General Counsel/Litigation Bureau Attorney

State of California; California; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

State of California is seeking an experienced Attorney IV in its General Counsel section to handle diverse legal matters, draft and review complex contracts, and advise on privacy and records laws.

The role involves litigation strategy, discovery, and advisory duties across interagency projects, with an emphasis on high‑stakes matters and adherence to California laws.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience developing subject matter expertise in a variety of complex subjects.
• Oral and written advocacy experience, including litigation in state/federal courts.
• Experience with privacy laws and developing departmental policies.
• Experience responding to Public Records Act requests or subpoenas.
• Experience reviewing contracts and interagency agreements.
• Ability to work under pressure and within tight time-frames.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple workloads.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, and review complex contracts or interagency agreements of precedential significance.
• Serve as technical advisor on contracting rules and processes to FTB departments.
• Provide legal advice on taxpayer privacy, conflicts of interest, data retention, accessibility, and related laws.
• Develop strategy in complex disputes and handle litigation on matters within the litigation bureau.
• Assist the Attorney General's Office with preservation of evidence and discovery processes.
• Prepare pleadings, settlements, and other legal documents as needed.
• Advise on best practices through committees or departmental projects.

Skills

Excellent communication

Advocacy experience

Work under pressure

Prioritization

Privacy laws

Public Records Act requests

Contracts review

Subject matter expertise

Education

State Bar of California admission

Job description

Attorney IVs in the General Counsel Section are responsible for a breadth of legal issues and work a varied legal practice. The incumbent will work independently on a variety of legal issues that impact the department as a whole under the general direction of the Assistant Chief Counsel of the Litigation Bureau.

The job duties include: Drafting, negotiating, and reviewing complex contracts or inter agency agreements especially contracts or interagency agreements of precedential significance. Serving as technical advisor to Franchise Tax Board (FTB) departments regarding state contracting rules, contracting process, and use of interagency agreements.

Providing legal advice pertaining to various departmental legal requirements such taxpayer privacy, state employee conflicts of interest, power of attorney, data retention, offers in compromise, accessibility and reasonable accommodation, the confidentiality and disclosure of information as allowed or constrained by the various California laws (such as the Public Records Act, Information Practices Act, or Political Reform Act), and various other legal issues. Serving as technical advisor related to these issues as well as taxpayer privacy, conflicts of interest, power of attorney, data retention, offers in compromise, accessibility & reasonable accommodation, and other legal matters within general counsel duties.

Developing strategy and tactics in complex disputes or litigation and handling litigation cases involving novel legal theories or pertaining to emerging areas of law regarding all matters pertaining to the department, including contract disputes, privacy issues, Public Records Act violations, bankruptcy matters, due process disputes, employment and tax refund litigation, and any other matter that is within the litigation bureau subject matters. Specifically, assisting the Attorney General's Office regarding best practices pertaining to preservation of evidence, discovery, witness preparation, and includes drafting pleadings, settlements, or other legal documents pertaining to these subject matters. Serving as technical advisor on various committees or on various departmental projects pertaining to these subject matters.

Active membership in the State Bar of California.

Additional positions may become available (RPA 2627-01003).

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

In addition, Franchise Tax Board offers the following:

• Convenient transportation and commuting options include: Light Rail stop, bicycle lockers, free parking, and carpool/vanpool opportunities

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ATTORNEY IV
• ATTORNEY III

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:

All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to clearly demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications and Alternate Range Placement for the position on your State Application (STD Form 678). The application should also clearly demonstrate the candidate’s ability to meet the Desirable Qualifications identified in this job advertisement. The Classification Specification is located on this Job Announcement Posting under "Minimum Requirements".

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Experience developing subject matter expertise in a variety of complex subjects
• Oral and written advocacy experience, including litigation experience in state and/or federal courts, including appellate practices
• Experience with privacy laws and developing departmental policies
• Experience responding to Public Records Act requests, issuing and responding to subpoenas, or propounding discovery
• Experience reviewing contracts, including memorandums of understanding, and inter agency agreements
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and within tight time-frames
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple workloads