Job Posting: Senior Counsel

Department of Financial Protection and Innovation

JC-468326
-
Senior Counsel
ATTORNEY V

$12,290.00 - $16,391.00 per Month

Final Filing Date: 3/17/2025

Job Description and Duties

The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation is recruiting for one permanent, full-time, Attorney V position within the Enforcement Division. Position to be located in the Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego office. This recruitment may be used to fill subsequent vacancies of these positions within the next 180 days.

Reporting to an Assistant Chief Counsel, the Attorney V will be responsible for leading complex fraud investigations, and developing and communicating legal strategy on evolving and complex areas of the law where many of the state and federal laws have not been drafted. The Attorney V must use their extensive litigation experience to make proper judgment calls and anticipate the possible outcomes in litigation.

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

Working Conditions

Sacramento Location: The Sacramento office will be relocating from our current Arena Blvd. location to the brand new state-of-the-art May Lee State Office Complex in Sacramento's River District by Spring of 2025.

 

San Francisco Location: The San Francisco office is located in the heart of the financial district within walking distance to BART and restaurants.

 

Los Angeles Location: The Los Angeles office is located in the heart of the downtown financial district within walking distance to restaurants, transit, multiple parking options.

 

San Diego Location: The San Diego office is located in the heart of Mission Valley, within walking distance to many shops and restaurants.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-468326
Position #(s):
410-140-5781-205
Working Title:
Senior Counsel
Classification:
ATTORNEY V
$12,290.00 - $16,391.00
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
United States
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) protects consumers and oversees financial service providers and products. The DFPI supervises the operations of state-licensed financial institutions, including banks, credit unions and money transmitters. Additionally, the DFPI licenses and regulates a variety of financial service providers, including securities brokers and dealers, investment advisers, payday lenders and other consumer finance lenders. The DFPI offers benefit packages, competitive salary, a robust training program and opportunities for advancement.  

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

Special Requirements

  • The position(s) require(s) a(n) California State Bar License. You will be required to provide a copy of your license prior to being hired.

CalHR has authorized the DFPI to pay candidates hired at the Attorney V (Range A) a hire above minimum (H.A.M.) rate of $13,642.00



CONFLICT OF INTEREST

This position is subject to Title 10, § 250.30 of the California Code of Regulations, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation’s Conflict of Interest Regulations, the incumbent is required to submit a Statements of Economic Interests (Form 700) within 30 days of assuming office, annually by April 1st and within 30 days of leaving office.
 

Application (Std. 678) must be completed in detail to demonstrate the quality and breadth of work experience necessary to meet the minimum qualifications for this classification.
 

Please see the attached Class Specification. All applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for the classification they are applying for. Minimum qualifications (MQ's) will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If it is determined an applicant does not meet the MQ's of the classification, the applicant will not be considered and may be withheld from the eligible list.
 

Additional Filing Instructions:
 

  • You are encouraged to apply electronically through your CalCareers account.
  • If applying with a hard copy application, please reference “JC-468326/RPA# ENF 25-148” in the Job Title section of your State application in order to be considered for this vacancy.
  • Hard copy applications not received or postmarked by 5:00 pm on the final filing date will not be accepted.
  • Emailed and faxed applications will not be accepted.
  • Do not provide any personal identifying information on the documents (Social Security Number, Date of Birth, etc.) you submit with your application. Additionally, do not complete or submit the Equal Employment Opportunity, page 10 of the Std. 678 with your application page. The EEO page is for examination use only. Furthermore, do not provide any LEAP information with your application package.

Applicants will need to take and pass the online Attorney V exam/assessment to be eligible to apply for vacant Attorney V positions. Please visit: CalCareers

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: 3/17/2025

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 Financial Protection and Innovation
N/A
Attn: Denise Gutierrez
Human Resources Office
651 Bannon St
Sacramento, CA 95811

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

Department of Financial Protection and Innovation
N/A
Denise Gutierrez
Human Resources Office
651 Bannon St
Sacramento, CA 95811
08:00 AM - 05:00 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 - A Supplemental Application is required for this position. Application packages received without a Supplemental Application will not be considered. Please see the "Special Requirements" section for Supplemental Application Instructions. Resumes, cover letters, and Statements of Qualifications do not take the place of this requirement.
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:
1. Expertise in a special field of knowledge under the DFPI's jurisdiction.
2. Experience providing expert legal counsel to Executive Management on complex and controversial litigation issues.
3. The ability to work directly with executive management, General Counsel, legislature, general public, internal and external stakeholders on special projects.
4. Exceptional knowledge of the laws under the jurisdiction of the DFPI, the rules of Evidence, Administrative Procedures Act and the Code of Civil Procedure, and be able to approach problems and innovative litigation strategies and problems with a logical and systematic approach.
5. A high degree of independent judgement and making determinations.
6. The highest standard of trustworthiness and ethical behavior with consideration of the impact and consequences on the DFPI.
7. Efficiency and Effectiveness. Attorneys must have a history of consistently prioritizing and handling multiple complex assignments independently, while achieving favorable results, and completing tasks regarding the most complex, difficult and sensitive matters to meet required deadlines.
8. Ability to effectively communicate in writing and verbally and have a history of communicating and advocating in all forums both verbally and in writing at the highest proficiency level.
9. Must demonstrate the ability to develop and maintain positive interactive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
10. Attorneys must demonstrate willingness to effectively mentor less experienced staff on specialized skills or areas of law, and proactively identify new areas for training and development of both internal and external stakeholders and volunteer for opportunities to conduct trainings.

Benefits

State employees may be eligible for health, dental, vision and leave benefits, as well as retirement programs and other benefits. Benefit eligibility may depend on length of service and may be subject to collective bargaining agreements, which are contracts negotiated between the State of California and employee organizations that define employees’ wages, hours and conditions of employment. Other possible benefits include:
 

  • Alternate Work Schedules
  • Telework
  • Reimbursement Accounts

 
Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Supplemental Application Instructions

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must submit a Supplemental Application. The Supplemental Application must be no more than two pages in length, must include your first and last name, and must be titled Supplemental Application. Application packages received without a Supplemental Application may not be considered. Resumes and/or cover letters, do not take the place of the Supplemental Application.

1. Legal Analysis and Decision Making
This position is expected to be an expert in one or several specialized areas of law under the jurisdiction of the department. Please describe your field and level of expertise and how you developed it. Discuss your experience in analyzing facts and laws and determining appropriate courses of action.
2. Legal Practice and Procedure
Describe your experience acting as either the sole or lead subject matter expert in which you had to exercise sound judgement on a tactical, strategic, or policy decision that potentially had significant impact on other agencies, programs, or stakeholders. Include your role, a description of the matter, who or what it affected or potentially affected, and the outcome.
3. Legal Practice and Experience
What experiences do you feel qualify you as an Attorney V with the Enforcement Division of the department? Describe your knowledge and experience handling complex and sensitive litigation of appellate, civil, administrative or criminal actions involving the laws administered by the Department.

Examination & Candidate Resources

Examination: Candidates applying with List Eligibility must successfully pass the examination for this classification.

Please read the Minimum Qualifications section of the Classification Specifications AND the Exam Bulletin carefully to ensure you are currently eligible to take this examination before taking it. Candidates taking the exam prior to being eligible may be disqualified.

Link to Exam Bulletin and Exam: CalCareers

Candidate Resources/Tools:

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