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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. Legal Services is currently searching for a Supervising Attorney of the Labor and Employment Unit (LEU) to join its vibrant and thriving law office made up of a highly skilled workforce that provides effective legal support to judicial branch clients on challenging, varied, and significant legal issues. LEU attorneys provide advice and counsel to the trial courts, appellate courts, and Judicial Council on labor and employment-related issues, and manage employment law claims and litigation for the courts and the Judicial Council. LEU attorneys also manage representation of the trial courts in arbitrations and matters before the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB).
The LEU Supervising Attorney oversees and guides LEU attorneys in providing counsel to the courts and the Judicial Council as to employment-related issues, claims, litigation, and management of arbitrations and PERB matters. The LEU Supervising Attorney directly handles some of the most sensitive matters as well as high-level inter-departmental and inter-branch projects. The LEU Supervising Attorney advises Legal Services and Judicial Council leadership regarding significant labor and employment issues, including statewide policy issues. Further, the LEU Supervising Attorney works with the Supervising Attorney of the Litigation Management Unit to oversee the Litigation Management Program, monitor litigation budgets, and retain outside counsel.
Attorneys within the Legal Services office often support the work of units other than their primary assignment. Depending upon experience, the LEU Supervising Attorney may be called upon to work with other Legal Services units and may also be called upon to write legal opinions, staff advisory bodies, and draft rules of court and legislation.
The Judicial Council
The Judicial Council of California is the policy setting body for the state court system and has constitutionally conferred statewide rule-making authority. This authority includes developing, advocating for, and allocating the judicial branch budget. A majority of Council members are California state justices and judges; however, the Council also includes lawyers, legislators, and court administrators.
By enhancing its role as a leadership, knowledge, and service resource for the judicial branch, the Judicial Council’s staff organization seeks to continue to evolve as one of California’s most dynamic public service entities, focused on improving access to justice for all Californians by innovating and responding to the changing needs of the courts and the public. As a government body charged with improving the statewide administration of justice, the Judicial Council has multiple offices with diverse responsibilities relating to court policy and operations. As employees of the council, every member of staff should view and approach their work as one Judicial Council with a public service mission that is greater than the sum of its parts.
The Judicial Council strives for work life balance and includes substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package including pension, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending, up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs, and retirement savings plans. The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements for many positions. The successful candidate will be expected to work in person at the Judicial Council’s San Francisco or Sacramento office at least two days per week, based on their office leader’s direction, and reside in the areas surrounding these locations.
• Plan, organize, assign, supervise, review, and evaluate the work of LEU attorneys.
• Consult with and advise Legal Services and Judicial Council senior management and Chair of the Judicial Council Litigation Management Committee on significant labor and employment issues, including possible policy or rule revisions.
• Serve as in-house counsel and labor and employment law expert providing legal advice, opinions, and legal services to Judicial Council, trial and appellate courts, as assigned.
• Monitor legislative, statutory, regulatory and case law developments in labor and employment law.
• Oversee and consult with LEU attorneys in counseling and representing the courts and Judicial Council on employment matters.
• Oversee LEU attorneys in evaluating administrative claims and lawsuits filed against judicial branch clients and assisting the courts regarding claims, lawsuits, liability and strategy.
• Oversee the retention and direction of outside legal counsel and confer with LEU attorneys regarding defense strategy as to claims, litigation, arbitrations, and PERB matters, as needed.
• Review and edit legal research and advice prepared by LEU attorneys, as needed.
• Prepare privileged reports regarding litigation, arbitrations, and PERB matters as appropriate, as well as annual reports to the courts and monthly reports regarding significant matters.
• Monitor litigation, arbitration, and PERB matter budgets and expenditures of funds.
• Oversee the preparation of labor and employment law updates and training materials.
• Oversee the participation of LEU attorneys in providing court and Judicial Council trainings.
• Ensure LEU attorneys receive adequate training and professional development; conduct performance evaluations and administer corrective measures, as required.
• Conduct internal unit meetings and ensure compliance with Legal Services and LEU policies and procedures.
• Make presentations and participate in trainings on labor and employment law issues as directed.
• Perform administrative and supervisory duties, such as attending management meetings, reviewing time sheets, approving requests for time off, conducting performance reviews, and ensuring adequate holiday coverage and education requirement compliance.
• Report directly to the Managing Attorney for Litigation and Labor and Employment Law and report to the Chief Counsel and Deputy Chief Counsel as requested or required.
• Depending upon background and experience that may be of direct service to the courts and the Judicial Council, the Supervising Attorney may be called upon to perform additional duties or assist other Legal Services units in areas of labor and employment law, litigation management, ethics, and real estate transactions and advice, as well as drafting rules of court and legislation, preparing written legal opinions, and supporting Judicial Council advisory bodies focused on civil law and procedure and court operations.
- $14,001 - $16,802/month
Juris doctor, and four (4) years of post-bar experience as a practicing attorney that includes one (1) year of supervisory experience. After passing a state bar, work experience as a law clerk to a federal or state judge prior to formal bar admission will be considered qualifying experience.
OR
Two years as an Attorney, in the assigned area, with the Judicial Council of California or two years of experience performing the duties of a class comparable in the level of responsibility to that of an Attorney in a California Superior Court or California state-level government entity and a) completion of training courses on topics related to effective supervision within 6 months of promotion; or b) one year of previous supervisory experience. Juris doctor, and three (3) years of relevant post-bar legal experience as a practicing attorney. After passing a state bar, work experience as a law clerk to a federal or state judge prior to formal bar admission will be considered qualifying experience.
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS
Current active membership with the State Bar of California.
Desirable Qualifications
• Experience in public sector labor and employment matters.
• Extensive experience in litigation.
• Exceptional research, writing, and presentation skills.
KNOWLEDGE OF
• Applicable employment-related federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and/or ordinances;
• Supervisory principles, practices, and techniques;
• Organizing, prioritizing, assigning, and monitoring multiple work activities to meet critical deadlines;
• Principles and methods of legal research and analysis;
• Principles and methods of legal writing and editing;
• Principles and practice of court administration;
• California and federal legislative process;
• Principles and methods of litigation management; and
• Budgeting for legal representation in litigation and administrative matters.
SKILL IN
• Interpreting and applying applicable laws, codes, regulations and standards;
• Supervising, monitoring, training, and evaluating staff;
• Coordinating deadlines and prioritizing competing demands;
• Reviewing and editing legal research and writing;
• Presenting statements of fact, law, and argument clearly, concisely, and logically;
• Managing litigation and legal strategy;
• Listening and considering different points of view and building consensus and resolving conflicts;
• Public speaking; and
• Maintaining effective communication and working relationships with colleagues, clients, and the public.
This position is Open Until Filled and requires the submission of our official application, a resume and a response to the supplemental questions. To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by May 21, 2025.
To complete an online application, please click the Apply for Job button.
Please refer to “Supervising Attorney, Job Opening #6416” on your application materials and all correspondence.
The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260.
To better assess the qualifications of each applicant, we will review your responses to the following questions. Please indicate for which employer(s) you performed these functions. Your answers should not exceed a total of two pages.
1. Why are you interested in this position?
2. Please describe your experience, both in public entity labor and employment law, and supervising or mentoring staff (if any), that would make you a good fit for this position.
3. Please state your date of admission to the State Bar of California?
BenefitsSome highlights of our benefits package include:
• Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
• 1 personal holiday per year
• 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
• Long Term Care Disability (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional
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