ATTORNEY II (JO#6718)

Legal Services at the Judicial Council of California provides quality, timely, and ethical legal advice and services to the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, trial courts, the Judicial Council, its advisory bodies, and staff. We are seeking an experienced transactional attorney to join our dynamic team, supporting the Transactions and Business Operations Unit. This role involves providing legal advice on a full range of contract and business transactional issues, including procurement, facilities maintenance, intergovernmental agreements, and intellectual property matters.

About the role

The Attorney II will support the Judicial Council and California’s trial and appellate courts by managing a diverse workload in a collegial and collaborative environment. Key responsibilities include advising on procurement, contract drafting and review, risk allocation, and business operations. The role also involves updating the Judicial Branch Contracting Manual and working with outside counsel on transactional matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice to judicial branch entities on contract and business transactional issues, including procurement, facilities maintenance, intergovernmental agreements, and intellectual property.
• Draft, review, and revise legal documents and contracts.
• Resolve non-litigated contractual and procurement disputes.
• Update and revise the Judicial Branch Contracting Manual (JBCM).
• Analyze and advise on risk allocation and liability in contracts and business relationships.
• Assist in the identification, selection, and retention of outside counsel, including fee negotiation.
• Collaborate with outside counsel on business operations and transactional matters, such as agreement drafting and billing compliance.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
• Three (3) years of relevant post-bar legal experience as a practicing attorney. Qualifying experience includes work as a law clerk to a federal or state judge after passing the bar exam but before formal admission.
• Active membership with the State Bar of California prior to hire.

Qualifications

• Experience handling transactional matters and providing legal advice on business operations.
• Experience with public sector clients.
• Exceptional legal research, analytical, and written/oral communication skills.
• Experience researching, analyzing, and writing legal memoranda on complex legal issues.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: transactions and business law, alternative dispute resolution, public access to administrative or court records, or civil law.

Skills

• Excellent critical thinking, problem-solving, and judgment.
• Superior communication, interpersonal, diplomacy, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to present issues and advocate positions clearly and concisely.
• Strong workload management, deadline coordination, and prioritization skills.
• Ability to work efficiently and independently while collaborating in a team environment.
• Ability to listen to and consider diverse viewpoints, build consensus, and resolve conflicts.
• Proficiency in electronic legal research, legal writing principles, and desktop applications.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits.
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year, plus 1 personal holiday.
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave.
• Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs.
• Pre-Tax Parking Savings Program.
• CalPERS Retirement Plan.
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance.
• FlexElect Program (pre-tax flexible spending accounts).
• Optional Long-Term Care Disability and Group Legal Plan (employee-paid).
• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

Pay

Monthly Salary Range: $13,383 - $16,058 (subject to a temporary 3% reduction through June 30, 2027, in exchange for an additional 5 hours of paid personal leave per month).

Schedule

The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements, with the expectation of in-person work at the San Francisco or Sacramento office at least two days per week. To be eligible, employees must reside in California within a 150-mile driving radius of their assigned reporting location.

Offices are conveniently located near public transit: the San Francisco office is a 7-minute walk from the Civic Center BART station, and the Sacramento office is minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park.