Attorney II (JO#6286)

JOB TITLE: Attorney II

LOCATION: Sacramento or San Francisco

JOB OPENING #: 6286

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 funded through the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for the Judicial Resources and Technical Assistances (JRTA) grant program to support increased workload for the federal Children and Family Services Review (CFSR). The JRTA Program provides legal assistance and materials to judicial officers working in a highly complex area of juvenile dependency and delinquency law. As an attorney on the JRTA team, the incumbent will conduct courtesy review of dependency and delinquency case files and review notes of other file review attorneys. This position will provide guidance to courts including legal advice and counsel regarding legal compliance and mandated duties, as well as provide assistance through written analysis, with legal issues related to case law, documentation of reasonable efforts, and judicial determinations. This position required substantial telephone and email communication with court partners including county counsel, social workers, and probation officers to discuss findings of file review and provide guidance on improving procedures.

Duties will also include providing system partners with guidance on notice provision, adequate documentation of recommended findings in reports to the court, and timely provision of reports to the court. The incumbent will also create, modify and update bench cards and other documents on key hearings for judicial officers and stakeholders, giving judicial officers a succinct, updated and legally accurate summary of the key events and decisions required at each hearing, and provide direct legal assistance and trainings to individual courts or groups of courts, as appropriate.

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 successful candidate will be expected to work in person at the Judicial Council’s San Francisco or Sacramento office and reside in the areas surrounding these locations. The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements for many positions. Beginning in September 2024, employees will work in the office at least one day each week. Beginning in January 2025, employees will work in the office at least two days per week.

RESPONSIBILITIES

For 9 counties, perform site visits as a Judicial Resources and Technical Assistance (JRTA) liaison to analyze and evaluate local juvenile court (dependency and delinquency) practice and procedure, and thereafter prepare a memorandum with legal guidance to ensure that judicial officers and juvenile court professionals comply with current federal regulations and state law.

Review and analyze court files to determine compliance with federal and state juvenile law and best practices. This involves examining documentation of findings and orders, written reports from the social services department and/or probation department, and any other relevant documentation in the court file. The attorney must determine whether the county is in compliance with title IV-E of the Social Security Act; and if not, to provide legal advice and counsel to judicial officers to avoid possible fiscal penalties.

Act as a liaison between the Judicial Council Center for Families, Children & the Courts (CFCC) and the court and county.

Provide training and/or technical assistance on federal and state legal requirements, juvenile court practice and procedure, county-specific areas in need of improvement, and/or areas of interest related to dependency or delinquency law. Technical assistance may include correspondence via phone or email to answer questions, or to review and advise juvenile court professionals on revising local minute orders and report templates.

Develop legal informational materials for local distribution and updates.

Develop and update legal informational materials for local distribution for the JRTA project. These materials include Information Sheets about legal areas, appropriate county recommendations, case law summaries and charts with legally accurate findings and orders.

Provide legal guidance to the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee of the Judicial Council through analyzing juvenile and family legal issues, determining how to present the legal issues for consideration, prepare drafts of a proposal (California Rules of Court and Judicial Council forms) for consideration, and preparing written reports and memorandum for consideration which frame the policy issues, provide analysis of legal issues, and assess the implementation and operational impact of the proposal on the courts.

Conduct legal research and analysis to aid the committee in determining appropriate/recommended changes to rules, forms, and standards for family and juvenile cases.

Perform special assignments, as requested by the supervising attorney, including legal research and analysis projects and the development of tools and resources for local courts and Judicial Council Center for Families, Children & the Courts' (CFCC) staff.

MINIMUM 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.

OTHER

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 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 5:00 P.M. on October 28, 2024.

To complete an online application, go to job opening #6286 at https://www.courts.ca.gov/careers.htm.

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. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (415) 865-4272.

PAYMENT & BENEFITS

12,993 - 15,590 per month

(Starting salary will be $12,993 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)

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. Please explain how your professional experience with the juvenile court (dependency or delinquency) makes you interested in this particular position.