Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Under general direction of a Deputy Chief Counsel, the Assistant Chief Counsel is responsible for managing a group of attorneys and paralegals involved in a variety of litigation activities, which includes leading a litigation team, and may include actively litigating cases.

The Assistant Chief Counsel works in planning, organizing, directing, practicing, coordinating, and reviewing the work of a major legal section of a small legal office. Trial experience as lead counsel is preferred.

Additional responsibilities of the Assistant Chief Counsel include acting as legal advisor to top management; preparing legislation and representing the Department before the Legislature; formulating legal policy; and participating as a member of top management in the development and implementation of department policy and procedures.

The position is located in our Fresno Legal Office. The Caltrans Legal Division is comprised of five offices statewide including its Sacramento office near the State Capitol, Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Fresno.

The Caltrans Legal Division Fresno Legal Office is a public entity law office which offers a supportive and challenging work environment where you will be given substantial responsibility at an early stage of your career. The job also offers excellent health, dental, vision and pension plan benefits.

PARF# 42-5-151 / JC-464359

Eligibility for hire may be determined by your score on the Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel Exam. For those who do not have current eligibility (e.g., transfer, permissive reinstatement, or voluntary demotions) and/or who will be new to state civil services employment, you must be on the state examination list to be eligible for these positions.  To apply for the exam, please click here and search by typing in the classification title.

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Please take this 1-minute Caltrans Recruitment survey to tell us how you found out about this job. 

Apply today to join our team!  We especially encourage applicants to check out our Caltrans Career Compass tool!  The Caltrans Career Compass is a tool to assist and help candidates understand and succeed in applying to Caltrans positions.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

This is a reposting of JC-457752. If you have previously applied to this position, you do not have to re-apply. Your application will be considered.

Position located at 1352 W. Olive Avenue, Fresno, Fresno County.

While at their base of operation, employees will work in a climate-controlled office under artificial light. However, due to periodic problems with the heating and air conditioning, the building temperature may fluctuate. Will have to perform work duties in different court rooms throughout the state and therefore, this position does require travel.

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Caltrans’s evolving telework policy. Caltrans supports telework, recognizing that in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksites with minimum notification if an urgent need arises. The selected candidate will be required to commute to the headquartered location as needed to meet operational needs. Business travel may be required and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquartered location, primary residence, and may be subject to CalHR regulations or applicable bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the headquartered location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate. New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Special Requirements

• A valid California Driver's License is required.

• Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Failure to submit a Statement of Qualifications will disqualify candidates from the hiring process.

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is a discussion of how an applicant's education, training, experience, and skills meet the criteria in the duty statement and qualify the applicant for the position. Please include a 1-2 pages, 12-point font, SOQ that addresses the prompts below. Resumes and cover letters will not take the place of the SOQ. Failure to include and complete the SOQ may result in disqualification for interview.

• Proficient knowledge of civil litigation laws, regulations, trends, practices, and the California Code of Civil Procedure, California Evidence Code, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, California Government Code, and the California Insurance Code.

• Knowledge of law relating to public transportation issues. Federal Aid statutes relating to transportation; California law relating to acquisition, financing, administration and risk management.

• Sufficient knowledge of the organization, mission and statutory environment of the State Department of Transportation in order to function effectively in a position that works closely with and supports top management of the Department of Transportation.

• Experience at a supervisory and/or management level in the Department of Transportation or comparable agency or organization or law firm practice including knowledge of transportation, civil litigation, current management principles and practices, and demonstrated ability to plan, direct, coordinate and review the work of a program consisting of professional legal staff.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are basing your eligibility on education, you must include your unofficial transcript(s)/diploma for verification. Unofficial, original, or official sealed transcripts will be accepted and may be required upon appointment. Applicants with foreign transcripts/degrees must provide a transcript/degree U.S. equivalency report evaluation that indicates the number of units and degree to which the foreign coursework is equivalent. Please visit either of the following two websites for a list of evaluation agencies: or . Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

Benefits

to view the Benefits Summary for Civil Service Employees in the State of California.

Important Application Instructions

The State application (STD. 678) is required, and each section must be filled out completely and thoroughly. For mailed or hand delivered applications to be considered for this position, the Job Control number (JC-457752), PARF# 42-5-151 and title of the position (Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel) must be included on the STD. 678 form.

Electronic applications through your CalCareers account are highly recommended and encouraged.

Candidates that meet the minimum qualifications based on possession of EDUCATION, LICENSE, OR CERTIFICATE must include a copy of your DEGREE/TRANSCRIPTS, LICENSE, or CERTIFICATE, along with your State application (STD. 678), to be considered for this position.

NOTE: Do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (page 5) with your completed State application (STD. 678). This page is for examination use only. Do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for this job vacancy, such as your state application, resume, or educational transcripts.  Confidential information that should be  excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your Social Security Number, birth date, driver’s license number, examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age.  The job application packet checklist is not required to apply for this position.  Failure to follow these instructions may result in your application not being considered for this position.

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 optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Statement of Qualifications - Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Please see the Special Requirements section for SOQ insructions.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work, Immediate start, Remote job,

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