Senior Counsel

State of California; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent CalPERS pension

401(k) and 457(b) Plans

Flexible schedules

Generous paid time off

Health, dental & vision insurance

Free Parking

Job summary

The State of California, Cal OES, seeks an Attorney III to independently perform complex and sensitive legal assignments within the Legal Services Division. You will serve as the expert/lead attorney handling challenging matters with minimal supervision.

The role supports emergency management, policy making, litigation, contracts, and compliance, requiring a California State Bar license and a focus on public safety and fiscal implications.

Qualifications

• California State Bar license required.
• Experience in emergency management including planning, preparedness, response and recovery.
• Experience with employment and labor law including counseling, discipline, leaves and investigations.
• Experience conducting administrative hearings before state agencies.
• Experience drafting, reviewing and providing legal advice on contracts and procurements.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, negotiating or editing legal documents including opinions, contracts and notices.
• Experience interpreting public records act, APA, FPPA and related regulations.
• Experience handling or monitoring litigation.

Responsibilities

• Provide complex program advice and legal opinions.
• Support policy makers with legal guidance and analysis.
• Provide personnel and administrative support within the division.
• Assist in emergency response and recovery efforts through legal perspectives.
• Support litigation activities and related processes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Skills

Litigation experience

Labor and employment law

Contracts and procurement

Administrative hearings

Legal documents drafting

Public records & open meeting acts

Litigation monitoring

Job description

Are you looking for an exciting and fast-paced career? Join the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and be part of an organization that serves as a leader in emergency management and homeland security through dedicated service to all. We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals to join our team. If you are interested in a challenging opportunity in a high-energy, team-oriented environment.

Under the general direction of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Legal Services II Division the Attorney III independently performs the most complex and sensitive legal assignments and serves as the expert/lead attorney in the Cal OES Legal Services Division.

The position requires a high level of expertise on the demanding legal issues that affect Cal OES, ability to act with minimal supervision, and consistently exercise independent professional discretion on a diverse variety of problematic and complex legal issues and strategies. The legal advice provided may possibly have significant public safety, policy, and fiscal ramifications outside of the department and state government.

Essential Functions:

• Complex Program Advice and Legal Opinions
• Support to Policy Makers
• Personnel and Administrative Support
• Emergency Response and Recovery Support
• Litigation Support
• Compliance

Physical Demands

The senior counsel must be able to negotiate effectively and conduct crucial litigation; work cooperatively with a variety of individuals and organizations and maintain the confidence and respect of others; and work effectively under pressure.

This position requires a California State Bar License.

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

Cal OES employees are eligible for a number of benefits and working for us is a great opportunity to join a committed team. Benefits include but are not limited to the following:

• Excellent CalPERS state pension plan
• 401(k) and 457(b) Plans
• Flexible Schedules
• Generous paid time off
• Health, dental & vision insurance for the employee or the employee's family
• Investment in careers development
• Free Parking
• Electric Carport

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• 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:

• Experience in emergency management including planning, preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery.
• Experience with employment and labor law, including but not limited to employee counseling and discipline, reasonable accommodation, workers’ compensation, leaves of absence, and workplace investigations.
• Experience conducting administrative hearings, including but not limited to hearings before the State Personnel Board, the Department of Industrial Relations, and the Employment Development Department.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and providing legal advice related to contracts and procurements.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, analyzing, negotiating, and/or editing legal documents including legal opinions, contracts, data sharing agreements, legislation, regulations, and legal notices.
• Experience interpreting and advising on the principles and applications of the California Public Records Act, the California Administrative Procedure Act, the Fair Political Practices Act, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, and related regulations and cases interpreting these laws and regulations.
• Experience handling or monitoring litigation.