JOB TITLE: Principal Manager I, Attorney (Litigation Management, Labor and Employment Units, and potentially one other LSO Unit)
UNIT: Legal Services Office
LOCATION: San Francisco or Sacramento
JOB OPENING: 6370
OVERVIEW
The Judicial Council Legal Services Office (LSO) is currently seeking a Principal Manager I, Attorney to directly manage its Labor and Employment Unit (LEU) and Litigation Management Unit (LMU) and potentially one other unit, consistent with the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate.
The Judicial Council of California is the policymaking body for the California state court system and has constitutionally conferred statewide rule-making authority. By enhancing its role as a leadership, knowledge, and service resource for the judicial branch, the Judicial Council of California’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.
The Legal Services office provides quality, timely, and ethical legal advice and services to the Chief Justice, Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, trial courts, and to the Judicial Council and its advisory bodies and staff. Legal Services is made up of a highly skilled workforce that provides legal support to judicial branch clients on challenging, varied, and significant legal issues in a collegial and collaborative environment.
The office has two major functions: (1) house counsel and (2) legal services for rules and projects. Under the house counsel function, the office provides legal services related to judicial branch and court administration and governance issues, labor and employment law, litigation management, public access laws, real estate transactions and operations, and transactions and business operations. Under the rules and projects function, the office provides primary staff support to the council's Rules Committee and to several Judicial Council advisory bodies, and staffs other projects designed to improve court administration and proceedings.
The primary focus of this position will be on house counsel functions, specifically the management of LEU and LMU, and potentially a third unit in LSO depending on experience. This will include management of labor and employment law litigation, advice and counseling, and training, as well as management of general litigation and risk management advising. The position will also manage the Litigation Management Program (LMP), directly support the Litigation Management Committee (LMC), and support other committees, advisory bodies, and work groups. The Principal Managing Attorney position works independently within organizational and policy confines and reports to the Deputy General Counsel and General Counsel.
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 and includes 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. 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.
RESPONSIBILITIES
As a member of LSO’s Executive Management Team, this Principal Manager I, Attorney position will directly manage two to three units within the LSO, including LEU and LMU, and possibly one of the following units: the Legal Opinion Unit (LOU), Public Access Unit (PAU), Real Estate Unit (REU), and Transactions and Business Operations Unit (TBOU). This Principal Manager I, Attorney position also provides legal support to the LMC, and directly advises and provides legal support to branch leadership on high level and high priority issues within designated areas of expertise.
Perform office-wide executive functions as a member of LSO’s Executive Management Team:
o Determine and implement programs, goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for the LSO, in collaboration with LSO’s Executive Management Team.
o Promote implementation of branch-wide policies, priorities, goals, and objectives.
o Determine and implement office structure improvements, including decisions to prioritize personnel needs, provide professional development and training, strategize succession planning, and improve office engagement and morale.
o Develop, administer, and monitor office budget and contracts; approve office invoices within authority range.
Directly advise and support the Chief Justice, the Judicial Council and its internal committees and advisory bodies, the Judicial Council Executive Office, other Judicial Council staff offices, and courts on high level and high priority issues within designated areas of expertise, or on subjects as assigned by the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, including sensitive and confidential employment law and personnel matters.
Manage the Labor and Employment Unit and Litigation Management Units.
o Provide oversight of and guidance to the LEU supervising attorney and attorneys within the unit to manage, strategize and direct labor and employment law litigation, labor actions, and administrative actions throughout the branch, as well as employment law advice and training, including labor relations matters, investigations, and preparation of personnel policies.
o Provide oversight of and guidance to the LMU supervising attorney and attorneys within the unit to manage, strategize and direct litigation throughout the branch, as well as litigation advice and training, including advising on risk management and litigation avoidance.
o Review and respond to requests from judicial branch clients for legal services related to the work of LEU and LMU; participate in meetings and conference calls with judicial branch clients, outside counsel, LSO staff, and other Judicial Council staff.
o Provide direction on selection, management, and evaluation of outside counsel.
o Plan, manage, and evaluate LEU and LMU programs; develop, administer, and monitor budgets.
o Promote efficiency and the use of best practices; continuously assess work practices and procedures to assure that they are efficient, effective, and client service oriented.
o Directly manage specific litigation and advising matters, such as those that raise significant policy or statewide concerns or involve substantial exposure.
