ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL

Job Code: JC-532927; Position #: 051-720-5871-001; Working Title: Assistant Chief Counsel; Classification: ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL; Work Location: Sacramento County; Telework: Hybrid; Job Type: Permanent, Full Time; Facility: Executive Office

About the role

The Office of the State Controller (SCO) is California’s chief fiscal officer, ensuring accountability and transparency of the state’s financial practices. The Executive Office (EO) drives the vision and mission, coordinating high‑level initiatives, managing stakeholder relationships, and overseeing policy implementation that shapes California’s financial landscape. As Assistant Chief Counsel you will work within this strategic center, supporting the Chief Counsel and providing legal leadership.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and review the work of attorneys developing legal opinions, responding to legal challenges, evaluating constitutional law related to the Controller’s responsibilities, etc.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer amongst existing attorneys; mentor, guide, and direct new or inexperienced attorneys.
• Assist the Chief Counsel in overseeing legal staff, implementing training schedules, approving/denying leave, evaluating performance, imposing progressive discipline, setting caseload expectations.
• Establish consistency in legal opinion development; review assignments; identify corrective actions.
• Adhere to and set compliance goals; facilitate negotiations; influence development of legal strategies for program issues.
• Research complex legal topics to support decision‑making on behalf of the Chief Counsel; assess legal threats.
• Coordinate efforts of outside counsel; assess risk and recommend best practices.
• Develop external relationships with other state legal offices; may coordinate with the Attorney General’s Office.
• Assist in developing executive legal strategies using historical context and data analytics; vet legal positions related to boards and commissions.
• Provide legal counsel to Senior Executive Staff.
• Oversee preparation for lawsuits: identify best approach, case studies, relevant court decisions.
• Establish legal premise for proposed legislation and its impact; coordinate implementation of legal decisions from court rulings.
• Participate in legal governance, providing legal argument and justifying program/department positioning; provide regulatory advice; ensure compliance with laws and court decisions.
• Provide legal insight by applying expert guidance and establishing/promoting legal trends as identified by the Chief Counsel.
• Represent the Chief Counsel in meetings, negotiations, hearings, or counseling sessions across program areas.
• Provide legal support for cases scheduled for hearing in various venues (Supreme Court, Federal Courts, Superior Court, State Appellate Court, etc.), including matters of first impression.
• Engage in difficult negotiations, legal research, and opinion development; meet with high‑level representatives of other departments, boards, commissions, or opposing counsel.
• Travel to and from various locations for hearings, meetings, or representational matters as scheduled.

Pay

$14,513.00 - $17,742.00 per month. New to State candidates are hired at the minimum of the classification or alternate range when applicable.