Staff Counsel

California Department of Industrial Relations; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

California Department of Industrial Relations seeks lawyers to represent the Director and department in a broad range of legal matters, including workers’ compensation cases, civil and writ litigation, personnel matters, and regulatory tasks.

The position requires active California Bar membership and the ability to independently manage a diverse caseload, with subject matter expertise across the Department’s responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Must be a member of the California Bar and qualified to practice law in California.

Responsibilities

• Representing the Director of DIR in workers' compensation cases involving special funds administered by the Director.
• Representing the Department, Director, or one of DIR's divisions in civil and writ litigation, including litigation involving constitutional issues.
• Representing the Department in internal personnel matters.
• Analyzing requests for public works coverage determinations and drafting proposed decisions for the Director's review.
• Providing counsel on apprenticeship matters.
• Analyzing and drafting recommended decisions in appeals from retaliation complaint investigations.
• Providing analysis and advice concerning Public Records Act requests.
• Analyzing and drafting proposed legislation.
• Providing legal services with respect to contract matters involving the Department.
• Drafting proposed regulations; and
• Providing legal services on a wide variety of other issues that may arise in the operation of the Department.

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.

Under the direction of the Chief Counsel of the Office of the Director Legal Unit (OD--Legal), and the Assistant Chief Counsels, Attorneys represent the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, the Department, and division chiefs and managers in a wide and interesting variety of subject areas that are within the responsibility and jurisdiction of the Department. Attorneys are expected to independently handle a caseload, to have solid lawyering skills, and to have some level of subject matter expertise in one or more areas of the Department's responsibility.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Representing the Director of DIR in workers' compensation cases involving special funds administered by the Director;
• Representing the Department, Director, or one of DIR's divisions in civil and writ litigation, including litigation involving constitutional issues;
• Representing the Department in internal personnel matters;
• Analyzing requests for public works coverage determinations and drafting proposed decisions for the Director's review;
• Providing counsel on apprenticeship matters;
• Analyzing and drafting recommended decisions in appeals from retaliation complaint investigations;
• Providing analysis and advice concerning Public Records Act requests;
• Analyzing and drafting proposed legislation;
• Providing legal services with respect to contract matters involving the Department;
• Drafting proposed regulations; and
• Providing legal services on a wide variety of other issues that may arise in the operation of the Department.

This posting may be used to fill future vacancies in accordance with 2 CCR

• 249.3

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

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

Working Conditions

This position is located at: 355 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071. This position in an office environment on the 18th floor of a 45-story private office building. Central location with easy access to public transportation, bike parking, cultural institutions, eclectic dining, and fitness centers. Subsidized commuter transportation passes. Employees in this position work in an office at desks, and are required to work extensively on computers as necessary for the drafting of letters, briefs and other documents, and for research, email communication, file review, training and other purposes. Attorneys are expected to handle their own word processing, and secretarial support is generally limited to the finalization and filing process. This position requires in-state travel, either locally within Southern California, or for one to two-day overnight trips within California, based on assignments, and as determined according to the needs of the Department.

Special Requirements

Must be a member of the California Bar and qualified to practice law in California.

Legal Writing Sample

Please submit a legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages written preferably within the past three years. The date the writing sample was written must appear on the document submitted.

Final Filing Date: 9/29/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

Required Application Package Documents

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCare.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Other - Legal Writing Sample.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

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 workplace. 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.