Job Posting: Attorney IV

Department of Financial Protection and Innovation

JC-468986
-
Attorney IV
ATTORNEY IV

$11,644.00 - $15,627.00 per Month

Final Filing Date: 4/2/2025

Job Description and Duties

The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation is recruiting for two permanent, full-time, Attorney IV positions within the Enforcement Division. Positions 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 the Assistant Chief Counsel, the Attorney IV performs independently and with broad discretion, litigation work of the most complex nature. The Attorney IV will represent the Department in all litigation forums including civil and administrative cases in state and federal courts and before the Office of Administrative Hearings. The Attorney IV will act as lead attorney on matters directing a team of attorneys, examiners and investigators and analyze new products and develop a litigation strategy to determine if products need a license and negotiate their compliance with the law through licensure. The Attorney IV will also advise the Executive team on various enforcement issues.

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-468986
Position #(s):
410-140-5780-XXX
410-140-5780-010
Working Title:
Attorney IV
Classification:
ATTORNEY IV
$11,644.00 - $15,627.00
# of Positions:
2
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 as Attorney IV (Range A) a hire above minimum (H.A.M.) rate of $12,925.00


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-468986/RPA# ENF 25-147” 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.

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: 4/2/2025

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 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.
  • Supplemental Application - 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:
  • Attorneys must have a wide breadth of legal experience or demonstrated ability to master new laws and regulations quickly and effectively.
  • Attorneys must show ability to perform independently and with broad discretion, legal work of the more complex and sensitive nature, including the conducting of the more difficult and complex litigation, appellate cases, settlements, and pre-trial post-trial negotiations, legal research, and hearings under the laws under the jurisdiction of the Department.
  • Attorneys must have knowledge of: legal principles and their application; legal research methods; court procedures; principles of administrative and constitutional law; rules of evidence and conduct of proceedings in trial and appellate courts of California and the United States and before administrative bodies; legal terms and forms in common use; statutory and case law literature and authorities; and provisions of laws and Government Code sections administered or enforced.
  • Attorney must show the ability to effectively represent the Department and make sound decisions with minimal guidance in cases that are more complex and sensitive. Attorneys must show the ability to identify and prioritize critical issues impacting the Department and use sound judgment to reach a legally appropriate solution.
  • The attorney must show proven ability to analyze legal principles and precedents and apply them to the more difficult and complex legal and administrative problems; negotiate effectively and conduct litigation that is more complex and sensitive in nature; work cooperatively with a variety of individuals and organizations and maintain the confidence and respect of others; and work effectively under pressure.
  • The attorney must demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally, in a courteous and professional manner to a variety of individuals. The attorney should demonstrate the ability to listen to others to facilitate an open exchange of ideas and work collaboratively with others in a team environment.

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.

 

Please respond to the following:

Question: Litigation Experience

Describe your knowledge and experience performing independently, complex and sensitive litigation of appellate, civil, administrative or criminal actions involving the laws administered by the Department.

Additional Instructions: Discuss in your answer the number of cases you have handled involving complex and sensitive litigation in the areas of consumer protection or financial services and transactions, including bankruptcy, collections, securities and franchise law. Include in your response: the approximate number of pleadings and appellate briefs filed; frequency of civil actions; experience with discovery in both civil and administrative proceedings; and description of involvement in matters involving highly contested or novel issues of law.

Question:  Legal Analysis and Decision Making

Discuss your experience leading or supporting detailed and extensive investigations involving multiple parties or victims, voluminous documents, and coordinating a litigation support team of auditors, examiners, paralegals, investigators and other government agencies.

Additional Instructions: In your answer discuss your experience analyzing facts to novel and complex areas of law and determining and recommending appropriate action that has led to positive results (e.g., criminal convictions, jury verdicts, restitution or penalty awards, injunctive relief, receiverships, temporary restraining orders, license suspension, revocation or bar, or other ancillary relief) in civil, administrative or criminal actions. Include in your response experience analyzing case files, complex legal principles and precedents and application to complex legal and administrative problems.

Question: Legal Practice and Procedure

Describe your experience performing complex and sensitive legal work in the areas of law regulated by the Department. Include in your response experience, accomplishments and favorable results in preparing and presenting legal arguments clearly and logically in written and oral form; discuss any experience negotiating and resolving disputes in litigation, and conducting hearings in civil, criminal and administrative forums.  Discuss any experience in review and recommendation of legislation, appearances before legislative bodies, bankruptcy proceedings, expert witness testimony, co-counsel on criminal prosecutions, trial and deposition experience, developing and advising on legal issues and policy governing the laws providing advice to executive office on legal issues and policy governing laws under the jurisdiction of the Department.

Examination Information

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

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