What are the responsibilities and job description for the ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL position at Public Employees Retirement System?
A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required for this position. Applications received without the SOQ will not be considered. Please scroll down to special requirements to see details.
Anticipated Interview Dates: In person interviews are anticipated to be held the week of March 17, 2025.
Telework Information: This position is eligible for hybrid work schedule, with up to two days of remote work and three days or more onsite, per week.
The CalPERS Legal Office is currently seeking an Assistant Chief Counsel for the Litigation Team. The Legal Office represents CalPERS in litigation and provides formal and informal legal advice regarding all legal issues at CalPERS, including the areas of benefit and membership entitlement, Board elections, health care, fiduciary matters, ethics, contracts, public records, labor and employment, open meetings, and investment related matters.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Supervising Attorneys and Senior Attorneys providing a broad range of legal services in the Litigation Unit.
- Initiating and representing the system in the most difficult and complex administrative and court proceedings.
- Making strategic decisions and substantive recommendations and appearing on behalf of the System in the most complex and sensitive cases at administrative hearings and in court, and before other administrative bodies.
- Providing oral and written legal advice to executive, senior team leaders and team members.
- Keeping clients informed of the status of all cases and confers with and advises clients on all substantive matters.
- Supervising litigation in coordination with the Attorney General’s Office and outside counsel.
- Keeping the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel informed on the status of all significant cases.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Minimum Requirements
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.- ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL
Additional Documents
- Job Application Package Checklist
- Duty Statement
Position Details
Department Information
If you are interested in becoming part of a diverse and inclusive workforce where talent, experience, and expertise are valued, CalPERS invites you to apply for this employment opportunity. To find out more about our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, visit our website!
To take a look at CalPERS as a destination employer, view this YouTube video.
Special Requirements
Please provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for the hiring manager’s review. Applications received without an SOQ or those that do not respond to the specific statements below will not be considered.
The SOQ must be typed, titled “Statement of Qualifications”, and each statement must be numbered and answered listing all relevant experience, education, and training, including places of employment, dates, and duties performed.
The SOQ must not exceed two pages in length and must not have font smaller than 11 point and address the following:
- Outline your experience managing attorneys, including your knowledge of and experience with human resource matters, including but not limited to progressive discipline, civil service hiring, mentoring, motivating, and developing staff; and your leadership skills and demonstrated ability to think strategically and function effectively as a member of a management team. Please include experience you have managing a team working remotely.
- Describe your experience and identify the number of years that you have represented clients in litigation matters before federal, state, and administrative tribunals. Please also describe any experience you may have working on cases involving class actions, corporations and corporate governance, pensions and trusts, health benefits, employment, open meetings, and public records.
- Outline your experience and identify the approximate number of cases that you reviewed, analyzed, prepared, and presented to a trier of fact relating to CalPERS-administered benefits under the Public Employees’ Retirement Law (PERL), the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA), and the CalPERS Long Term Care (LTC) Program, as well as any class action, municipal bankruptcy, and employment cases. If you have not worked on cases involving CalPERS administered benefits under the PERL, PEMCHA or the LTC program, please describe any similar experience you may have with other retirement systems’ laws (e.g., CERL, etc.). Please also describe your experience overseeing contracted outside counsel and counsel at the Office of the Attorney General.
- Describe your experience advising executive and senior leadership on legal risks facing an organization, litigation strategy and oversight, problem definition, and conflict resolution of complex legal issues. Please include your experience presenting legal matters before a public board, including any experience interacting with the CalPERS Board or its committees on litigation or potential litigation involving any program administered by CalPERS.
All experience and education relating to the Minimum Qualifications (MQs) listed on the Classification Specification should be included in your application package to clearly demonstrate how you meet the MQs for this position. If you are using education to meet MQs, please include your transcripts with your application package. If selected, official transcripts will be required prior to job offer. The Classification Specification is located on this Job Posting under "Minimum Requirements."
Please Note: You may need to pass an examination to establish list eligibility prior to a final offer of employment. To find and take an exam, visit CalHR’s CalCareers website.
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: 2/28/2025Who May Apply
Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
How To Apply
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents 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 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 - In addition to completing your online job application, you must provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for the hiring manager’s review. Please see the Special Requirements section for instructions and questions for the SOQ. Applications received without an SOQ or those that do not respond to the specific SOQ prompts will not be considered.
Desirable Qualifications
- Previous supervisory experience; ability to work as a team leader; ability to manage staff attorneys and outside counsel.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing, with all levels of staff and the public.
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Ability to work independently and use good judgment on assigned work.
- Experience conducting legal analysis and advising clients on complex and sensitive legal issues.
- Knowledge of public pension and health benefits law, knowledge of the state contracting and procurement rules and procedures, and knowledge of state government employment laws, policies and procedures.
Benefits
Some added benefits CalPERS offers include:
- Alternate Work Schedules
- Flexible Work Hours
- Onsite childcare facility
- Onsite fitness center
- Onsite café and nearby restaurants
- Free onsite parking available Mondays and Fridays, subject to change
- Free offsite parking available with shuttle service Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
Contact Information
The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Hiring Unit Contact:
CalPERS HRSD, Selection Services
(916) 795-2444
Recruitment@calpers.ca.gov
Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.
EEO Contact:CalPERS EEO
(916) 795-3675
EEO@calpers.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.
Additional Information
Live Scan
Candidates not currently employed at CalPERS are required to submit to a criminal history review process utilizing Live Scan fingerprinting.
CalPERS Disclosure Requirements
If employed, you may be subject to rules imposed by Personal Trading Regulations and Conflict of Interest Code that apply to CalPERS team members, which require disclosure of certain investment information and use of a designated trading platform for securities transactions, as well as filing a Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700)
Please do not include any confidential information on any documents in your application package. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents include, but is not limited to, your social security number, date of birth, marital status, personal photos, a copy of your driver’s license, equal employment opportunity data, examination scores, and LEAP status.
Sponsorship
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without the need for a visa sponsorship now or in the future.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), 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 work place. 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.
