Staff Counsel

Under the general direction of the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation’s (LCI’s) Chief Counsel, the incumbent serves at the full journey level as an experienced attorney performing complex and sensitive legal work with broad discretion and minimal supervision. Working in coordination with other members of the LCI legal team, the incumbent independently provides research, analytical, and advisory legal services that advise LCI and its statutory boards, councils, leadership, and staff on the legal aspects of LCI’s programs and administrative activities. The incumbent leads and coordinates agreements with agency partners, grantees, and contractors, provides Council meeting support, and delivers organizational legal guidance. The incumbent independently handles complex and sensitive assignments and may conduct complex and difficult hearings. This position is distinguished from the Attorney level by the difficulty of assignments, the level of independence, and the expertise required.

The incumbent has thorough knowledge of personnel, civil rights, government contracting, public meeting rules and procedures, conflict of interest and ethics laws, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, and Public Records Act request protocols. Working knowledge of the California Environmental Quality Act, Planning and Zoning Law, and legislative and budgetary processes is expected. The incumbent applies this knowledge independently to complex and sensitive matters and exercises sound legal judgment with limited review. The incumbent must have a commitment to serving California’s diverse communities and creating a work environment that celebrates diverse backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences. The incumbent must have an ability to travel up to 5% of the time and occasionally work on evenings, weekends, and holidays.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Salary

• $10,852 - $15,325/month

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ATTORNEY III

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:

• Legal understanding of public contracting, public agency laws including the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, Public Records Act, and Political Reform Act, conflict of interest and ethics, and California land use, zoning, and general plan laws, including the California Environmental Quality Act.
• Experience in state and/or local government.
• Experience with legislative affairs.
• Able to work collaboratively and independently.
• Extensive analytical, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and organizational skills
• Collaborative, adaptable, and able to prioritize emergent and ongoing tasks.
• Experience working in and with under-resourced communities including disadvantaged communities (DAC), Tribal communities, rural communities, immigrant communities, low-income communities, and/or communities of color.
• Proven commitment to serving diverse communities.
• An ability to create and succeed in a work environment that celebrates diverse backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences.

Other Information

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Department Information

The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI serves the Governor and his Cabinet as staff for long-range planning and research and constitutes the comprehensive state planning agency. LCI assists the Governor and the Administration in planning, research, policy development, and legislative analysis. LCI formulates long- range state goals and policies to address land use, climate change, population growth and distribution, urban expansion, infrastructure development, groundwater sustainability and drought response, and resource protection. LCI’s budget programs include State Planning and Policy Development, Strategic Growth Council, California Volunteers, Office of Community Partnership and Strategic Communication, Racial Equity Commission, and Youth Empowerment Commission. LCI is a fast-paced, creative work environment that requires staff to have strong collaboration skills, an ability to quickly respond to changing policy needs, and a positive attitude and sense of humor. Proven commitment to creating a work environment that celebrates diverse backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences.

Telework

This position is eligible for hybrid work in accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order N-22-25 and at the sole discretion of LCI under California Government Code Section 14200. The incumbent is required to report in-person and site-based four days per week. All telework schedules are subject to change and may be re-evaluated at any time. The incumbent will be expected to report for in office work and attend work related in-person events as deemed operationally necessary. Telework does not change the terms and conditions of employment, the essential functions of job duties, or required compliance with LCI policies.

CA residency

Candidates who reside outside of the State of California may be admitted to the job interview. However, upon job offer, candidates must provide proof of residence in California prior to their appointment becoming effective, or the offer may be rescinded.

Personal Leave Program Reduction

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025. This program temporarily reduces employees’ monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction. For more details, please click here to visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.

Department Website: https://lci.ca.gov/

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 11/23/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process.Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How to Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation
Human Resources Office
Attn: HR YP
1400 10th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation
Human Resources Office
HR YP
1400 10th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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.
• Statement of Qualifications - All applicants must submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) that responds to both prompts below. Limit your SOQ to two pages total, single spaced, in 12 point Arial font. Put your name at the top of each page. Applicants who do not submit an SOQ, or who do not respond to both prompts, will not be considered.
  
  Refer to the SOQ Requirement Section of this job posting for the SOQ questions.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Working Conditions

Persons appointed to this position must be reasonably expected to exert up to 10 lbs. of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Occasional/overnight travel up to 5% may be required.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Department Website:https://lci.ca.gov/

Human Resources Contact:
Yucary Padilla
(916) 758-0579
yucary.padilla@lci.ca.gov

Hiring Unit Contact:
Matt Read
(916) 322-4785
matt.read@lci.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Office
(000) -
EEO@lci.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Statement of Qualifications

All applicants must submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) that responds to both prompts below. Limit your SOQ to two pages total, single spaced, in 12 point Arial font. Put your name at the top of each page. Applicants who do not submit an SOQ, or who do not respond to both prompts, will not be considered.

1. Describe a complex legal matter you handled that involved public funds, such as a grant program, a contract, or an interagency agreement. Explain the legal issues, how you analyzed them, the advice you gave, and the result. Tell us which parts of the work you handled on your own.
2. During a break in a public meeting, a council member asks you two questions. Can council members trade emails about an upcoming agenda item before the next meeting? And are those emails public records if they use personal accounts? Explain how you would advise the council member and what follow up you would do with staff.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device. Benefits

There are many benefits to joining our team! We offer competitive pay, advancement opportunities, upward mobility, work-life-balance, and for many positions, flexible hours and remote work options. The State of California offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, subject to eligibility, such as:

• Pension through CALPERS
• Medical Benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance
• Medical benefits into retirement
• Deferred Compensation options: 401k and 457b
• Leave benefit options (Vacation/Sick or Annual Leave)
• Paid Holidays
• Life Insurance
• ScholarShare (College Saving Account)
• School Loan forgiveness under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program