ATTORNEY IV

State of California; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 134,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Public Advocates Office of the State of California seeks an Attorney IV to advocate for utility consumers in California’s energy markets. This role focuses on energy law, rate making issues, and ensuring safe, reliable service for electric, gas, and water customers.

This is a hybrid SF-based position with some travel; final filing date is 10/22/2026; salary range is $11,993–$16,096 per month. Applicants from Sacramento may apply to JC#535293.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of federal and state energy law and regulation.
• Experience with general rate making issues.
• Must meet minimum Attorney IV requirements.

Skills

Energy law knowledge

Rate making experience

Education

Attorney IV

Job description

$11,993.00 - $16,096.00 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: 10/22/2026

Join the Public Advocates Office, a leading voice for utility consumers.

Apply your leadership skills to promote utility safety and protect Californians. Help advocate to ensure that electric, gas and water customers receive safe and reliable service.

We are looking for candidates with the initiative and desire to make a difference advocating for the interests of California ratepayers. Please join our team!

Working Conditions

This advertisement is listed specifically for San Francisco (SF, SAC) location. All identified locations will be considered as one candidate pool to fill one position.

• Sacramento location, please apply to JC#535293

Apply to only those location(s) in which you are willing to work. Thispositionrequiretravel.

This is a hybrid position that will require the selected candidate to report to their assigned headquarter office a minimum of two (2) days a week. Hybrid positions may be eligible for telework under California Government Code Section 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California. In accordance with CPUC Telework Policy, telework arrangements are subject to change and may be reevaluated at any time.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ATTORNEY IV

Effective July 1, 2025, CalHR launched the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025 with Pay Differential 386. PLP 2025 temporarily reduces state employee pay in exchange for leave hours to help address budget shortfalls. Salary ranges in this posting exclude the temporary reduction. For details, visit CalHR’s Personnel Leave Program (PLP) page.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of, and experience with, federal and state energy law and/or regulation, particularly regarding energy markets.
• Experience with general rate making issues.

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.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Employment information on the STD 678 state application MUST be complete with dates, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. Resumes, or referring to resumes, will not be accepted in place of the completed STD 678. Applicants who fail to submit a completed STD 678 will not be considered.

Applicants who completed their education outside the United States (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must obtain and submit verification of United States course/degree equivalency by the application deadline. Foreign education credential evaluation services can be found at https://www.naces.org

Only the most qualified candidates will be invited to an interview.

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.

Department Website: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov

The Human Resources Contact and the Hiring Unit Contact are available to answer questions regarding the application process and the position.

Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator [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.