Assistant Chief Counsel Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

SALARY INFORMATION

Description of Series

The Chief Counsel series describes three classifications which have responsibility for the legal program of various State departments. This includes responsibility for planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and reviewing the work of a professional legal staff; acting as legal advisor to top management; preparing legislation and representing the Department before the Legislature; formulating legal policy; and participating as a member of top management in the development and implementation of department policy.

Assistant Chief Counsel

Works under the general direction of a Chief Counsel II, CEA, in planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and reviewing the work of a major legal section of a large legal office.

Chief Counsel I, CEA

This is typically the top legal position in a Department with a relatively small legal program having responsibility for planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and reviewing the work of a legal staff.

Chief Counsel II, CEA

This is the top legal position in a department with one of the State's larger legal programs having responsibility for planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and reviewing the work of a legal staff.

Minimum Qualifications

Assistant Chief Counsel

Membership in The State Bar of California. (Applicants must have active membership in The State Bar before they will be eligible for appointment.) and

Either I

Two years of experience in the California state service performing legal duties* at a level of responsibility equivalent to Staff Counsel, Range D. (Applicants who have completed 18 months of the required experience will be admitted to the examination, but must complete two years of such experience before they will be eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Broad and extensive experience (more than five years) in the practice of law*. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must include the same number of years of qualifying experience as required in Pattern I above performing the duties of a class at a level of responsibility equivalent to that described in Pattern I.)

Chief Counsel I, CEA

Membership in The State Bar of California. (Applicants must have active membership in The State Bar before they will be eligible for appointment.) and

Either I

Two years of experience in the California state service performing legal duties* at a level of responsibility equivalent to Staff Counsel, Range D. (Applicants who have completed 18 months of the required experience will be admitted to the examination, but must complete two years of such experience before they will be eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Broad and extensive experience (more than five years) in the practice of law*. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must include the same number of years of qualifying experience as required in Pattern I above performing the duties of a class at a level of responsibility equivalent to that described in Pattern I.)

Chief Counsel II, CEA

Membership in The State Bar of California. (Applicants must have active membership in The State Bar before they will be eligible for appointment.) and

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing legal duties* at a level of responsibility equivalent to Assistant Chief Counsel.

Or II

Two years of experience in the California state service performing legal duties* at a level of responsibility equivalent to Staff Counsel, Range D; and Current employment in a class at a level equivalent to that of Senior Staff Counsel (Specialist) or (Supervisor).

Or III

One year of experience in the California state service performing legal duties* at a level of responsibility equivalent to Senior Staff Counsel (Specialist) or (Supervisor).

Or IV

Broad and extensive experience (more than five years) in the practice of law*. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must include the same number of years of qualifying experience as required in Patterns I, II or III above performing the duties of a class at a level of responsibility equivalent to that described in Patterns I, II, or III.)

* Experience in the "practice of law" or "performing legal duties" is defined as: (1) only that legal experience acquired after admission to The State Bar, or (2) experience as a judicial clerk for a federal court, California's state courts, or any other state's courts, or (3) legal experience acquired while practicing under a provisional license to practice law issued by the State Bar of California's Provisional Licensure Program, to constitute experience in the practice of law. For an individual's judicial clerkship to qualify as experience in the practice of law or performing legal duties, the experience must have been gained after receipt of a Juris Doctor or equivalent degree.

Knowledge and Abilities

All Levels

Knowledge of: Legal principles and their applications; legal research methods, court procedures, rules of evidence and procedure; administrative law and the conduct of proceedings before administrative bodies; provisions of laws and Government Code sections administered or enforced; principles of public administration, personnel management and supervision; the department's affirmative action program objectives; a manager's role in the affirmative action program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

Ability to: Analyze legal principles and precedents and apply them to complex legal and administrative problems; present statements of fact, law and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form; draft opinions, pleadings, rulings, regulations and legislation; hold hearings and independently present difficult and complex cases in court; plan, organize and direct the work of a staff of attorneys; effectively contribute to the department's affirmative action objectives.

Preferred or Desirable Qualifications

All employees shall have general qualifications as described by California Code of Regulations, title 2, section 172.  

Class History