Job Posting: Staff Counsel

CA Earthquake Authority

JC-486270
-
Staff Counsel
ATTORNEY III

$10,852.00 - $15,325.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 8/8/2025

Job Description and Duties

Candidates who reside outside of the State of California may be admitted to the job interview.  However, upon job offer candidates must provide proof of residence in California prior to their appointment becoming effective, or the offer may be rescinded.

Under the direction of the General Counsel of the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and with minimal supervision, the Attorney III provides a broad range of legal services to CEA staff, including the executive staff, and the CEA Governing Board.


The duties will include the independent performance of complex professional legal work, including a substantial volume of contract negotiation, drafting, and interpretation; review and preparation of enterprise-compliance documentation; preparation of legal-research and other memoranda; conferences with CEA staff, including legal, program, compliance, and executive staff; and special projects. Excellent legal-writing skills are required and are of paramount importance. Counsel will have frequent interaction with outside counsel, vendors, and contractors and consultants of the CEA, and may represent the CEA at meetings, conferences, and other activities.

CalHR has authorized the CA Earthquake Authority to pay eligible candidates hired in at the Attorney III (Range A) a hire above minimum (H.A.M.) rate of $11,695.00.

Must have active membership in the State Bar of California.


This position is designated under the Conflict of Interest Code. The position is responsible for making or participating in the making of governmental decisions that may potentially have a material effect on personal financial interests. The appointee is required to complete Form 700 within 30 days of appointment. Failure to comply with the Conflict of Interest Code requirements may void the appointment.

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

Working Conditions

In accordance with Government Code 14200, telework may be available for this position for California residents based on the requirements of the position and may be discussed during the interview process. Hiring interviews may be available virtually, using teleconferencing or video conferencing options.

While working on site, the incumbent works in a professional office environment, in a climate-controlled cubicle which may fluctuate in temperature and is under artificial light. Incumbent will be required to use a computer, mouse, and video display terminal and will be required to sit for long periods of time at a computer screen. Employee must be able to focus for long periods of time, multi-task, adapt to changes in priorities and complete tasks or projects with short notice. Employees may be required to travel outside of their workstation to perform general tasks.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-486270
Position #(s):
341-400-5795-XXX
Working Title:
Staff Counsel
Classification:
ATTORNEY III
$10,852.00 - $15,325.00 A
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

*FREE PARKING (Parking garage attached to building)*

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) is a not-for-profit public instrumentality of the State of California.  CEA has two main operations.  First, CEA is authorized by law to issue residential earthquake insurance.  We educate Californians about earthquake risk, provide mitigation opportunities and resources for existing residences, and make available fairly-priced insurance policies that provide for repairs, rebuilding, and recovery after earthquake-caused loss.  Second, CEA is the Administrator of the California Wildfire Fund (CWF), a catastrophe fund created by the Legislature in 2019 to provide a source of funding for survivors of wildfires caused by large electrical utility companies.  While privately financed, CEA’s earthquake insurance business is publicly managed by a Governing Board consisting of the Governor, Treasurer, and Insurance Commissioner, and two ex officio members appointed by leaders in the Legislature, and its CWF Administrator duties are overseen by the California Catastrophe Response Council (CCRC), a nine-member oversight body created in 2019 when the CWF was created.  CEA operates outside the state budget and thus is not subject to many governmental reporting and regulatory requirements, but may employ civil servants.

California Earthquake Authority
400 Capitol Mall, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95814

Special Requirements

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is REQUIRED and MUST be submitted with your application to be considered for this position.

The SOQ is a narrative discussion of how the candidate's education, training, experience, and skills qualify them for the position. The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. The SOQ must be no more than two (2) pages in length, no less than 12-point font, organized, and numbered as reflected below. You must respond to all the following items, and please clearly indicate the title 'Statement of Qualifications' and your first and last name on the top of the SOQ.

1)  Please describe all experiences you believe makes you a competent candidate for this position.

