Staff Attorney

California Department of Industrial Relations; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The California Department of Industrial Relations is seeking an experienced attorney to represent the Labor Commissioner's Office and provide counsel on California employment law. The role involves litigation, negotiation, hearings, legal research, and drafting opinions on policy, precedents, and appeals.

Some travel is required to fulfill program objectives. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in labor and employment rights matters, and the ability to engage with public agencies,

Qualifications

• Active California State Bar membership required.
• Legal counsel experience in labor/employment law is preferred.
• Ability to travel for program objectives.

Responsibilities

• Represent the LCO and advise the Labor Commissioner on California employment law.
• Perform litigation, negotiation, hearings, and legal research.
• Prepare legal opinions on policy, precedents, and appeals.
• Engage in community liaison work and provide guidance to public agencies.

Job description

Job Description And Duties

This is a re-post. If you previously applied, there is no need to re-apply as your application is on file and will be considered.

This position is in the following program areas: Retaliation Complaint Investigation Legal section.

Under direction of the Attorney Supervisor to the Labor Commissioner's Office, the successful candidate will represent the LCO and act as counsel, advising the Labor Commissioner and other public agencies, on California employment law. California often leads the way with First-in-the-Nation measures to protect workers and employers. In this dynamic arena, LCO team personnel are assigned a variety of tasks such as litigation, negotiation, legislative and community liaison work, hearings, legal research, legal opinion writing on policy, precedents and appeals. The ideal candidate possesses a strong motivation to work on and contribute to labor, employment rights-related matters. The ability to travel is required for this position.

To be considered for this Attorney 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 click here to access the exam bulletin: https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1579

Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for hours in the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) per month. For more details, please click her e to visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.

Working Conditions

The recruitment is being conducted to fill 1 vacancy, which may be filled at any of the following locations listed below:

• Fresno JC-519129
• Salinas JC-519135
• Riverside JC-519139
• Santa Barbara JC-519144
• San Diego JC-519148
• Long Beach JC-519151
• Santa Ana JC-519156

May work in high-rise building in downtown locations.

Must work in office. Workspace is a standard office in a smoke-free environment.

Incumbent must be able to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time; Incumbent must occasionally move boxes, files and office equipment.

As needed, an Attorney will also have contact with the general public, California State and outside legal, program, court and agency staff via phone, email, in person, via presentation, video and mail. Such contact may include general, confidential, sensitive, technical and informative materials.

The Attorney is expected to travel via land and air (including overnight travel out of town) and arrange schedules to perform duties and meet the objectives of the program.

Special Requirements

Active Membership in The California State Bar

Statement of Qualifications: Statement of Qualifications should be no more than two (2) pages and should be submitted with your application and resume. Applications received without the SOQ will not be considered.

Summarize the reasons for your interest in this position and how your prior experience qualifies you for it.

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.