legal work with minimal supervision and exercising broad discretion, while also taking and following direction from the Chief Counsel, Administrative Director, and Division and Departmental leadership; to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, as required for the specific job duties, including by consistently producing thorough and well-written regulations, as well as comprehensive and compelling memoranda, legal briefs, and other written work product; to appear and perform competently and with a high degree of expertise and professionalism in civil or administrative courts or other forums; to communicate in a professional, respectful and productive manner with opposing counsel, clients, stakeholders, colleagues, and the public; to travel as necessary and as assigned; to present material to stakeholders in a clear and concise manner; and to demonstrate good judgment and act with high ethical standards.

Working Conditions

This job is located at: 1515 Clay St, Oakland, CA 94612.

This position requires in-office attendance in Oakland four days per week.

The duties of this position are performed indoors in an office equipped with standard or ergonomic office equipment, as appropriate. The position allows for telework and/or hybrid work in accordance with CalHR’s and the DIR’s telework policy and procedures. The position requires the ability for prolonged sitting and to work at a computer for extended periods of time and to move and transport office items in a safe manner. The incumbent may be required to travel.

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To be considered for this job opportunity, applicants must be either reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility or have reinstatement eligibility.

To take the exam and gain employment list eligibility, please try the exam bulletin: https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1581.

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

Special Requirements

Membership in the State Bar of California.

Final Filing Date: 9/29/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

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.