JOB TITLE: Attorney II
LOCATION: SAN FRANCISCO/SACRAMENTO
JOB OPENING #: 5758
OVERVIEW
The Judicial Council of California is accepting applications for the position of Attorney II for the Center for Families, Children & the Courts.
The Attorney II is a legal subject matter expert on the Judicial Council’s Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Act implementation. The CARE Act establishes a statewide court-based mental health services engagement and oversight program for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. The Attorney II will report to the Supervising Attorney of the CARE Act implementation team, and is responsible for legal analysis and legal writing related to implementation of the CARE Act. This position provides legal guidance to the Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee of the Judicial Council by analyzing legal issues related to the CARE Act; develops Rules of Court and court forms required to implement CARE Act proceedings; performs a range of legal counsel and advisory functions as a liaison to local courts, including analyzing and evaluating local CARE Act practice and procedure; develops legal information materials for use in implementing CARE Act procedures; and serves as legal subject matter expert to other Judicial Council advisory committees, other Judicial Council offices, and office leadership on CARE Act implementation.
The Judicial Council strives for work-life balance and includes substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package including pension, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending, up to $130 reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs, and retirement savings plans. In San Francisco, the office is only a 7-minute walk from the Civic Center BART station in downtown San Francisco. In Sacramento, the office is located minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park.
The successful candidate will be expected to work in the San Francisco or Sacramento office. However, hybrid schedules may be available from a California residence during the duration of the agency’s Hybrid Work Pilot Program.
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Provide legal guidance to the Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee of the Judicial Council through analyzing legal issues related to the CARE Act, recommending how to present the legal issues for consideration, preparing drafts of a proposal (California Rules of Court and Judicial Council forms) for consideration, and drafting written reports and memorandum which frame the policy issues, provide analysis of legal issues, and assess the implementation and operational impact of the proposal on the courts:
- Conduct legal research and analysis to aid the Committee in assessing recommended changes to rules, forms, and standards for CARE Act cases.
- For purposes of consideration by the committee(s) and Judicial Council, draft and revise the text of California Rules of Court; draft or revise Judicial Council forms. This involves creating (as part of the proposal) a new California Rule(s) of Court and/or Judicial Council form(s), and/or revising a current rule(s) of court or form(s) using strikethroughs, underlining, and highlighting to indicate proposed changes.
- Draft memorandum and reports for consideration by the Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee and the Judicial Council. This includes writing a memorandum entitled “Invitation to Comment”, which announces the proposal to the public and aims to garner public feedback; and writing a “Report to the Judicial Council”, which includes the Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee’s recommendation with respect to the proposal. Preparation of these reports involves research, analysis, and evaluation of legal issues, presenting legal, policy, and implementation/court impact issues, and assessing possible alternatives for committee consideration and discussion.
- Interact with, and orally present drafts of the proposal to, members of the Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee, Rules and Projects Committee, and Judicial Council.
• Perform a range of legal counsel and advisory functions as a liaison to local courts, including analyzing and evaluating local CARE Act practice and procedure, preparing memorandum with legal guidance to ensure that judicial officers and court professionals comply with current state law, and providing training and technical assistance as requested:
- At the court’s request, review and analyze court files to determine compliance state law and develop CARE Act practices. This involves examining documentation of findings and orders, reports from health, social welfare and behavioral service providers, and any other relevant documentation in the court file.
- Observe and analyze courtroom proceedings to learn local court practice and to ensure legal compliance.
- Meet with local judicial officers and court professionals to present preliminary findings from the court file review, answer any legal questions, and determine county needs. The court professionals may include attorneys and representatives from county health, social welfare, and behavioral health departments.
• Develop legal information materials and educational content for use in implementing CARE Act procedures and provide training to courts and justice partners:
- Develop and update legal information materials for courts. These materials include bench guides and bench cards on court proceedings, legal issues, appropriate county recommendations, case law summaries and charts with legally accurate findings and orders.
- Develop and update legal informational materials for stakeholders. These materials include guides to CARE Act court proceedings.
- Develop web content for family members and other members of the public involved in or seeking to understand CARE Act proceedings, describing in plain but legally accurate language the various procedures open to family members and others under the CARE Act.
• Serve as legal subject matter expert to other Judicial Council advisory committees, other Judicial Council offices, and office leadership on CARE Act implementation:
- Collaborate with the Legal Services office in researching and writing legal opinions for courts related to CARE Act proceedings.
- Collaborate with Office of Governmental Affairs analysis of proposed legislation related to CARE Act implementation and participate in briefings of legislative staff with Department of Finance staff.
- Serve as legal subject matter expert to Supervising Attorney and office director in preparing briefings to court leadership, researching legal issues raised, and participating in implementation working groups when required.
- Collaborate to ensure clear communication and understanding of CARE Act implementation across the offices, units, and disciplines charged with the program.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Juris doctor, and three (3) years of relevant post-bar legal experience as a practicing attorney.
After passing a state bar, work experience as a Law Clerk to a federal or state judge prior to formal bar admission will be considered qualifying experience.
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS
− Current active membership with the State Bar of California prior to hire.
OTHER
If you are selected for hire, verification of employment eligibility or authorization to work in the United States will be required.
HOW TO APPLY
To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by 5:00 P.M. on November 7, 2022, this will remain Open Until Filled. This position requires the submission of our official application, a resume and a response to the supplemental questions.
To complete an online application, go to job opening #5758 at https://www.courts.ca.gov/careers.htm
The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (415) 865-4272.
PAYMENT & BENEFITS
$12,248.00 - $14,695.00 per month
(Starting salary will be $12,248.00 per month)
Some highlights of our benefits package include:
• Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
• 1 personal holiday per year
• Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• Flex Elect Program
• Pretax Parking
• Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)
The Judicial Council of California Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Supplemental Questions
To better assess the qualifications of each applicant, please provide a response to the following questions:
1. Do you have any other employment by the State of California that is not already provided on your application? If yes, please list the specific departments or agencies for which you worked. If you have no prior state service, please state “none”.
2. Explain your knowledge of the CARE Act and what issues you believe the implementation team will need to address.
Juris doctor, and three (3) years of relevant post-bar legal experience as a practicing attorney.
After passing a state bar, work experience as a Law Clerk to a federal or state judge prior to formal bar admission will be considered qualifying experience.
To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by 5:00 P.M. on November 7, 2022, this will remain Open Until Filled. This position requires the submission of our official application, a resume and a response to the supplemental questions.
To complete an online application, go to job opening #5758 at https://www.courts.ca.gov/careers.htm
The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (415) 865-4272.