Litigation Specialist

Job Description and Duties

The Litigation Specialist serves as the OLC's top expert in litigation, acting as the primary attorney managing the OLC's litigation portfolio. This includes providing legal representation and advice to the OLC, Assembly, Senate, and other clients in difficult, complex, and sensitive litigation matters, focusing on pre-litigation advice, evaluation of claims, case-strategy development, and motion practice. The Litigation Specialist is responsible for drafting, reviewing, and revising legal documents such as pleadings, motions, writs, briefs, memoranda, and correspondence; appearing in state and federal trial and appellate courts and administrative proceedings; coordinating with, and overseeing the work of, outside counsel; monitoring pending litigation matters; tactfully and effectively communicating with clients, supervisors, colleagues, opposing counsel, or others; preparing responses to subpoenas and requests for records submitted under the Legislative Open Records Act (LORA); and performing various administrative functions such as scheduling, filing, document review, case status reporting, and maintaining appropriate case files. The position is also responsible for performing other legal work commensurate with the scope and level of responsibility of an Attorney V and the work of the OLC's Legislative Services Branch, which includes but is not limited to preparing legal advice and providing consultation to clients on difficult, complex, and sensitive issues in a variety of legal areas.

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.

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:

• Civil litigation experience including drafting legal pleadings, motions, briefs, and memoranda of law in support of litigation matters; conducting legal research and analysis; familiarity with the discovery process; and participation in oral arguments before state and federal courts.

• Experience in representing clients in state administrative proceedings.

• 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; rules of civil procedure; court rules; principles of legal research; purposes, organization, procedures, and work of the Office of Legislative Counsel; and legal principles and precedents and their application to difficult, complex, and novel legal problems.

• Perform and direct legal research; present statements of fact, law, and argument clearly and logically; 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.

• Experience in a leadership role providing legal representation and advice on difficult, complex, and sensitive legal matters.

• Experience working w ith outside counsel, and/or managing the work of contract attorneys.

• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple assignments with accuracy and prioritize work to meet short deadlines.

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 .

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.