Staff Counsel

State of California; California; On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension through CALPERS

Medical Benefits

Leave benefits

Paid Holidays

Life Insurance

Deferred Compensation: 401k and 457b

Job summary

The State of California is seeking an experienced Attorney III to serve under the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation’s Chief Counsel. You will perform complex legal work with minimal supervision and provide advisory services to LCI and its boards, councils, leadership, and staff.

Responsibilities include leading agreements with agency partners, supporting Council meetings, and guiding programs through public meeting rules, ethics laws, and environmental planning processes.

Qualifications

• Legal understanding of public contracting, agency laws (Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, Public Records Act) and ethics.
• Experience in state/local government.
• Experience with legislative affairs.
• Analytical, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate and work independently.
• Commitment to serving diverse communities.
• Experience with under-resourced and diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Provide research, advisory legal services, and guidance to LCI and its boards, councils, leadership, and staff.
• Lead and coordinate agreements with agency partners, grantees, and contractors; deliver Council meeting support.
• Provide organizational legal guidance and handle complex, sensitive assignments with limited review.

Skills

Public contracting law

Public agency law

Conflict of interest

Open Meeting Act

Public Records Act

Legislative affairs

Analytical skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Collaboration

Education

Attorney III

Job description

Under the general direction of the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation’s (LCI’s) Chief Counsel, the incumbent serves at the full journey level as an experienced attorney performing complex and sensitive legal work with broad discretion and minimal supervision. Working in coordination with other members of the LCI legal team, the incumbent independently provides research, analytical, and advisory legal services that advise LCI and its statutory boards, councils, leadership, and staff on the legal aspects of LCI’s programs and administrative activities. The incumbent leads and coordinates agreements with agency partners, grantees, and contractors, provides Council meeting support, and delivers organizational legal guidance. The incumbent independently handles complex and sensitive assignments and may conduct complex and difficult hearings. This position is distinguished from the Attorney level by the difficulty of assignments, the level of independence, and the expertise required. The incumbent has thorough knowledge of personnel, civil rights, government contracting, public meeting rules and procedures, conflict of interest and ethics laws, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, and Public Records Act request protocols. Working knowledge of the California Environmental Quality Act, Planning and Zoning Law, and legislative and budgetary processes is expected. The incumbent applies this knowledge independently to complex and sensitive matters and exercises sound legal judgment with limited review. The incumbent must have a commitment to serving California’s diverse communities and creating a work environment that celebrates diverse backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences. The incumbent must have an ability to travel up to 5% of the time and occasionally work on evenings, weekends, and holidays.

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

There are many benefits to joining our team! We offer competitive pay, advancement opportunities, upward mobility, work-life-balance, and for many positions, flexible hours and remote work options. The State of California offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, subject to eligibility, such as:

• Pension through CALPERS
• Medical Benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance
• Medical benefits into retirement
• Deferred Compensation options: 401k and 457b
• Leave benefit options (Vacation/Sick or Annual Leave)
• Paid Holidays
• Life Insurance
• ScholarShare (College Saving Account)
• School Loan forgiveness under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

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:

• Legal understanding of public contracting, public agency laws including the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, Public Records Act, and Political Reform Act, conflict of interest and ethics, and California land use, zoning, and general plan laws, including the California Environmental Quality Act.
• Experience in state and/or local government.
• Experience with legislative affairs.
• Able to work collaboratively and independently.
• Extensive analytical, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and organizational skills
• Collaborative, adaptable, and able to prioritize emergent and ongoing tasks.
• Experience working in and with under-resourced communities including disadvantaged communities (DAC), Tribal communities, rural communities, immigrant communities, low-income communities, and/or communities of color.
• Proven commitment to serving diverse communities.
• An ability to create and succeed in a work environment that celebrates diverse backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences.