Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Legal staff in the Office of Legislative Counsel provide professional services to Members of the California Legislature and, in certain situations, to the executive and judicial branches of state government and private citizens. Under supervision of the Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsels and Attorney Supervisors, the incumbent will provide legal services on a variety of issues relating to existing law and proposed legislation. Duties become more complex at the higher attorney classifications such as at the Attorney III and IV classifications.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Special Requirements

Do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for a job vacancy, such as your STD. 678, resume, or school transcripts. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your social security number, birthdate, student identification number, driver license number (unless required), examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age. (Note confidential information on the first page of the application submitted online through your CalCareers account will be redacted automatically upon submission.)

(STD. 678):
Applicants must submit the required documents in order to be considered for this position. Failure to complete the STD. 678 in its entirety may result in disqualification.

School Transcripts:

When using education to qualify, unofficial transcripts must be submitted. Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the foreign course work is equivalent. If selected for appointment, official transcripts will be required.

Supplemental Application:

See “Required Application Package Documents” section below.

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:

• Membership in the California State Bar.

• Knowledge of scope and character of California statutory laws and provisions of the California State Constitution, including their relationship to judicial precedents and federal constitutional provisions and laws, rules, organization, and operation of the California State Legislature; purposes, organization, procedures, and work of the Office of Legislative Counsel; tables and indexes used in drafting legislation and in preparing opinions; legal terminology and correct English; performing legal research; and legal principles and precedents and their application to difficult, complex, and novel legal problems.

• Ability to use correct English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; perform and direct legal research; present statements of fact, law, and argument clearly and logically; perform difficult statute drafting and codification work; draft and review a large volume of legal correspondence; work effectively under high pressure, tight deadlines, and long hours; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; and follow instructions.

• A greater degree of the aforementioned knowledge and abilities is required at the higher classification levels.

Benefits

All OLC employees are excluded from collective bargaining, and therefore, receive enhanced benefits, such as CoBen benefit allowance, employer paid life insurance, additional vacation/annual leave, and are not subject to State Disability Insurance payroll withholding.  Additional information can be found on CalHR’s website under  State Employee Benefits and Programs . 

Your Responsibilities

• Researching, developing, and drafting legislation, after conferring with or receiving direction from Members of the Legislature, legislative staff, or other authorized persons.

• Researching, developing, and preparing formal oral or written legal opinions on a variety of issues relating to existing law and proposed legislation.

• Providing informal oral legal advice and consultation to Members of the Legislature, legislative staff, state officers, and other authorized persons on a variety of issues, including legislative rules and procedures, legislative proposals, existing law and legal precedent, and how to accomplish desired statutory goals.

• Appearing before legislative committees to provide legal advice on existing law or proposed legislation.

• Higher classification levels may assign, review, and approve drafts of proposed legislation to ensure work products meet the needs of the requester; are technically and legally accurate; reflect the style and philosophy of the Legislative Counsel; and are timely.

• Performing other duties as required.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Supplemental Application -

  Required, must be included, and accessible via the following link

  - Supplemental Application

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