Job Posting: Attorney

Department of Water Resources

JC-467392
-
Attorney
ATTORNEY

$7,737.00 - $11,676.00 per Month

Final Filing Date: 6/2/2025

Job Description and Duties

This is a readvertisement. If you previously submitted an application package to JC-467392, it remains under consideration and you do not need to reapply.

 

Under the direction of the Assistant General Counsel and/or the guidance of a senior lead attorney, and consistent with good customer service practices, the incumbent performs duties of average difficulty related to the legal support of environmental compliance, including state and federal ESA permits, ongoing SWP operations, habitat restoration projects, South Delta projects, drought programs and CEQA. The incumbent, in coordination with the Assistant General Counsel and/or a senior lead attorney, advises the Director of the Department of Water Resources (DWR), other DWR executive management, and DWR program management and staff about complex and sensitive cases and/or matters involving opposing counsel with a high level of specialization.  In coordination with the Assistant General Counsel and/or a senior legal attorney, the incumbent will have contact with members of the legislature, high level governor appointees, constitutional officers, and the general public.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-467392
Position #(s):
840-131-5778-x9x
Working Title:
Attorney
Classification:
ATTORNEY
$7,737.00 - $10,168.00 A
$8,708.00 - $11,676.00 B
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

Executive, Office of the General Counsel, Sacramento


Department of Water Resources (DWR) was established in 1956 by the California State Legislature.  We manage California’s water resources, systems, and infrastructure, including the State Water Project, in a responsible sustainable way.

At DWR, we are embedding climate change response into every project we undertake. We have set standards to help evaluate how each project incorporates climate resilience principles and ensure consistency across the Department.  Our mission is to sustainably manage the water resources of California, in cooperation with other agencies, to benefit the state’s people and protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments.

DWR also strives to create a trusting and welcoming workplace where employees embrace diverse viewpoints and treat each other with civility and respect.  An important component of DWR’s equal employment opportunity program centers around justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Department Website: https://water.ca.gov

Free virtual career consultation services including one-on-one DWR career consultations, application/resume review, tips for applying, and mock interviews, provided by DWR’s Recruitment and Workforce Planning section can now be scheduled via https://water.ca.gov/About/Careers.

Special Requirements

  • The position(s) require(s) a valid California Drivers License (CDL). You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application. Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions.
  • The position(s) require(s) a(n) Active Membership in the California State Bar License. You will be required to provide a copy of your license prior to being hired.

This position is covered in the Political Reform Act and requires financial disclosure within 30 days of the first and last day physically worked in a covered position and annually by April 1.

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: 6/2/2025

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates 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

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Water Resources
Mailing Address
Attn: Division of Human Resources
P.O. Box 1079
Sacramento, CA 95812

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Water Resources
Submit in Person
Certification Desk
715 P Street, 7th floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 04:30 PM

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 required and must be included.
  • Other - Cover Letter. 
  • Other - Legal writing sample. See Special Instructions below. 
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

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:

  • Able to work cooperatively with a variety of individuals and organizations.
  • Must be able to professionally communicate with DWR executive management, colleagues, and internal and external stakeholders.
  • Knowledge of and experience with legal research principles
  • Knowledge of and experience with civil litigation, rules of evidence, civil procedure, and administrative law
  • Knowledge of State and Federal endangered species laws
  • Knowledge of and experience with administrative records
  • Knowledge of project permitting, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
  • Knowledge of and experience with providing written advice to a client
  • Experience with the Public Records Act (PRA)

Benefits

Click here to read about the outstanding benefits offered to eligible employees.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Hiring Unit Contact:
Cody Howard
(916) 719-9519
cody.howard@water.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:
Office of Civil Rights
(916) 653-6952
weo@water.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.

Special Instructions

To be considered, submit a completed State application (STD. 678), resume, cover letter, and writing sample. Applications without ALL the required documents MAY NOT be considered. Please reference SAP Position #50093339 and Job Control #467392 in the “examination(s) or job title(s) for which you are applying” section of your application.

 

Legal Writing Sample Criteria: Be organized, and free of grammatical errors and typos; contain persuasive supporting arguments and a clear conclusion or purpose; limited to 5 pages. Must be in Calibri 11-point font, and double-spaced. Legal writing samples authored in any part by Artificial Intelligence (AI) must be disclosed and are not permitted.

 

Employment History on the STD 678 must be complete and include dates, accurate hours per week, total hours worked, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. Resumes, cover letters, and/or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.


The following basis of eligibility will be considered:  List eligibility, transfer, LEAP, reinstatement, and SROA/Surplus

 

Click here to complete DWR’s Recruitment Survey. This survey is for research purpose only and will not affect the application status.

Examination/Assessment

For more information about the State hiring process, click here.  To learn more about how to get a State job, click here.

List eligibility can be established by taking and passing the examination/assessment.

Click the examination(s)/assessment(s) information link:

ATTORNEY

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.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job