Attorney II – Litigation Management

Overview

The Legal Services office of the Judicial Council of California provides quality, timely, and ethical legal advice and services to the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, trial courts, Judicial Council, and its advisory bodies and staff. Legal Services is currently searching for an attorney to join its dynamic law office made up of a highly skilled workforce that provides effective legal support to judicial branch clients on challenging, varied, and significant legal issues.

The Litigation Management Unit attorney manages government claims, lawsuits and other litigation brought against trial and appellate courts as well as the Judicial Council. Attorneys in the Litigation Management Unit provide in-house counsel services to the judicial branch and also provide legal advice on subpoenas other litigation-related matters involving judicial branch clients. The attorney will independently manage a workload in a collegial and collaborative environment.  

Attorneys within the Legal Services office often support the work of units other than their primary assignment. Depending upon experience, the LMU Attorney may be called upon to work with other Legal Services units and may also be called upon to write legal opinions, staff advisory bodies, and draft rules of court and legislation.

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, student loan forgiveness as part of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and retirement savings plans. The San Francisco office is only a 7-minute walk from the downtown 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

• Provide in-house counsel services for the trial and appellate courts and the Judicial Council.

• Serve as an in-house counsel for the courts and the Judicial Council on a diverse range of litigation matters covering all legal disciplines.

• Evaluate, investigate, and respond to government claims.

• Analyze and evaluate lawsuits, writs, and other litigation related matters.

• Retain and actively manage outside counsel in all stages of litigation and determine legal strategy. Attend depositions, mediations, hearings, and trials as appropriate.

• Review and revise pleadings and court filings as necessary.

• Assist in resolving cases and prepare and present settlement recommendations.

• Communicate with judicial officers, court executives, court employees, and judicial branch executives about claims, litigation, and risk management.

• Conduct legal research and analysis and provide legal advice and opinions.

• Provide risk management advice as appropriate.

• Prepare reports regarding litigation, government claims, and Litigation Management Program as appropriate.

• Perform additional responsibilities, depending on background and experience that may be of direct service to the courts and the Judicial Council. Attorneys may be called upon to assist other Legal Services units in areas of labor and employment, legal opinions, transactions, and real estate.

Qualifications

Juris Doctor, and three (3) years of relevant post-bar legal experience as a practicing attorney. 

After passing the state bar, work experience as a law clerk to a federal judge prior to formal state bar admission will be considered qualifying experience.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS 

• Current active membership with the State Bar of California prior to date of hire. 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Extensive experience in general litigation;

• Experience in multiple legal disciplines;

• Significant experience with legal research, writing, analysis, and drafting legal documents, opinions, guides, correspondence, memorandums, and reports; and

• Experience in or with the public sector.

SKILLS 

• Excellent critical thinking, problem solving capabilities, and judgment; 

• Superior communication, interpersonal, diplomacy, and public speaking skills;

• Ability to present issues and advocate positions clearly, concisely, and logically;

• Ability to manage workloads, coordinate deadlines, and prioritize competing demands; 

• Ability to work autonomously while being a team player with a positive and enthusiastic attitude;

• Ability to listen to and consider different points of view;

• Ability to building consensus and resolve conflicts; and

• Ability to maintain effective working relationships.

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and/or ordinances; 

• Substantive and procedural principles of California and federal statutory and case law; 

• Principles and methods of legal research and analysis; 

• Methods of electronic legal research; 

• Principles and methods of legal writing; 

• Rules of civil procedure and conduct of proceedings in California courts; 

• Principles of constitutional, statutory, and case law;

• Principles and methods of litigation management, as assigned; and

• Applicable business equipment and desktop applications.

Other Information

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 ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by Friday, June 5, 2026.

To complete an online application, click on 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. 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 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. Please explain why you are interested in this position and what skills and experience you would bring to the position. 

2. Are you an active member of the California State Bar?