Closing Date: 2nd April, 2026
Description:
The Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel position is in the Office of
the Director, Legal Unit (known as “OD Legal”). 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. The Attorney,
The Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel is responsible for ensuring that the unit attorneys provide the best representation to the Director of DIR in special types of workers' compensation cases involving trust funds administered by the Director (SIBTF, UEBTF and DWD). In addition, the Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel leads one or more of the unit's practice teams, such as the unit's SPB appeals and internal labor and employment team; the hearing officer team; or the contracts review and advice team, among others. The Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel must also ensure that unit attorneys provide prompt and accurate legal advice to Department executives and division chiefs with respect to issues involving 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. In the absence of the assigned unit attorneys, the Assistant Chief Counsel may perform these duties directly.
The Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel plans, directs, and reviews the work performed by legal staff who advise and represent the Department and its executive leadership. The position directly supervises Attorneys, Attorney IIIs, Attorney IVs, Attorney Vs, and Attorney Supervisors involved in the most difficult and complex work of the Department. In the absence of the Chief Counsel the individual may assume the role of the chief legal counsel to the Department and its executive leadership. The Assistant Chief Counsel also assists and works with the Attorney General's Office and serves as in-house counsel in litigation matters. The Assistant Chief Counsel works with broad discretion and independence with minimum supervision.
This posting may be used to fill future vacancies in accordance with 2 CCR 249.3
To be considered for this 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=1587
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 here to visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Working Conditions:
This job is located in:
Orange County
This is a full-time, permanent position. The usual business hours are Monday through Friday. Employees in this position are expected to work all hours as necessary to accomplish their assignments. Although they will generally average a 40-hour week, longer work hours may occasionally be required. There is some flexibility as to the specific work schedule, which will be determined after hire in consultation with the Chief Counsel. This position may be eligible for some amount of telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the position.
In order to apply for this position, please submit:
- The State standard application form completed completely and carefully.
- Resume
- Statement of Qualifications
- A cover letter that addresses your work experience and your interest in the position; and
- A recent legal writing sample of your own work product.
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.
Minimum Requirements:
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.
Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel
Additional Documents
Job Application Package Checklist
Duty Statement
Department Information:
- The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) was established in 1927. Its mission is to improve working conditions for California's wage earners and to advance opportunities for profitable employment in California. DIR administers and enforces laws governing wages, workplace safety and health, apprenticeship training programs, and medical care and other benefits for injured workers.
- Electronic Submission of Applications preferred. Application Packages maybe submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at https://jobs.ca.gov/ Applications must be received electronically by 11:59 p.m. on or before the above final filing date.
- Please only submit ONE application. Electronic applications submitted through your CalCareer Account are highly recommended and will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing.
- If you are unable to apply electronically through your CalCareer account, please mail a completed and signed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 and application package to the mailing address provided in the “Application Instructions” section below and ensure the following:
- Clearly indicate the Job Code #, Position Number and the Title of this position in the “Examination or Job Title(s) For Which You Are Applying” section located on the first page of your State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678.
- Clearly indicate the basis of your eligibility (cert, transfer, reinstatement, etc.) in the “Explanations” section located on the first page of your State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678.
- Remove and do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (page 5) with your completed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678. This page is for examination use only.
- Do not include your full Social Security Number on your documents and/or do not provide any LEAP information.
- Department Website: https://www.dir.ca.gov/
Special Requirements:
- The Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel position requires active membership in the California State Bar and at least nine years of legal experience in the practice of law following admission to the bar; one year of which must have been at a level equivalent to an Attorney V or Attorney Supervisor, or three years at a level equivalent to Attorney IV, or four years at a level equivalent to Attorney III.
- Note: As part of the application package for this position, you must submit a resume, cover letter, legal writing sample, and statement of qualifications.
- See section below regarding the required application documents.
- A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must be submitted along with the State Application and serves as documentation of candidate's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. It should be typed, no more than three (3) pages in length, using Arial 12-point font, and normal margins.
- In your SOQ, be sure to include your total years of experience, when applicable, in addressing the following statements:
- Describe your experience in the practice of law related to state personnel and labor and employment.
- Describe your experience in the practice of administrative law.
- Describe your knowledge of or experience with public works, prevailing wages, apprenticeship, self-insurance, wage and hour, worker safety, or workers' compensation..
- Describe your experience leading teams or supervising or managing attorneys or other individuals.
- Describe the approaches you use to motivate colleagues, track progress, and achieve desired outcomes.
- Applications received without the SOQ addressed as stated will not be considered.
- Note: Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be e
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