Resumes, letters, and other materials will NOT be considered in place of the SOQ. Applicants who fail to follow these requirements or who do not provide responses to the specific questions in the SOQ may be disqualified from the selection process. Applications received without the SOQ will not be considered. For assistance in completing the SOQ, please reach out to the Human Resources contact below.

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: 8/8/2025

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. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).

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:

CA Earthquake Authority
Human Resources
Attn: Rachel Gonzales
400 Capitol Mall
Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

CA Earthquake Authority
Human Resources
Rachel Gonzales
400 Capitol Mall
Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95814
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.
  • Statement of Qualifications - A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required to apply. Please see above "Special Requirements" section for SOQ instructions. 
  • Other - Writing Sample - Please submit a recent writing sample that is no longer than 10 pages in length. If the original writing sample is longer than 10 pages, provide the first 10 pages only.
  • Other - Applicants MUST submit proof of active membership in the California State Bar.
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:
-Applicants should exhibit a commitment to public service and safe work places.
-Possess excellent research, writing, and oral presentation skills. Knowledge of proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
-Ability to research, analyze, and apply legal principles, facts, and case precedents to legal problems.
-Ability to study, interpret and apply laws, regulations and court decisions fro the purpose of giving advice.
-Ability to prepare clear and effective legal memos and contracts.
-Possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability and desire to contribute to a collegial office environment.
-Be proficient using Microsoft Office programs, including Outlook.
-Ability to think creatively, independently, and with discernment.
-Have effective time management and organizational skills.
-Ability to analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
-Ability to work cooperatively with a variety of individuals, organizations, employers, corporations, and maintain confidence and respect of others.
-Ability to be flexible and handle unexpected developments, respond effectively under strict time constraints.
-Ability to prioritize and complete assignments in a timely manner.
-Experience or background in employment and labor law issues is preferable but is not a requirement.

Benefits

In addition to being part of an exciting and vital mission of helping 39.5 million California homeowners and renters reduce their risk of earthquake damage and loss, CEA offers competitive pay, benefits, and features for its workforce.

The State of California offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, vision, dental, a retirement pension, a telework stipend if applicable, and an array of other options.

For general information related to benefits with the State of California, please click here: California State Civil Service Employee Benefits Summary

Contact Information

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

Department Website: https://www.earthquakeauthority.com/
Human Resources Contact:
Human Resources
(916) 291-8519
humanresources@calquake.com
Hiring Unit Contact:
Suman Tatapudy
(916) 330-0577
statapudy@calquake.com

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:
EEO Officer
(916) 661-5400
eeo@calquake.com
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.

Application Information

The STD. 678 is required and each section must be filled out completely and thoroughly. Please do not include your Social Security Number, date of birth, veteran status, personal photos, LEAP information, or any other personally identifying information on any documents in your application package.

Using the online application system as specified in the announcement is the preferred method of applying for civil service job opportunities; however, applicants may instead apply by way of U.S. mail, parcel delivery or courier service, or in person, as set forth in this announcement.

If applying via postal mail or by dropping off your application, applicants must include JC-486270 and Staff Counsel, 341-400-5795-xxx in the 'Job Title' section of the STD. 678 to be considered for this position. Please indicate on the STD 678 your basis of eligibility in the "Explanations" field (i.e. SROA, surplus, reemployment, reinstatement, transfer, or list eligible.)

Surplus/SROA candidates must provide a copy of their surplus/SROA letter with their application. Consideration may be given to applicants on another Department's employment list, provided the criteria are met to transfer the eligibility from the employment list to the Authority's employment list.

NOTE: To be considered for this job opportunity, applicants must be reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility, or have reinstatement eligibility. If you are new to California State service and you do not have list eligibility, you must take the exam for this classification. To gain employment list eligibility, please visit CalCareers to access the exam bulletin.

Location

The California Earthquake Authority headquarters is located in the Wells Fargo Building, in downtown Sacramento between 4th and 5th Street on Capitol Mall. We are located three blocks away from the 7th and Capitol light rail stop. The building is also within walking distance of DOCO, the California State Capitol Park, a farmer’s market during summer months, and Old Sacramento.

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