Manage the Litigation Management Program and provide lead staff support to the Litigation Management Committee.
o Work with analyst staff on all aspects of litigation contracting and budgeting, including review and approval of litigation contracts, review and approval of litigation budgets, and active review of LMP funds and law firm budgets.
o Actively manage, develop, and innovate the use of the Legal Tracker system for case management, matter tracking and document management.
o Directly support the LMC, including attending LMC meetings, providing advice on litigation matters and labor and employment law matters, presenting on topics of importance, and preparing written memorandum on matters requiring LMC approval.
o Develop and update procedures and guidelines for litigation management to be used by LEU and LMU attorneys in managing branch-wide litigation.
o Prepare Annual Report of Litigation Matters for the LMC and courts, including developing a timeline for completion, review, and distribution of the report.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Juris doctor, and six (6) years of post-bar experience as a practicing attorney, including at least three (3) years of increasingly responsible management experience. Work experience as a law clerk to a federal or state judge after passing the state bar exam but before formal bar admission will be considered qualifying experience.
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS
Current active membership with the State Bar of California.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Experience:
Deep and broad experience in public sector labor and employment matters, including employment law litigation, administrative hearings, labor proceedings, workplace investigations, and wage and hour disputes.
Deep and broad experience advising on sensitive and confidential personnel matters, including leaves and accommodations, employee discipline, performance management, and employee separations.
Deep and broad experience in litigation.
Experience with staffing and providing legal advice to committees and other advisory bodies, and knowledge of the role of staff in providing such support.
Experience developing and administering a budget in an assigned area.
Knowledge:
Knowledge of relevant substantive and procedural law (both statutory and case law), including in public sector labor and employment law, the Government Claims Act, public sector litigation, and other relevant areas.
Knowledge of the California Rules of Court; the legislative process; and statutory interpretation.
Knowledge of the laws governing the California judicial branch, and the structure, duties, powers, procedures, and operations of the Judicial Council.
Knowledge and familiarity with best practices in litigation management and litigation-related document management practices.
Knowledge and familiarity with the “Legal Tracker” billing and operations platform, and other legal technology solutions.
Skills:
Exceptional research, writing, and presentation skills.
Ability to analyze legislation and policy issues; present statements of facts, law, policy, and argument clearly, concisely, and logically in both written and oral form; draft legal and administrative correspondence and reports effectively and concisely.
Familiarity with principles and practices of office, budget, and project management and administration.
Ability to proactively develop and implement goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards.
Effective client service, diplomacy, and attention to detail.
Effective leadership and employee development skills, including the ability to create an environment that supports employees and encourages employees to produce high-quality work in an evolving environment.
Excellent critical thinking, problem solving capabilities, and judgment.
Ability to prioritize competing demands, manage workload, coordinate complex schedules and deadlines, produce high quality work product under pressure, and respond with flexibility to changing demands.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, clients, and the public.
Ability to listen to and consider different points of view and to build consensus and resolve conflicts.
HOW TO APPLY
This position is Open Until Filled and requires the submission of our official application, a response to the supplemental questions, and a resume. To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by Friday, March 21, 2025.
To complete an online application, go to job opening #6370.
The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodations. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260.
Other Information
Please note, if you are selected for hire, verification of employment eligibility or authorization to work in the United States will be required.
PAY & BENEFITS
Monthly Salary Range:
$15,514 - $18,617 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
Pre-Tax Parking Savings Program
CalPERS Retirement Plan
401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
Employee Assistance Program
Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
FlexElect Program
Long Term Care Disability (employee paid/optional)
Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional
The Judicial Council of California Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Supplemental Questionnaire
To better assess the qualifications of each applicant, we will review your responses to the following questions. Your answers should not exceed a total of three pages.
1. Please state why you are interested in this position and describe the skills that you believe would qualify you to perform the responsibilities of the position successfully.
2. Please describe your substantive legal experience in public sector labor and employment law, including advising on sensitive personnel matters and managing internal personnel investigations.
Describe your substantive experience in public sector litigation management, including your experience supervising or managing other attorneys in such work.
3. Please describe your leadership style and how your style has contributed to the success of an organization.