What are the responsibilities and job description for the Staff Attorney position at California Department of Industrial Relations?
Job Description And Duties
Under the general direction of an Attorney Supervisor, the incumbent performs complex and sensitive legal work with moderate independence and professional judgment. The incumbent serves as legal counsel and provides litigation support, legal advice, and training in labor and employment-related matters within the jurisdiction of the Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO); including responding to and handling complex California Public Records Act (PRA) requests; supporting the Labor Commissioner’s Head Quarters (HQ) Team with reviewing, drafting, and assisting with vendor contracts, communicating with the Director’s team; and assisting and advising LCO staff with third-party subpoenas.
Additional information about LCO can be found here https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/
It is strongly encouraged to apply through your CalCareer Account at http://www.calcareers.ca.gov
This posting may be used to fill future vacancies in accordance with 2 CCR
https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1580
Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for hours in the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) per month. For more details, please click her e to visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .
Working Conditions
The recruitment is being conducted to fill 1 vacancy, which may be filled at any of the following locations listed below:
Los Angeles JC-520176
Sacramento JC-520191
Oakland JC-520196
San Francisco JC-520206
San Diego JC-520213
San Jose JC-520216
This position is located at:
2031 Howe Avenue, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95825
The incumbent will have responsibilities across program offices and may be redirected to oversee other offices.
Extensive travel will be required. The incumbent will work in an office setting. Travel as required to assigned district offices. Travel may be via land or air and may require overnight stay. This position may require working irregular hours. The incumbent will have a hybrid work environment including in-person and remote work consistent with operational needs and may work in a high-rise office building. The incumbent will be required to sit for long periods of time while in the office and/or while driving to and from field activities. Travel may be via land or air and may require overnight stay. The incumbent will have access to a state vehicle, laptop computer, printer, cellular phone, and other equipment necessary to stay in touch with the assigned field offices and their staff. The assigned state vehicle will be parked at a departmental-designated location. The incumbent will also traverse various ground surfaces and/or buildings while managing between 2- 5 lbs of equipment (laptop or tablet, and chargers) while out in the field training field staff.
Special Requirements
Active membership to the California State Bar
Statement of Qualifications :
A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required as part of the application package. The SOQ is a narrative of how your experience, training, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities qualify you for this position. The SOQ also serves as documentation of each applicant's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. Resumes, cover letters, and other documentation DO NOT take the place of an SOQ. Applicants who do not submit an SOQ will be disqualified. Applicants who do not follow the instructions for an SOQ, or who submit an incomplete SOQ, will be disqualified.
SOQs must have the applicant's name in the document and be no more than five (5) pages in length with one inch-margins on each page in Arial 12-size font. You must answer the following statement in your response:
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: 6/17/2026
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:
Department of Industrial Relations
Cert Mailing Address Sacramento
Attn: Human Resources/Certs Unit
1416 9th Street, 13th Floor
Sacramento , CA 95814
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
Human Resources/Certs Unit
1416 9th Street, 13th Floor
Sacramento , CA 95814
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:
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.
Under the general direction of an Attorney Supervisor, the incumbent performs complex and sensitive legal work with moderate independence and professional judgment. The incumbent serves as legal counsel and provides litigation support, legal advice, and training in labor and employment-related matters within the jurisdiction of the Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO); including responding to and handling complex California Public Records Act (PRA) requests; supporting the Labor Commissioner’s Head Quarters (HQ) Team with reviewing, drafting, and assisting with vendor contracts, communicating with the Director’s team; and assisting and advising LCO staff with third-party subpoenas.
Additional information about LCO can be found here https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/
It is strongly encouraged to apply through your CalCareer Account at http://www.calcareers.ca.gov
This posting may be used to fill future vacancies in accordance with 2 CCR
- 249.3
https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1580
Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for hours in the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) per month. For more details, please click her e to visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .
Working Conditions
The recruitment is being conducted to fill 1 vacancy, which may be filled at any of the following locations listed below:
Los Angeles JC-520176
Sacramento JC-520191
Oakland JC-520196
San Francisco JC-520206
San Diego JC-520213
San Jose JC-520216
This position is located at:
2031 Howe Avenue, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95825
The incumbent will have responsibilities across program offices and may be redirected to oversee other offices.
Extensive travel will be required. The incumbent will work in an office setting. Travel as required to assigned district offices. Travel may be via land or air and may require overnight stay. This position may require working irregular hours. The incumbent will have a hybrid work environment including in-person and remote work consistent with operational needs and may work in a high-rise office building. The incumbent will be required to sit for long periods of time while in the office and/or while driving to and from field activities. Travel may be via land or air and may require overnight stay. The incumbent will have access to a state vehicle, laptop computer, printer, cellular phone, and other equipment necessary to stay in touch with the assigned field offices and their staff. The assigned state vehicle will be parked at a departmental-designated location. The incumbent will also traverse various ground surfaces and/or buildings while managing between 2- 5 lbs of equipment (laptop or tablet, and chargers) while out in the field training field staff.
Special Requirements
Active membership to the California State Bar
Statement of Qualifications :
A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required as part of the application package. The SOQ is a narrative of how your experience, training, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities qualify you for this position. The SOQ also serves as documentation of each applicant's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. Resumes, cover letters, and other documentation DO NOT take the place of an SOQ. Applicants who do not submit an SOQ will be disqualified. Applicants who do not follow the instructions for an SOQ, or who submit an incomplete SOQ, will be disqualified.
SOQs must have the applicant's name in the document and be no more than five (5) pages in length with one inch-margins on each page in Arial 12-size font. You must answer the following statement in your response:
- Describe your personal mission and how it relates to the LCO’s mission and vision.
- Summarize your interest in this attorney position and explain how your prior experience qualifies you for the role. Include relevant experience with:
- public records laws, including your role in reviewing, analyzing, and responding to records requests; and
- reviewing, drafting, or negotiating contracts
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: 6/17/2026
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:
Department of Industrial Relations
Cert Mailing Address Sacramento
Attn: Human Resources/Certs Unit
1416 9th Street, 13th Floor
Sacramento , CA 95814
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
Human Resources/Certs Unit
1416 9th Street, 13th Floor
Sacramento , CA 95814
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.
- Statement of Qualifications - Please see Special Requirements section of the posting for instructions on the Statement of Qualifications.
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.
Salary : $10,852 - $15,325