Assistant General Counsel

Job Description and Duties

Individuals interested in applying for this vacancy must have eligibility. If you are new to state service or need to gain eligibility to this classification, please click here to open the examination bulletin and follow the instructions on “How to apply”.

The examination is a separate process from applying for this vacancy. Please be sure to follow all instructions for each process.

Virtual interviews via web portals or phone may be offered as deemed appropriate and feasible by the hiring manager – standard in-person interviews will still be offered if conditions permit.

This Assistant Chief Counsel position will primarily oversee attorneys and staff who represent the Commission’s Public Advocates Office in arguing for the lowest possible bills for utility consumers, and the Consumer Protection and Enforcement Division to enforce compliance with critical Commission safety rules for passenger transportation services, including for transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft and autonomous vehicles.

The Assistant Chief Counsel will oversee the advocacy work in those areas and will supervise approximately ten junior and senior attorneys and two litigation specialist staff. Tasks include advising and developing legal strategies, reviewing and editing written memoranda and pleadings, and coordinating with other members of Legal Division management and client groups. Under the direction of the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, the Assistant Chief Counsel will collaborate with other members of Legal Division management to help run Legal Division, including planning trainings, supervising hiring and recruitment and document and information sharing, and performing other duties as directed or necessary to meet Legal Division’s administrative and operational needs.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

This advertisement is listed specifically for Los AngelesSacramento (LA, SF, SAC) location. All identified locations will be considered as one candidate pool to fill one position .

• Sacramento location, please apply to JC# 514011
• San Francisco location, please apply to JC# 513988

Apply to only those location(s) in which you are willing to work.

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a(n) State Bar of California License. You will be required to provide a copy of your license prior to being hired.

Prepare and submit a response for each question below. The SOQ should provide specific details and examples that clearly demonstrate how your training, experience, and education qualifies you for the position. Refer to the job description and duties, and duty statement to prepare your response. Applicants who do not submit a completed SOQ and writing that exceeds the page limit will not be considered or scored. All information in the SOQ is subject to verification. The SOQ must be no smaller than 11-point Arial font, single-spaced, and no more than three pages.

Please write your SOQ to address the following four questions:

1. Describe, with specificity, your experience managing/leading teams of litigation attorneys and representing diverse client groups with differing objectives and litigation strategies in litigation.
   
2. Describe, with specificity, your experience working with senior decisionmakers/management, opposing counsel, state agencies, and local law enforcement.
   
3. Describe, with specificity, your experience analysing complex legal and technical issues and newly enacted legislation and advising clients on a range of options and strategies in response to those issues and/or legislation under tight deadlines.
4. Describe, with specificity, your experience in public utility regulation and law and policy, administrative agency experience, compliance or enforcement, or any other relevant experience you've had in public service.

For helpful guidance on writing an effective SOQ, please see the Work4CA guide.

Electronic applications submitted through your CalCareer Account are highly recommended and will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing.

If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must submit a copy of your transcript or diploma . An official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

Applicants who completed their education outside the United States (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must obtain and submit verification of United States course/degree equivalency by the application deadline.
Foreign education credential evaluation services can be found at

Employment information on the STD 678 state application MUST be complete with dates, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. Resumes, or referring to resumes, will not be accepted in place of the completed STD 678. Applicants who fail to submit a completed STD 678 will not be considered.

Only the most qualified candidates will be invited to an interview.

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.

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:

• Familiarity with the Public Utilities Code and related statutes and regulations, in particular the Public Utilities Commission’s General Orders related to the construction, operation and maintenance of electric, natural gas, and communications infrastructure.
• Familiarity with energy, telecommunications, water, environmental, rail, or transportation law, regulatory compliance, and civil or criminal law enforcement
• Strong analytical and legal research skill and methods and strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong civil or administrative litigation experience at any or all stages of litigation, including settlement of complex and highly contested issues.
• Experience working with prosecutors, investigators, court monitors, and enforcement and compliance entities.
• Experience drafting, reviewing and editing various types of legal pleadings concerning complex and highly technical information.
• Strong facilitation, consensus-building, and client relations skills.
• Ability to balance voluminous assignments and manage highly complex caseloads with minimal supervision, all to the highest level of professional standards, under tight deadlines, and to achieve the same from subordinates.
• Experience as a supervisor in the private or government sector, ideally supervising represented employees.
• Ability to manage numerous direct reports with a wide range of skill levels and responsibilities.
• Ability to motivate and focus staff and to build a cooperative, information-sharing working environment.
• Experience with accounting, finance, utility ratemaking, tax matters, corporate and financial restructuring, and/or bankruptcy.
• Demonstrated track record of participation in an organization’s recruitment, retention, and diversity efforts and strategies.

Benefits

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.
• Statement of Qualifications - A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Please see “Special Requirements” for instructions.