Staff Attorney (Attorney III)

Job Description and Duties Under the general direction of an Attorney Supervisor, the incumbent works with broad discretion and independence to perform the more complex and sensitive legal work of the Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO). The incumbent will represent the LCO and act as lead counsel for the Bureau of Field Enforcement unit, advising the Labor Commissioner and other public agencies, on California employment law. The incumbent is assigned to perform a variety of tasks such as litigation, negotiations, and legislative liaison work, hearings, legal research, and legal opinion writing on cases that may be appealed to the highest courts. May serve as a lead to lower level attorney staff. The incumbent possesses a strong motivation to work on and contribute to labor, employment rights-related matters. This position manages a substantial workload, which may be subject to strict time constraints or involve high-profile cases. The ability to travel is also required for this position. Please ensure application is complete with detailed job descriptions/tasks performed, employment beginning and ending date information, and hours worked per week. Failure to provide this information may disqualify your application. This position is in the following program areas: Legal Unit, supporting Bureau of Field Enforcement This posting may be used to fill future vacancies in accordance with 2 CCR §249.3 To be considered for this Attorney III 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=1580 You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement. Special Requirements Must have active membership to California State Bar. Type answers to the following inquiries in 12 point type, Times New Roman font. Each answer should be on a separate page and have your name and position number at the top left corner. If your answer to an inquiry is “none,” please so indicate. Your Statement of Qualifications should be no more than five (5) pages and should be submitted with your application and resume. Applications received without the SOQ will not be considered. 1. Identify up to three (3) matters in which you have served as trial counsel in a court trial (civil or criminal) or administrative hearing. Please format your response as follows: Case Name/No. Court name/location/dept. Judge/Hearing Officer Dates Case Issues ____________ ____________________ __________________ _______ ___________ 2. Identify up to three (3) matters in which you have served as appellate counsel in the California Court of Appeal or in a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Please format your response as follows: Case Name/No. Court name Date of decision Cite (if any) Case Issues ________________ ______________ ________________ __________ ____________ 3. Describe how your experience prepares you for this position as a trial attorney doing labor law enforcement for the Labor Commissioner’s Office. 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: Candidates with significant trial experience, including prosecutors and public defenders, are especially encouraged to apply. Candidates with experience representing employees in Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and Labor Code enforcement actions are also encouraged to apply. • Knowledge of how to conduct legal analysis (e.g., issue-spotting, rule analysis, applying law to facts) to ensure relevant issues and information are identified and correlated with applicable law, and to aid in predicting the legal outcome. • Knowledge of proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure to ensure that written materials prepared and reviewed are complete, and free of errors. • Knowledge of the rules of evidence and their application in depositions, court trials, and administrative hearings. • Knowledge of pretrial and trial procedures in state and federal courts. • Skilled at listening to others to facilitate an open exchange of ideas and provide for effective communication. • Skilled at effectively organizing and conducting direct and cross examination of witnesses at trial or hearing. • Skilled at negotiating case resolutions that maximize results for the client. • Skilled at formulating persuasive legal arguments and presentation of evidence to the bench, juries, arbitrators, mediators, and opposing counsel. • Ability to apply professional ethical rules as they relate to the practice of law and particularly the role of public attorneys. • Ability to examine witnesses at deposition and at trial on direct examination and cross examination. • Ability to review and/or finalize work products produced by clients, para- professionals, and/or other attorneys. • Ability to lay the foundation for documentary evidence and expert witness opinion testimony. • Ability to prepare and deliver closing arguments which synthesize evidence and applicable law in a compelling narrative. • Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion in the dissemination of information. • Ability to plan the development of a project, case or matter. • Ability to present cases before State and Federal Courts, and administrative agencies or forums. • Ability to remain calm under stressful circumstances. • Ability to exercise sound judgment in decision making.