Attorney III; Senior Counsel - Southern California

About the DFPI

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.

Job Code #: JC-504257

Position #(s): -213

Working Title: Senior Counsel

Classification: ATTORNEY III

Salary: $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, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego

Telework: In Office

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

Candidates hired into the Attorney III (Range

A) classification at the minimum of the pay range will receive a pay differential added to their base salary. This pay differential brings the monthly gross salary to $11,695, before the 2025 PLP 4.62 percent pay reduction discussed further below.

The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) is recruiting for one permanent, full-time Attorney III position in the Legal Division, Securities Regulation Unit 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.

The DFPI is a California state agency that protects California consumers, small businesses, and investors, and administers multiple state licensing laws relating to financial services. Industries that the DFPI regulates include digital asset businesses; state-chartered banks, credit unions, and money transmitters; mortgage and student loan servicers; state-licensed lenders; investment advisors; and debt collectors. The DFPI often considers legal and policy issues presented by emerging financial technologies, and develops strategies that protect consumers and investors while encouraging financial innovation that benefits all Californians.

Under the Legal Division, the Securities Regulation Unit is responsible for reviewing the offer and sale of securities in California and promoting investor protection while fostering innovation in California's financial marketplace.

The successful candidate will report to the Assistant Chief Counsel of the Securities Regulation Unit in the Legal Division. The primary responsibilities include reviewing and approving complex and sensitive securities applications, conducting public fairness hearings on securities transactions and issuing decisions in fairness hearings; and resolving compliance violations under the securities laws. Additional primary responsibilities include assisting in the promulgation of regulations, assisting with the study of investment risks, researching and drafting opinions, and developing and updating of standards for the review of securities offerings and investor protection.

The successful candidate will contribute to policy development for existing and emerging investment products and services, monitor emerging markets for digital assets and other novel investment products and services, recommend principled oversight of market entrants, and advise and assist stakeholders on securities-related matters. Primary responsibilities also include coordinating with stakeholders; monitoring changes to corporate laws, securities laws, and capital markets in the state;

and updating management on trends and risks related to investing and capital raising in this state.

Effective July 1, 2025, the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 directs that each full-time employee shall receive a reduction in pay in exchange for PLP 2025 leave credits, monthly. The salary range(s) included in the job advertisement do not reflect the reduction in pay. All Bargaining Unit 2 classifications will receive a 4.62 percent reduction in pay in exchange for 8 hours of PLP 2025 per month.

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

Final Filing Date: 1/29/2026

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

All Attorney Levels

All classifications require active membership in The California State Bar. (Applicants who are not members of The California State Bar but who are eligible to take the California State Bar examination or are in their final year of law school will be admitted to the examination but will not be considered eligible for appointment until they are admitted to The State…