Attorney II – Construction / Real Estate (JO#6697)

About the role

The Legal Services office of the Judicial Council of California provides quality, timely, and ethical legal advice and services to the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, trial courts, Judicial Council, and its advisory bodies and staff. The Attorney will work in the Real Estate Unit (REU), providing in-house legal support for all aspects of the California judicial branch’s real property portfolio, including over 425 existing courthouse facilities and the courthouse capital construction program. The role involves direct legal support for acquisition, procurement, construction, operation, maintenance, leasing, dispute resolution, financing, and disposition of court facilities.

The Attorney will independently manage a workload in a collegial and collaborative environment, occasionally conducting research, drafting legal memoranda, and providing facilities-related advice to other Legal Services units and Judicial Council offices. Depending on experience, the Attorney may also support other units, draft legal opinions, staff advisory bodies, and contribute to rules of court and legislation.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and support for managing a real estate portfolio of approximately 20 million square feet (450+ buildings), including ongoing maintenance, facility modifications, and changing court space needs.
• Support courthouse capital construction projects, including contract procurement, administration, close-out, warranty enforcement, disputes, claims, and litigation.
• Offer legal guidance on facilities maintenance procurement and contract administration.
• Draft and negotiate leases, licenses, renewals, and provide legal advice on lease disputes and terminations.
• Draft and assist in negotiating site acquisition agreements, including environmental (CEQA) compliance.
• Handle issues related to transfers of responsibility for trial court facilities under SB 1732, including shared-use facilities.
• Provide legal support for dispositions of closed court facilities, including drafting authorizing legislation.
• Research and draft legal memoranda, opinions, and policies related to facilities issues.
• Provide facilities-related advice to support other Judicial Council offices.
• Supervise outside counsel on real estate, construction matters, or litigation.
• Support the Judicial Council’s facilities-related advisory committees and working groups.
• Depending on experience, perform additional duties such as labor and employment law, litigation management, ethics, transactions, drafting rules of court, legislation, and supporting advisory bodies.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
• Three (3) years of relevant post-bar legal experience as a practicing attorney. Work experience as a law clerk to a federal judge prior to formal state bar admission may qualify.
• Current active membership with the State Bar of California prior to hire.

Qualifications

• Experience with large-scale construction projects, including drafting complex construction contracts, procurement, and resolution of construction disputes.
• Experience in real estate matters, including drafting real estate agreements, leases, property acquisitions, and environmental laws.
• Knowledge of and experience with public entity administration and legal issues, including procurement, public records, governance, and advisory roles.

Skills

• Excellent critical thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and judgment.
• Ability to present issues and advocate positions clearly, concisely, and logically in writing and orally.
• Superior contract and document drafting skills.
• Ability to manage workloads, coordinate deadlines, and prioritize competing demands.
• Ability to work autonomously while being a collaborative team player with a positive and enthusiastic attitude.

Knowledge of

• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances.
• Principles and methods of legal writing, research, and analysis.
• Principles and practice of court administration, as assigned.
• California legislative process, as assigned.
• Applicable business equipment and desktop applications.

Benefits

• Substantial vacation and holiday time.
• Excellent benefits package, including pension, medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Hybrid work arrangements for many positions, with an expectation to work in-person at the San Francisco or Sacramento office at least two days per week.
• Additional 5 hours of paid personal leave per month through June 30, 2027, in exchange for a temporary 3% salary reduction.

Pay

Salary Range: $13,383 - $16,058 per month (subject to a temporary 3% reduction).

Schedule

Hybrid work arrangement with an expectation to work in-person at the San Francisco or Sacramento office at least two days per week. To be eligible for employment and the Hybrid Work Program, the primary residence must be in California and within a 150-mile driving radius of the assigned reporting location.