Caltrans
ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL – Caltrans
This range is provided by Caltrans. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base Pay Range $14,513.00 - $17,742.00
Equal Opportunity Employer The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability, exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug‑free workplace. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.
Position Details
Job Code #: JC-501826
Position #s: 701-002-5871-XXX
Working Title: Assistant Chief Counsel
Classification: ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL
Base Pay Range: $14,513.00 - $17,742.00
# of Positions: Multiple
Work Location: Alameda County
Telework: Hybrid
Job Type: Permanent, Full Time
Department: Caltrans (Department of Transportation)
Department Website: www.dot.ca.gov
Job Description and Duties Under general direction of a Deputy Chief Counsel, the Assistant Chief Counsel is responsible for supervising a group of attorneys involved in a variety of litigation and other legal activities. The incumbent may also coordinate more complex and/or major specialized areas in the Legal Division and/or have statewide responsibility for the Department's legislative program.
The Caltrans Legal Division is comprised of five offices statewide, including its headquarters office near the State Capitol in Sacramento and offices in Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Fresno.
Our overall environment is both supportive and challenging where staff are given substantial responsibility at every stage.
While in the office, the incumbent will work in a climate‑controlled office building under artificial lighting. There may be occasional fluctuations in building temperature. Position occasionally requires travel to Division's Legal Offices and elsewhere for training and working related purposes.
Special Requirements
State Bar of California License
Possession of a valid driver’s license is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.
Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) required. SOQ should be no more than three (3) pages and address the following:
Proficient knowledge of civil litigation laws, regulations, trends, practices, and the California Code of Civil Procedure, California Evidence Code, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, California Government Code, and the California Insurance Code.
Knowledge of law relating to public transportation issues. Federal Aid statutes relating to transportation; California law relating to acquisition, financing, administration, and risk management.
Sufficient knowledge of the organization, mission, and statutory environment of the State Department of Transportation in order to function effectively in a position that works closely with and supports top management of the Department of Transportation.
Experience at a supervisory and/or management level in the Department of Transportation or comparable agency or organization or law firm practice including knowledge of transportation, civil litigation, current management principles and practices, and demonstrated ability to plan, direct, coordinate and review the work of a program consisting of professional legal staff.
Breadth and variety of experience as an attorney, attorney supervisor and/or contractor of attorneys, in the research and analysis of transportation and business‑related issues, and in defending, pursuing and resolving civil and administrative cases in administrative forums, in the California Superior Courts, Appellate Courts, Supreme Court, Federal District Courts and Courts of Appeal, or the California state Legislature.
Ability to act as legal advisor to top management, including the ability to formulate legal policy and to initiate and recommend strategic changes impacting the Department of Transportation programs and the organization as a whole, in order to meet competitive demands and corporate objectives and values.
Ability to identify and defend the Department of Transportation against abusive and fraudulent activities. All methods of appointment will be considered (e.g., list appointment, transfer, reinstatement, surplus, SROA, reemployment, etc.). All applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for the classification in order to be eligible for appointment to the position.
Eligibility for Hire Eligibility for hire may be determined by your score on the Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel 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.
Application Instructions Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 12/27/2025
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).
Required Application Package Documents
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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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 (SOQ) is required. (See Special Requirements section for SOQ instructions.)
Contacts The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.
Please take this 1‑minute Caltrans Recruitment survey to tell us how you found out about this job: https://forms.office.com/g/RyK102ty4G
Video: https://youtu.be/oC9wIp8QalI
Seniority Level Mid‑Senior level
Employment Type Full‑time
Job Function Legal
Industry Government Administration
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Caltrans by 2x.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Base Pay Range $14,513.00 - $17,742.00
Equal Opportunity Employer The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability, exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug‑free workplace. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.
Position Details
Job Code #: JC-501826
Position #s: 701-002-5871-XXX
Working Title: Assistant Chief Counsel
Classification: ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL
Base Pay Range: $14,513.00 - $17,742.00
# of Positions: Multiple
Work Location: Alameda County
Telework: Hybrid
Job Type: Permanent, Full Time
Department: Caltrans (Department of Transportation)
Department Website: www.dot.ca.gov
Job Description and Duties Under general direction of a Deputy Chief Counsel, the Assistant Chief Counsel is responsible for supervising a group of attorneys involved in a variety of litigation and other legal activities. The incumbent may also coordinate more complex and/or major specialized areas in the Legal Division and/or have statewide responsibility for the Department's legislative program.
The Caltrans Legal Division is comprised of five offices statewide, including its headquarters office near the State Capitol in Sacramento and offices in Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Fresno.
Our overall environment is both supportive and challenging where staff are given substantial responsibility at every stage.
While in the office, the incumbent will work in a climate‑controlled office building under artificial lighting. There may be occasional fluctuations in building temperature. Position occasionally requires travel to Division's Legal Offices and elsewhere for training and working related purposes.
Special Requirements
State Bar of California License
Possession of a valid driver’s license is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.
Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) required. SOQ should be no more than three (3) pages and address the following:
Proficient knowledge of civil litigation laws, regulations, trends, practices, and the California Code of Civil Procedure, California Evidence Code, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, California Government Code, and the California Insurance Code.
Knowledge of law relating to public transportation issues. Federal Aid statutes relating to transportation; California law relating to acquisition, financing, administration, and risk management.
Sufficient knowledge of the organization, mission, and statutory environment of the State Department of Transportation in order to function effectively in a position that works closely with and supports top management of the Department of Transportation.
Experience at a supervisory and/or management level in the Department of Transportation or comparable agency or organization or law firm practice including knowledge of transportation, civil litigation, current management principles and practices, and demonstrated ability to plan, direct, coordinate and review the work of a program consisting of professional legal staff.
Breadth and variety of experience as an attorney, attorney supervisor and/or contractor of attorneys, in the research and analysis of transportation and business‑related issues, and in defending, pursuing and resolving civil and administrative cases in administrative forums, in the California Superior Courts, Appellate Courts, Supreme Court, Federal District Courts and Courts of Appeal, or the California state Legislature.
Ability to act as legal advisor to top management, including the ability to formulate legal policy and to initiate and recommend strategic changes impacting the Department of Transportation programs and the organization as a whole, in order to meet competitive demands and corporate objectives and values.
Ability to identify and defend the Department of Transportation against abusive and fraudulent activities. All methods of appointment will be considered (e.g., list appointment, transfer, reinstatement, surplus, SROA, reemployment, etc.). All applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for the classification in order to be eligible for appointment to the position.
Eligibility for Hire Eligibility for hire may be determined by your score on the Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel 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.
Application Instructions Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 12/27/2025
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).
Required Application Package Documents
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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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 (SOQ) is required. (See Special Requirements section for SOQ instructions.)
Contacts The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.
Please take this 1‑minute Caltrans Recruitment survey to tell us how you found out about this job: https://forms.office.com/g/RyK102ty4G
Video: https://youtu.be/oC9wIp8QalI
Seniority Level Mid‑Senior level
Employment Type Full‑time
Job Function Legal
Industry Government Administration
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Caltrans by 2x.
#J-18808-Ljbffr