Description
JOB TITLE: Attorney II
LOCATION: San Francisco or Sacramento
JOB OPENING #: 6515
OVERVIEW
The Judicial Council of California is accepting applications for the position of Attorney II for the Center for Families, Children & the Courts.
The Attorney II provides legal support to the judicial branch, including the Tribal Court-State Court Forum and other advisory committees of the Judicial Council, individual judges, and other justice partners on matters related to the Indian Child Welfare ACT (ICWA), tribal issues related to the Violence Against Women Education Project (VAWEP), and other aspects of state and federal Indian law. This position drafts, develops, and revises rules and forms related to ICWA and federal Indian law issues as necessary; drafts legislative proposals on these issues; and provides technical assistance to judicial officers and justice partners concerning ICWA and federal Indian law issues.
This position also develops curriculum, bench guides, and job aids (such as findings and orders charts, fact sheets, checklists, etc.) for judicial officers and justice partners concerning ICWA, VAWEP, and other aspects of state and federal Indian law. This position participates regularly in meetings convened by the California Department of Social Services, Office of Tribal Affairs, and assists judicial officers in several joint jurisdiction ICWA working groups and roundtables.
In addition to legal research and analysis in ICWA and federal Indian law issues, this position provides general legal and strategic advice to others within the council and the judicial branch on tribal consultation, tribal and tribal court jurisdictional issues, and other matters related to federal Indian law. The Attorney II conducts legal research, develops curricula, and serves as faculty at local, state and national conferences and serves as a subject matter expert on ICWA and federal Indian law issues to state court and tribal court judicial officers. This position requires extensive contact with judges, courts, court staff, attorneys and local, tribal and state agencies, and works independently with little supervision.
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 continues 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, including 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. In San Francisco, the office is only a 7-minute walk from the downtown Civic Center BART station. In Sacramento, the office is minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park.
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
Serve as lead staff counsel to the Tribal Court-State Court Forum, an advisory committee of the Judicial Council, composed of tribal court and state court judges and justice partners.
With input from cochairs, recommend scope of work and activities for the Forum’s annual agenda.
Analyze and draft proposals for rules of court (new and amended), court forms (new and revised), legislation, and legislative reports to advance judicial branch objectives and comply with legal mandates.
Maintain current knowledge and understanding of legal issues related to the Indian Child Welfare Act, federal and state Indian law, and cross-jurisdictional issues based on published decisions, legislative changes, and inquiries and comments from judges, justice partners, tribal ICWA advocates, and others.
Provide training and education for judicial officers, attorneys, justice partners, and Judicial Council staff on ICWA and other related topics of federal and state Indian law.
Analyze and prepare legal memoranda and issues papers, legal opinions, and policy memoranda; provide legal technical assistance to judicial officers, court personnel, and justice partners.
Monitor legal literature, news, and legal opinions to remain current on legal issues concerning ICWA and state and federal Indian law.
Write and update legal bench books, judicial practice guides, fact sheets, and job aids.
Conduct ongoing legal research and analysis of published cases and legislative changes relevant to ICWA, VAWEP, and relevant federal and state Indian law issues.
Draft, negotiate, review, and monitor contracts and grants.
Review local court files and provide legal advice and legal technical assistance to those courts on compliance with Title IV-E of the Social Security Act.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Juris doctor, and three (3) years of relevant post-bar legal experience as a practicing attorney.
After passing a state bar, work experience as a Law Clerk to a federal or state judge prior to formal bar
admission will be considered qualifying experience.
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS
− Current active membership with the State Bar of California prior to hire.
Desirable Qualifications:
Experience representing clients in juvenile dependency proceedings.
Experience practicing federal Indian law.
Experience working with tribes, tribal courts, and tribal communities.
OTHER
Please note, if you are selected for hire, verification of employment eligibility or authorization to work in the United States will be required.
HOW TO APPLY
This position is Open Until Filled and requires the submission of our official application, a resume and a response to the supplemental questions. To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by 5:00 P.M. on September 24, 2025.
To complete an online application, go to job opening # 6515 at https://www.courts.ca.gov/careers.htm
The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260.
PAYMENT & BENEFITS
$13,383 - $16,058 per month
Please note due to statewide fiscal conditions, the posted salary range is subject to a temporary 3% reduction. In exchange for this reduction, judicial branch employees accrue an additional 5 hours of paid personal leave per month through June 30, 2027.
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
CalPERS Retirement Plan
401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
Employee Assistance Program
Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
FlexElect Program
Pretax Parking
Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)
Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)
The Judicial Council of California Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Supplemental Questions
To better assess the qualifications of each applicant, we will review your responses to the following questions. Please indicate for which employer you performed these functions. Your answers should not exceed a total of three pages.
1. Please state your date of admission to the State Bar of California.
2. Please tell us why you are interested in this position.
3. Please describe any professional experience related to the Indian Child Welfare ACT (ICWA), tribal issues related to the Violence Against Women Education Project (VAWEP), or other aspects of state and federal Indian law.
Requirements
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Juris doctor, and three (3) years of relevant post-bar legal experience as a practicing attorney.
After passing a state bar, work experience as a Law Clerk to a federal or state judge prior to formal bar
admission will be considered qualifying experience.
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS
− Current active membership with the State Bar of California prior to hire.
Desirable Qualifications:
Experience representing clients in juvenile dependency proceedings.
Experience practicing federal Indian law.
Experience working with tribes, tribal courts, and tribal communities.
