ATTORNEY IV

at  Department of Industrial Relations

Under the general direction of the Secretary or a Deputy Commissioner, the Attorney IV independently researches and writes legal decisions on behalf of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Reconsideration Unit, a seven member quasi-judicial body, in response to written appeals from trial-level decisions issued by workers’ compensation administrative law judges.
The Appeals Board has interesting and often novel work, providing vital guidance on challenging legal issues to the community and Courts of Appeal, which impact injured workers and employers statewide.
Attorney IVs are expected to perform the most complex, novel, difficult and sensitive legal work of the unit and are expected to work independently. Attorney IVs generally have high level experience, high level research and writing skills, strong technical lawyering skills and high level of subject matter expertise in the areas of workers’ compensation law, appellate law and procedure, administrative law and regulations, and in the mechanics of impartial judicial decision making and advice, unbiased judicial review, and preparation of objective written judicial opinions.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Conduct high-level legal research on novel and complex areas of workers’ compensation and related civil law.
• Review evidentiary record, analyze legal issues and draft decisions and briefing in the most sensitive, complex and difficult cases, including legally binding and precedential en banc and significant panel decisions.
• Serve as an expert legal resource to the Commissioners and the Deputy Commissioners, including at judicial session, and participate in training of less experienced attorneys.
• Act as a member or a lead of a practice area team in one or more of the following subject areas: appellate practice; rule-making; public records requests and confidentiality; and disciplinary proceedings for non-attorney representatives.

This posting may be used to fill future vacancies in accordance with 2 CCR §249.3
To be considered for this Attorney IV job opportunity, applicants must be either reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility or have reinstatement eligibility. To take the exam and gain employment list eligibility, please click here to access the exam bulletin:
https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1581
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Working Conditions

This position may be available at any of the following locations:

• 455 Golden Gate Ave., Ste 9328, San Francisco, CA 94012
• 6150 Van Nuys Boulevard, Suite 206, Van Nuys, CA 91401
• 2031 Howe Ave STE 100, Sacramento, CA 95825

This is a full-time permanent position at the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Reconsideration Unit. Employees in this position have their own offices, work at desks, and are required to work extensively on computers as necessary for the drafting of legal opinions and other documents, and for research, email communication, file review, training and other purposes. Attorneys are expected to perform their own word processing, and secretarial support is generally limited to the finalization and filing process. The position requires little to no contact with the general public and teleworking per DIR policy is available.
Minimum Requirements
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• Conduct high-level legal research on novel and complex areas of workers’ compensation and related civil law.
• Review evidentiary record, analyze legal issues and draft decisions and briefing in the most sensitive, complex and difficult cases, including legally binding and precedential en banc and significant panel decisions.
• Serve as an expert legal resource to the Commissioners and the Deputy Commissioners, including at judicial session, and participate in training of less experienced attorneys.
• Act as a member or a lead of a practice area team in one or more of the following subject areas: appellate practice; rule-making; public records requests and confidentiality; and disciplinary proceedings for non-attorney representatives