
***Please ensure application is complete with detailed job descriptions/tasks performed, employment beginning and ending date information, and hours worked per week.
Working at the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, widely known as Cal/OSHA, means much more than showing up for a job. You will be able to work on programs that are vital to the health and safety of our community, work force, and the state. We recognize the strength in teamwork. We know that by encouraging collaboration and diversity, educating employers in best practices, and protecting the health and safety of employees through enforcement of the California Labor Code and regulations we will benefit our economy as a whole. Be part of a team that prides itself in making a difference for Californians.
There is one (1) position that may be filled in either San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Modesto, or Fresno. Please also see the other postings under a different job control in CalCareers for the other locations. If you are interested in the position at more than one location, please submit a new application for each job control.
Under the direction and supervision of the Assistant Chief Counsel of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), Attorneys represent DOSH in a wide range of legal issues within the jurisdiction of the Division. Attorneys are entry level attorneys who are assigned progressively more difficult professional legal work as their experience level increases. Attorneys are not expected to have any prior substantive knowledge of the subject areas of the Division, but are expected to be able to perform competently as an entry level attorney, and to be capable of learning new material and skills and to grow and develop their professional abilities over time, commensurate with years of experience.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
- Representing DOSH in administrative hearings before the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board (the Appeals Board)
- Representing DOSH in civil and writ litigation before California trial and appellate courts
- Representing and advising the Chief, management, and the Division with regard to policy, provide analysis and advice concerning Public Records Act requests
- Analyzing and drafting proposed legislation
- Drafting proposed regulations
(**NOTE telework agreements are available and attorneys currently conduct a majority of hearings remotely.)
This posting may be used to fill future vacancies in accordance with 2 CCR §249.3
To be considered for this job opportunity, applicants must be either reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility or have reinstatement eligibility. To take the exam and gain employment list eligibility, please click here to access the exam bulletin:
https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1579
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Salary- $7,506 - $11,676/month
Minimum Requirements
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.
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:
- Applicants should exhibit a commitment to public service and safe work places.
- Possess excellent research, writing, and oral advocacy skills. Knowledge of proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
- Ability to research, analyze, and apply legal principles, facts, and case precedents to legal problems.
- Ability to study, interpret and apply laws, regulations and court decisions for the purpose of giving advice.
- Ability to prepare clear and effective persuasive legal arguments. Ability to draft complaints, motions, briefs, legal memos, rules, regulations and rulemaking documents, and/or legislation.
- Knowledge of oral advocacy and or communication skill especially as they relate to trial advocacy.
- Knowledge of state employment, labor, workers compensation and/or occupational safety and health laws, codes, and regulations, legal principals and their application.
- Possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability and desire to contribute to a collegial office environment.
- Be Proficient using Microsoft Office programs, including Outlook.
- Ability to communicate with witnesses who are reluctant, afraid, anxious and/or uncooperative, and whose input and participation may be needed to complete an assignment or hearing.
- Ability to think creatively, independently and with discernment.
- Ability to professionally and persuasively communicate opinions and ideas.
- Have effective time management and organizational skills.
- Ability to analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
- Ability to work cooperatively with a variety of individuals, organizations, employers, corporations, and maintain confidence and respect of others.
- Ability to be flexible and handle unexpected developments, respond effectively under strict time constraints.
- Ability to prioritize and complete assignments in a timely manner.
Additional Documents
Department Information
The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) was established in 1927. Its mission is to improve working conditions for California's wage earners and to advance opportunities for profitable employment in California. DIR administers and enforces laws governing wages, workplace safety and health, apprenticeship training programs, and medical care and other benefits for injured workers.
Electronic Submission of Applications preferred. Application Packages maybe submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at https://jobs.ca.gov/ Applications must be received electronically by 11:59 p.m. on or before the above final filing date.
Please only submit ONE application. Electronic applications submitted through your CalCareer Account are highly recommended and will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing.
If you are unable to apply electronically through your CalCareer account, please mail a completed and signed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 and application package to the mailing address provided in the “Application Instructions” section below and ensure the following:
- Clearly indicate the Job Code #, Position Number and the Title of this position in the “Examination or Job Title(s) For Which You Are Applying” section located on the first page of your State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678.
