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 (CFCC).

The Attorney II position provides legal support to the judicial branch, including the Tribal Court-State Court Forum and other advisory committees of the Judicial Council, individual judges, and other justice partners on matters related to the Indian Child Welfare ACT (ICWA), tribal issues related to the Violence Against Women Education Project (VAWEP), and other aspects of state and federal Indian law. This position drafts, develops, and revises rules and forms related to ICWA and federal Indian law issues as necessary; drafts legislative proposals on these issues; and provides technical assistance to judicial officers and justice partners concerning ICWA and federal Indian law issues. This position develops curriculum, bench guides, and job aids (such as findings and orders charts, fact sheets, checklists, etc.) for judicial officers and justice partners concerning ICWA, VAWEP, and other aspects of state and federal Indian law. This position participates regularly in meetings convened by the California Department of Social Services, Office of Tribal Affairs, and assists judicial officers in several joint jurisdiction ICWA working groups and roundtables.

In additional to legal research and analysis in ICWA and federal Indian law issues, the Attorney II provides general legal and strategic advice to others within the council and the judicial branch on tribal consultation, tribal and tribal court jurisdictional issues, and other matters related to federal Indian law. This position conducts legal research, develops curricula, and serves as faculty at local, state and national conferences and serves as a subject matter expert on ICWA and federal Indian law issues to state court and tribal court judicial officers. This position requires extensive contact with judges, courts, court staff, attorneys and local, tribal and state agencies, and works independently with little supervision.

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 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 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs, student loan forgiveness as part of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), 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 located 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. To be eligible for Judicial Council employment and participation in the Judicial Council’s Hybrid Work Program, a prospective or current employee’s primary residence/remote work location must be in the State of California and within a 150-mile driving radius of their assigned reporting location.

Responsibilities

• Serve as lead staff counsel to the Tribal Court-State Court Forum, an advisory committee of the Judicial Council, composed of tribal court and state court judges and justice partners.
• With input from cochairs, develop meeting agendas and assist with running Forum meetings.
• Administer all activities and perform work for annual agenda projects.
• Analyze and draft proposals for rules of court (new and amended), court forms (new and revised), legislation, and legislative reports to advance judicial branch objectives and comply with legal mandates.
• Maintain current knowledge and understanding of legal issues related to the Indian Child Welfare Act, federal and state Indian law, and cross-jurisdictional issues based on published decisions, legislative changes, and inquiries and comments from judges, justice partners, tribal ICWA advocates, and others.
• Prepare recommendations for rules and forms or legislation as necessary, including conducting legal research, drafting memoranda of law and policy, and drafting proposed alternatives.
• Provide training and education for judicial officers, attorneys, justice partners, and Judicial Council staff on ICWA and other related topics of federal and state Indian law.
• Analyze and prepare legal memoranda and issues papers, legal opinions, and policy memoranda; provide legal technical assistance to judicial officers, court personnel, and justice partners.
• Monitor legal literature, news, and legal opinions to remain current on legal issues concerning ICWA and state and federal Indian law.
• Write and update legal bench books, judicial practice guides, fact sheets, and job aids.
• Conduct ongoing legal research and analysis of published cases and legislative changes relevant to ICWA, VAWEP, and relevant federal and state Indian law issues.
• Draft, negotiate, review, and monitor contracts and grants.
• Review local court files and provide legal advice and legal technical assistance to those courts on compliance with Title IV-E of the Social Security Act.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as liaison to state and county entities and other organizations and initiatives focused on ICWA, VAWEP, and joint jurisdiction matters and attend meetings as needed.
• Attend all weekly meetings of the Tribal/State Programs Unit, Judicial Resources and Technical Assistance Unit, and Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee meetings.
• Regularly collaborate, exchange, and advise with Court Assistance, Resources, and Education Team (CARE) legal team regarding current legal issues, county issues, and county needs; attend bi-weekly meetings.
• Attend quarterly and annual juvenile training courses for professional development.
• Attend Center for Families, Children & the Courts' (CFCC) staff meetings as needed.

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

• Experience representing clients in juvenile dependency proceedings.
• Experience practicing federal Indian law.
• Experience working with tribes, tribal courts, and 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

To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by Friday, November 6, 2026. However, this position is Open Until Filled. This position requires the submission of our official application, resume, and a response to the supplemental questions.

To complete an online application, please click the Apply to 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. Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is available by dialing 711. Once connected, provide the relay operator with the number for Human Resources: 415-865-4260.

Pay and Benefits

Salary Range: $13,383 - $16,058 per month

Please note due to statewide fiscal conditions, the posted salary range is subject to a temporary 3% reduction. In exchange for this temporary reduction, judicial branch employees accrue an additional 5 hours of paid personal leave per month through June 30, 2027.

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)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility

Equal Employment Opportunity

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. Why are you interested in this position?
2. Please describe any professional experience related to the Indian Child Welfare ACT (ICWA), tribal issues related to the Violence Against Women Education Project (VAWEP), or other aspects of state and federal Indian law.
3. Please state your date of admission to the State Bar of California.