Assistant Chief Counsel

Job Description And Duties

Pending DOF Approval.

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.

• Manage the work of Attorney Supervisors, attorneys (Attorney to Attorney V classifications), investigators, analysts, and legal secretaries.
• Oversee the office’s representation and legal advice to the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), the Department, and division chiefs and managers in a variety of subject areas within the responsibility and jurisdiction of the Department.
• Ensure that 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).
• Lead one or more of the unit’s practice teams, such as the SPB appeals and internal labor and employment team; the hearing officer team; or the contracts review and advice team.
• Provide prompt and accurate legal advice to Department executives and division chiefs regarding public works, prevailing wages, Public Records Act, public contracting, privacy, litigation, and other matters.
• Plan, direct, and review the work performed by legal staff who advise and represent the Department and its executive leadership.
• Supervise Attorneys, Attorney IIIs, Attorney IVs, Attorney Vs, and Attorney Supervisors involved in the most difficult and complex work of the Department.
• Assume the role of chief legal counsel to the Department and its executive leadership when absent of the Chief Counsel.
• Assist and work with the Attorney General’s Office and serve as in‑house counsel in litigation matters.

• Active membership in the California State Bar.
• At least nine years of legal experience in the practice of law following admission to the bar; with at least one year at a level equivalent to 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.
• Demonstrated experience in the practice of state personnel and labor and employment law.
• Experience in the practice of administrative law.
• Knowledge of or experience with public works, prevailing wages, apprenticeship, self‑insurance, wage and hour, worker safety, or workers’ compensation.
• Proven ability to lead teams or supervise or manage attorneys or other individuals.
• Strong written communication skills demonstrated in a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ). The SOQ should be no more than three pages, typed in Arial 12‑point font.

• Location:
  
  Orange County.
• Full‑time, permanent position located in the Department of Industrial Relations, Office of the Director, Legal Unit (OD Legal).
• Work requires an office environment, extensive computer use for drafting correspondence, briefs, research, email communication, file review, and training.
• Typical hours Monday–Friday, 40‑hour week, with occasional longer hours; some flexibility after hire in consultation with Chief Counsel.
• Potential eligibility for telework with in‑person attendance based on operational needs.

• State standard application form completed completely and carefully.
• Resume.
• Statement of Qualifications.
• Cover letter addressing work experience and interest in the position.
• Recent legal writing sample of own work product.

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.

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercise of 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.

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 visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.

Applicant must submit all required documents by the Final Filing Date of 4/2/2026. Late applications will not be considered.