Staff Counsel

California Department of Industrial Relations; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The California Department of Industrial Relations, Office of the Director, Legal Unit, seeks Attorneys III to provide legal advice and representation to the DIR Director and department leadership in labor and employment matters.

Under the guidance of the Chief Counsel, Attorneys III handle workers' compensation trust fund cases (SIBTF, UEBTF, DWD), internal DIR matters, and provide legal guidance in public works, prevailing wages, and litigation, with a high degree of independence.

Responsibilities

• Represent the Director of DIR in specialized workers’ compensation cases involving DIR trust funds (SIBTF, UEBTF and DWD).
• Provide legal advice and representation in public works, prevailing wages, Public Records Act, public contracting, privacy, litigation, and other labor/employment matters.
• Draft and/or comment on proposed regulations and serve as primary/in-house counsel in civil litigation as needed.

Job description

Job Description And Duties

The Office of the Director, Legal Unit (OD Legal) serves as the general counsel’s office for DIR and provides advice and representation to the DIR Director, department leadership, and division chiefs in the performance of their statutory functions. Under the direction of the Chief Counsel and the Assistant Chief Counsels, Attorney IIIs represents the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, the Department, and division chiefs and managers in a variety of subject areas within the responsibility and jurisdiction of the Department, which are broadly in the labor and employment area.

Job Description And Duties

The Office of the Director, Legal Unit (OD Legal) serves as the general counsel’s office for DIR and provides advice and representation to the DIR Director, department leadership, and division chiefs in the performance of their statutory functions. Under the direction of the Chief Counsel and the Assistant Chief Counsels, Attorney IIIs represents the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, the Department, and division chiefs and managers in a variety of subject areas within the responsibility and jurisdiction of the Department, which are broadly in the labor and employment area.

Responsibilities include, among others, representing the Director of DIR in a special type of workers’ compensation cases involving trust funds administered by the Director (SIBTF, UEBTF and DWD), representing the Department in internal DIR personnel and labor and employment matters, and providing legal advice and representation in public works, prevailing wages, Public Records Act, public contracting, privacy, litigation, and other matters concerning a wide variety of legal issues that may arise in the operation of the Department. Attorney IIIs may also be asked to analyze pending legislation, draft and/or comment on proposed regulations, and serve as primary and/or in-house counsel in civil litigation.

Attorneys in this position work with a high level of independence, while also receiving support and supervision from OD Legal Assistant Chief Counsels and the Chief Counsel. They are required to communicate effectively both orally and in writing as required for the specific job duties, including by drafting legal briefs, memorandums, and correspondence on a regular basis; to appear in workers' compensation administrative proceedings; to appear in other civil and administrative court proceedings, as assigned; to communicate in a professional, respectful and productive manner with opposing counsel, clients, stakeholders, colleagues, and the public.

The ability to travel for a short duration (one to two days) is required for this position.

Multiple locations and positions are available. Please see other postings under a different job control in CalCareers for additional locations and positions. If you are interested in more than one location and/or position, please submit an application for each specific job control.