- Clearly indicate the basis of your eligibility (cert, transfer, reinstatement, etc.) in the “Explanations” section located on the first page of your State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678.
- Remove and do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (page 5) with your completed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678. This page is for examination use only.
- Do not include your full Social Security Number on your documents and/or do not provide any LEAP information.
Department Website: https://www.dir.ca.gov/
Special Requirements- 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. Application should be completely filled out describing all experience and contain no errors. All experience and education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included with sufficient detail to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
- Must be a member of the California Bar and qualified to practice law in California
- Resume
- Cover letter. Please describe all experience you believe makes you a competent candidate.
- A recent writing sample that is no longer than 15 pages in length (if the original writing sample is longer than 15 pages, you may provide the first 15 pages only.)
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: 7/17/2025Who 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).
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:
Department of Industrial Relations
Cert Mailing Address Sacramento
Attn: Personnel Recruitment & Hiring Unit
2180 Harvard Street Suite 160
Sacramento, CA 95815
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Department of Industrial Relations
Cert Drop Off Address Sacramento
Personnel Recruitment & Hiring Unit
2180 Harvard Street Suite 160
Sacramento, CA 95815
08:00 AM - 04:00 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.
- Other - Cover Letter
- Other - A recent legal writing sample either from law school or law clerk/lawyer job, that is no longer than 15 pages in length (if the original writing sample is longer than 15 pages, you may provide the first 15 pages only.)
Working Conditions
This position is located at:
Division of Occupational Safety and Health - Legal Unit
2550 Mariposa Street, Rm. 4000, Fresno, CA 93721
There is one (1) position that may be filled in either San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Modesto, or Fresno. Please also see the other postings under a different job control in CalCareers for the other locations. If you are interested in the position at more than one location, please submit a new application for each job control.
This is a full time position headquartered in our Cal/OSHA Fresno District Office located at 2550 Mariposa Street, Fresno, California. The office is in a multi-story story building with both artificial and natural lighting. Employees in this position have offices, work at desks, and are required to work extensively on computers as necessary to accomplish their duties. This position also requires in-state travel, either locally within Northern California, or for one to three-day overnight trips within California, based on assignments, and as determined according to the needs of DOSH. Attorneys will normally average a 40-hour work week, however they are expected to work all hours as necessary to accomplish their assignments and fulfill their responsibilities.
The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Department Website:https://www.dir.ca.gov/
Human Resources Contact:
Certification Unit
(800) 564-0771
cert@dir.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:Diversity and Inclusion Office
(916) 559-6999
DIO@dir.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.
Additional InformationPreference will be given to persons with State Restriction of Appointments (SROA) or Surplus status. Applicants must attach a copy of their most recently dated letter that specifies their designation as either SROA or surplus candidate as proof.
Qualified candidates must have eligibility in State employment, be in a reachable rank on an employment list for this classification, be currently in this classification, or have transfer eligibility to this classification
If you do not hear from us in 4-6 weeks, you may assume the position has been filled by another applicant. Please note that all additional vacancies that become available may be added to this advertisement.
Please note that the Exam and Certification Online System (ECOS) does not allow you to resubmit your application once you withdraw it. If you have any updates to your online application, please contact the Personnel, Recruitment, & Hiring Unit at (800) 564-0771.
Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey: DIR Applicant Survey
DIR Mission and Core ValuesOur mission is to protect and improve the welfare and working conditions for California's wage earners and to advance opportunities for profitable employment in California. DIR is also committed to ensuring that all employers comply with labor laws in California to support a fair and thriving business environment.
Integrity - We fulfill the promise of our mission through fair, honest and ethical behavior.
Service - We are committed to responsibly serving the public and value their trust.
Respect - We treat others with dignity, courtesy and consideration.
Quality - We take pride in providing the public with accurate and timely services.
Transparency - We conduct ourselves with openness and accountability in all aspects of our work.
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. BenefitsBenefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.
- Health, Dental & Vision Benefits
- Paid Sick & Vacation
- Retirement (CalPERS)
- Basic Group Term Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- 11 Paid Holidays
- 401 (k) & 457 plans
- Military Leave
- Reimbursement Accounts
- Public Transit Subsidy
- Near Public Transit and bus lines
- 5 minute walking distance to restaurants and shopping
- Onsite security
- Telework
And many more! Visit www.calhr.ca.gov for a full list of available benefits!