Attorney II

Overview

The Judicial Council of California is accepting applications for the position of Attorney II with the Center for Families, Children & the Courts.

This is an Attorney II position that will serve as a statewide expert and resource for the courts on policies and procedures, court forms, legislation and rules of court, and education addressing domestic violence issues arising in family, juvenile and criminal law matters. This position provides legal and policy expertise on domestic violence issues to the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee, the Violence Against Women Education Project Planning Committee, Protective Order Working Group, judicial officers and other court professionals and external entities. This position will provide project management and legal oversight of Violence Against Women Education project. Assist courts by providing subject matter expertise at the request of courts regarding ways to address domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, and similar issues. Draft rules and forms for approval by the Judicial Council. Provide legal review for and subject matter expertise technological solutions to address these issues. This position works independently with limited supervision. It interfaces with judicial officers and court professionals in all California counties, justice system entities including the California Department of Justice and local law enforcement agencies, private and public attorneys, domestic violence victim advocates and Judicial Council staff from throughout the agency.

The Judicial Council 
The Judicial Council of California is the policy setting body for the state court system and has constitutionally conferred statewide rule-making authority. This authority includes developing, advocating for, and allocating the judicial branch budget. A majority of Council members are California state justices and judges; however, the Council also includes lawyers, legislators, and court administrators.

By enhancing its role as a leadership, knowledge, and service resource for the judicial branch, the Judicial Council’s staff organization seeks to continue to evolve as one of California’s most dynamic public service entities, focused on improving access to justice for all Californians by innovating and responding to the changing needs of the courts and the public. As a government body charged with improving the statewide administration of justice, the Judicial Council has multiple offices with diverse responsibilities relating to court policy and operations. As employees of the council, every member of staff should view and approach their work as one Judicial Council with a public service mission that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Judicial Council strives for work-life balance, including 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 per month 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 Sacramento, the office is minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park.

The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements for many positions. The successful candidate will be expected to work in person at the Judicial Council’s San Francisco or Sacramento office at least two days per week, based on their office leader’s direction, and reside in the areas surrounding these locations.

Responsibilities

• Analyze requirements for new or revised rules of court, court forms and legislation relating to domestic violence, utilizing domestic violence subject matter expertise in family and juvenile law. Prepare any recommended form or rule for consideration by the Judicial Council and its advisory committees.
• Consider impact of new legislation and case law on existing rules and forms. Perform legal research.
• Plan, coordinate, develop, update, consult on and present legal education on domestic violence issues for the judiciary, court professionals including self-help center and family court services staff, court-related programs and the public.
• Consult with judicial officers and court professionals on policy, legislation and case law for their presentations. Prepare background materials at their request.
• Draft materials for Violence Against Women Education project, legal correspondence and reports.
• Prepare grant requests, reports and informational materials for Violence Against Women Education Project.
• Respond to queries from judicial officers and court professionals on practices and procedures relating to domestic violence issues.
• Research statutory and case law; analyze promising practices and other guidance published by the Judicial Council, other state courts and other organizations.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and provide subject matter expertise on other domestic violence related projects.
• Provide technical assistance and legal guidance to superior courts on issues raised by protective orders.
• Provide legal review of document assembly programs to support the trial courts to allow self-represented litigants to complete their forms on-line and e-file or e-deliver to the court.
• Review legal content of the program and monitor for changes in the law, provide suggested changes to software developers.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
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.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Familiarity with issues of domestic violence or Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) within tribal communities.

Other Information

Please note, if you are selected for hire, verification of employment eligibility or authorization to work in the United States will be required.

How To Apply

This position is Open Until Filled and requires the submission of our official application, responses to the supplemental questions, and a resume. 

To complete the online application, please click the Apply for Job button.

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.

Pay and Benefits

$12,993 - $15,590 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
• FlexElect Program
• Pretax Parking
• Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)
   

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Judicial Council of California Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
 

Supplemental Questions

To better assess the qualifications of each applicant, we will review your responses to the following questions. Please indicate for which employer you performed these functions. Your answers should not exceed a total of three pages.

1. Please state your date of admission to the State Bar of California.
2. This position requires extensive research, analysis and writing on legal issues in a way that can be understood by self-represented litigants. Please describe your experience in performing comparable work.
3. Please describe your area(s) of legal expertise and how that expertise and your practice   experience would position you to excel in performing the responsibilities of this position.