Job Description

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 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.

PARF# 42-27-0075/ JC-533753

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions ranging from 2% to 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) hours. Please note that the salary ranges listed in this Job Control may not reflect these reductions associated with the 2025 Personal Leave Program. Please follow the link for more information regarding the 2025 Personal Leave program: .

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 and search by typing in the classification title.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Position located at 1120 N St Sacramento, Sacramento County

Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment.

While at their base of operation, employees will work in a climate-controlled office under artificial light. However, due to periodic problems with the heating and air conditioning, the building temperature may fluctuate.  Will have to perform work duties in different court rooms throughout the state and therefore, this position does require travel.

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Caltrans’s evolving telework policy. Caltrans supports telework, recognizing that in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksites with minimum notification if an urgent need arises. The selected candidate will be required to commute to the headquartered location as needed to meet operational needs. Business travel may be required and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquartered location, primary residence, and may be subject to CalHR regulations or applicable bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the headquartered location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

Please take this 1-minute Caltrans Recruitment survey to tell us how you found out about this job. 

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Special Requirements

• State Bar of California License.

• Possession of a valid driver's license is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are meeting Minimum Qualifications with education, you must include your unofficial transcript(s)/diploma for verification.  Unofficial, original or official sealed transcripts will be required upon appointment.  Applicants with foreign transcripts/degrees must provide a transcript/degree U.S. equivalency report evaluation that indicates the number of units and degree to which the foreign coursework is equivalent.  Here is a list of evaluation agencies:  .

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• 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.

• 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.

Benefits

to view the Benefits Summary for Civil Service Employees in the State of California.

Important Applications Instructions:

Electronic applications through your CalCareers account are highly recommended and encouraged.

Candidates that meet the minimum qualifications based on possession of EDUCATION, LICENSE, OR CERTIFICATE must include a copy of your DEGREE/TRANSCRIPTS, LICENSE, or CERTIFICATE, along with your State application (STD. 678), to be considered for this position.

NOTE: Do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (page 5) with your completed State application (STD. 678). This page is for examination use only. Do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for this job vacancy, such as your state application, resume, or educational transcripts.  Confidential information that should be  excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your Social Security Number, birth date, driver’s license number, examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age.  The job application packet checklist is not required to apply for this position.  Failure to follow these instructions may result in your application not being considered for this position.

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.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work, Temporary work, For contractors, Work at office, Remote work

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