Attorney Iii

Job Description and Duties The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Legal Division is recruiting for one permanent full time Attorney III position in its Children's and Community Care Licensing Policy Branch.
Attorneys providing support to the Children's programs are the primary legal advisors to the Children and Family Services Division (CFSD), which is responsible for overseeing or administering various social services programs such as foster care, adoptions, guardianship, and other child welfare services. The unit also provides legal support for other offices and teams within CDSS that focus on the experience, needs, and services of children in foster care and equivalent programs.
As an experienced attorney, the Attorney III is an expert, or has the ability to acquire expertise, in dependency law, regulations, and policies relevant to programs administered by the Department.
As many areas in the child welfare continuum intersect with health care needs of children in care, knowledge of, or a background in, Medicaid eligibility and specialty mental health services is a desirable qualification. Other specialty legal areas include the impact of state and federal confidentiality laws when child welfare information and data is collected and saved within the statewide database, and federal immigration laws applicable to the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor program.
The successful candidate is expected to conduct research and analysis on any of the Children's programs, to prepare correspondence and legal research memoranda, to provide oral and written legal opinions, to analyze and advise on pending legislation affecting the Department, to assist in drafting and review of CDSS regulations, to review and advise on proposed federal law affecting CDSS programs, to draft legislation, and to provide training and information to CFSD or other Department staff. The Attorney III will also provide litigation support to the Office of the Attorney General on behalf of the Department for Children's programs.
The successful candidate must be able to function under pressure in politically sensitive situations, meet strict deadlines, and work collaboratively with clients and colleagues.
The successful candidate will primarily be assigned to perform work with the CFSD in the areas of foster care and child welfare services. Areas of responsibility may include, but will not be limited to, advising the CFSD on oversight of programs that support foster care placements through the system of care, funding and eligibility matters, and permanency for children through reunification, guardianship, or adoption. Oversight work may include legal consultation on state and federal audits.
In addition to other duties, a successful candidate may be required to prepare legal pleadings and represent the Department before the Department of Health Care Services' Office of Administrative Hearings and Appeals in relation to financial audits of group homes and short-term residential therapeutic programs.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
A. Knowledge, or the ability to acquire, knowledge of state and federal child welfare laws, adoption laws, and/or laws related to the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program.
B. Demonstrated ability to successfully perform in-house counsel work including but not limited to preparing legal opinions, analyzing legislation, drafting and reviewing regulations, preparing and reviewing correspondence, and providing litigation support to the Office of the Attorney General;
C. Understanding of the Administrative Branch of state government, its agencies and departments and the role of state and federal oversight agencies;
D. Demonstrated ability to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, program staff and management, staff of other state and federal agencies, and client advocacy organizations, while working independently and as part of a team;
E. Willing and able to understand CDSS programs and policies in order to provide sound legal advice that is responsive to the organization's needs;
F. Superior analytical and communication skills, both verbal and written, superior interpersonal skills, and tact;
G. Superior research skills and work habits and the ability to complete work under deadlines;
H. Willingness and ability to perform duties in a customer service-oriented manner; and;
I. Willing and able to maintain a work environment free from discrimination or sexual harassment.
This position is pending DOF approval. You will find additional information about the job in the .
Working Conditions The Legal Division uses a hybrid telework model to provide all employees with an avenue to telework while ensuring business and operational needs are met.
Except when required to report to the office, this position allows for telework at an alternative work location.  An alternative work location would be the successful applicant's residence.  
For travel purposes, reimbursement would be based on the assigned office location.   This position may be eligible for hybrid telework under California Government Code Section 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California. All telework schedules are subject to change and may be reevaluated at any time. Specific telework arrangements may be discussed in more detail with the respective hiring manager. Telework does not change the terms and conditions of employment, the essential functions of job duties, or required compliance with the Department of Social Services policies. Headquarter location will be designated based on the selected candidate's primary residence location, and/or the closest CDSS location. 
Special Requirements Please Note:  A Statement of Qualifications or Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted along with your application in order to be considered for this position. WHO MAY APPLY: Applications will be accepted from current members of the California State Bar who are currently employed in a California civil service position at the Attorney III level, who have current list eligibility for appointment to the Attorney III level, who have SROA/Surplus eligibility, or who have reinstatement rights to this level. Interested applicants must submit:
• A standard State Application Form (STD 678) and must clearly indicate the basis of hiring eligibility on the STD 678;
• A four-page SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS (SOQ) that includes a description how the applicant meets the DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS identified in this job announcement. Applications without eligibility information and a SOQ may not be considered.
Application packages will be screened, and the most qualified candidates will be invited to interview. Selected candidate will be subject to a criminal record background check clearance by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Hiring approval is subject to state civil service SROA/Surplus policies and procedures. Please see the California Department of Human Resources website at: for further information on taking examinations, obtaining list eligibility and minimum qualifications.  Hiring is subject to fingerprinting clearance by the Department of Justice. Hiring is subject to Department of Finance Approval. Applicants are required to complete employment history on the application form (STD 678). You may be disqualified from the hiring and selection process if the employment history is not complete.  Resumes will not take the place of employment history.
If you are meeting minimum qualifications with education, you must include your unofficial transcripts for verification. If selected, you may be required to provide official transcripts at the time of hire.
Training and Development assignments may be considered based on the availability of eligible candidates and are subject to approval by the Hiring Authority prior to appointment. Training and Development assignments are temporary in nature and shall not exceed twenty-four (24) months.
Candidates who reside outside of the State of California may be admitted to the job interview, but they must provide proof of residence in California prior to being eligible for appointment.
Benefits There are many benefits to joining our team!  The State of California has a generous benefits package that includes medical coverage, CalPERS pension upon retirement, two weeks paid vacation per year, two weeks paid sick leave per year, two paid Professional Development Days, one paid Personal Holiday, pre-tax parking fee program.
TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT
Public transit (mass transit) passes. 100 percent discount on public transit passes sold by state agencies, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 100 percent reimbursement on public transit passes purchased by state employees, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the IRS. Vanpool drivers and riders 100 percent reimbursement on the monthly fee, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the IRS. Benefit information can be found on the website and the website.
Examination Information Those interested in obtaining employment with the California Department of Social Services must apply and compete through the State recruitment process.  Applicants who successfully pass the examination will be placed on an eligibility list used to recruit for positions.
To apply for the examination for this position, click on the link below to search for the examination and follow the "How to Apply" instructions in the examination announcement:
If you already have list eligibility for this classification, you do not need to retake the examination, except when your list eligibility expires. For questions regarding the examination process and/or career opportunities with the California Department of Social Services, please contact the Examination Unit at .
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 - (SOQ) Please see the Special Requirements section of this job advertisement for detailed instructions for the SOQ submission.