Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Under the general direction and reporting to the Chief Counsel, Deputy Chief Counsel, Assistant Chief Counsel and/or Attorney Supervisor, the Attorney V works as the Department's highest levels of expertise in complex and difficult legal fields. Working independently as the top expert in the Department's Legal Division in their subject matter, incumbents at this level are involved in the most difficult and most complex litigation, which includes innovative theories; studies, Interpretation and application of laws, court decisions, and other authorities in preparing the most difficult and/or complex cases, opinions and briefs; prepares and presents cases for trial; specialization in law; and/or does a variety of the most difficult, complex and/or politically sensitive transactional work.

PARF# 42-27-0082 / JC- 535276

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions ranging from 2% to 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) hours. Please note that the salary ranges listed in this Job Control may not reflect these reductions associated with the 2025 Personal Leave Program. Please follow the link for more information regarding the 2025 Personal Leave program: .

Eligibility for hire may be determined by your score on the Attorney V  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.

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Working Conditions

Position located at 4050 Taylor St San Diego, San Diego County.

Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment.
While at their base of operation, employees will work in a climate-controlled office under artificial light. However, due to periodic problems with heating and air conditioning, the building temperate may fluctuate. Will have to perform work duties in different locations through the state, and therefore, this position requires travel and overnight stays.

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.

Special Requirements

• The position requires a CA BAR membership License. You will be required to provide a copy of your license prior to being hired.
• Possession of a valid Driver’s License is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.

The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) serves as documentation of each applicant's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. Please follow the instructions below; failure to include and complete the SOQ as instructed may result in the SOQ not being considered and in disqualification from the interview. Resumes and cover letters will not take the place of the SOQ. The SOQ must be typed, no more than two pages in length, and 12-point Arial font.

• Using the Duty Statement clearly demonstrate how your experience meets the qualifications for Attorney V.

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.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

An Attorney V should possess a range of desirable qualifications that demonstrate their expertise, professionalism, and leadership within the legal field. These qualifications typically include advanced knowledge of legal principles, significant experience in complex cases, and the ability to mentor junior staff. Additionally, an Attorney V is expected to exhibit strong analytical skills, excellent communication abilities, and a proven track record of ethical conduct. The combination of these qualifications ensures that an Attorney V can effectively manage challenging legal matters and contribute to the success of the Legal Division, San Diego Legal Office. 

Benefits

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

Employees in this classification may be eligible for a Recruitment Hire-Above Minimum Authorization salary rate commensurate to .

Important Application Instructions:

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 instructions.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work, Temporary work, Work at office, Remote work, Night shift

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