Assistant Chief Counsel

About the role

The Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel position is in the Office of the Director, Legal Unit (OD Legal) at the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). 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 position manages the work of Attorney Supervisors, attorneys (ranging from Attorney to Attorney V classifications), investigators, analysts, and legal secretaries. Under the direction of the Chief Counsel and in coordination with other Assistant Chief Counsels, the role oversees the office's representation and legal advice to the Director, the Department, and division chiefs and managers across various subject areas within the Department's jurisdiction, broadly in the labor and employment area.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring that unit attorneys provide the best representation to the Director in special types of workers' compensation cases involving trust funds administered by the Director (SIBTF, UEBTF and DWD).
• Leading 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, among others.
• Ensuring that unit attorneys 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 legal issues that may arise in Department operations.
• Performing duties directly in the absence of assigned unit attorneys.
• Planning, directing, and reviewing the work performed by legal staff who advise and represent the Department and its executive leadership.
• Directly supervising Attorneys, Attorney IIIs, Attorney IVs, Attorney Vs, and Attorney Supervisors involved in the most difficult and complex work of the Department.
• Assuming the role of chief legal counsel to the Department and its executive leadership in the absence of the Chief Counsel.
• Assisting and working with the Attorney General's Office and serving as in-house counsel in litigation matters.
• Working with broad discretion and independence with minimum supervision.

Qualifications

• Active membership in the California State Bar.
• At least nine years of legal experience in the practice of law following admission to the bar.
• One year of experience 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.

Required application documents

• State standard application form (STD 678) completed completely and carefully.
• Resume.
• Statement of Qualifications (see Special Requirements for detailed instructions).
• Cover letter addressing your work experience and your interest in the position.
• A recent legal writing sample of your own work product.

Special requirements

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must be submitted along with the State Application. It should be typed, no more than three pages in length, using Arial 12-point font, and normal margins. In your SOQ, include your total years of experience when applicable in addressing the following:

• 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.

Working conditions

This position is located at 355 S. Grand Ave., Suite 1800, Los Angeles, CA 90071, in the Department of Industrial Relations, Office of the Director, Legal Unit. Employees work in an office environment with assigned offices and desks, and work extensively on computers for drafting correspondence, briefs, research, email, file review, training, and other purposes. The position requires being in a stationary position for long periods. Usual business hours are Monday through Friday, with a generally expected 40-hour week, though longer hours may occasionally be required. Some flexibility in the specific work schedule may be determined after hire in consultation with the Chief Counsel. This position may be eligible for some telework with in-person attendance based on operational needs.

Pay and schedule

There is one position that may be filled in either Los Angeles or Orange County. Final Filing Date: 10/6/2026.