Attorney II - Construction​/Real Estate; JO

JOB OPENING: 6600

Overview

The Legal Services office of the Judicial Council of California provides quality, timely, and ethical legal advice and services to the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, trial courts, Judicial Council, and its advisory bodies and staff. Legal Services is currently searching for an attorney to join its dynamic law office made up of a highly skilled workforce that provides effective legal support to judicial branch clients on challenging, varied, and significant legal issues.

The Attorney will work in the Real Estate Unit (REU) that provides in-house legal support for all aspects of the California judicial branch’s real property portfolio consisting of more than 425 existing courthouse facilities as well as the new courthouse capital construction program. The work includes providing direct legal support for the operation, renovation, maintenance, acquisition, construction, financing, and disposition of court facilities for the trial courts, appellate courts, and the California Supreme Court.

In addition, the Attorney will conduct research and draft legal memoranda and opinions related to facilities issues, provide facilities-related advice to support the work of other Legal Services units and other Judicial Council offices, and provide legal support for the Judicial Council’s facilities-related advisory committees and working groups. The attorney will independently manage a workload in a collegial and collaborative environment.

Attorneys within the Legal Services office often support the work of units other than their primary assignment. Depending upon experience, the REU Attorney may be called upon to work with other Legal Services units and may also be called upon to write legal opinions, staff advisory bodies, and draft rules of court and legislation.

The Judicial Council of California is the policy setting body for the state court system and has constitutionally conferred statewide rule-making authority. This authority includes developing, advocating for, and allocating the judicial branch budget. A majority of Council members are California state justices and judges; however, the Council also includes lawyers, legislators, and court administrators.

By enhancing its role as a leadership, knowledge, and service resource for the judicial branch, the Judicial Council’s staff organization seeks to continue to evolve as one of California’s most dynamic public service entities, focused on improving access to justice for all Californians by innovating and responding to the changing needs of the courts and the public. As a government body charged with improving the statewide administration of justice, the Judicial Council has multiple offices with diverse responsibilities relating to court policy and operations.

As employees of the council, every member of staff should view and approach their work as one Judicial Council with a public service mission that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements for many positions. The successful candidate will be expected to work in person at the Judicial Council’s San Francisco or Sacramento office at least two days per week, based on their office leader’s direction, and reside in the areas surrounding these locations. To be eligible for Judicial Council employment and participation in the Judicial Council’s Hybrid Work Program, a prospective or current employee’s primary residence/remote work location must be in the State of California and within a 150-mile driving radius of their assigned reporting location.

• Provide legal advice and support in connection with the management of a real estate portfolio of approximately 20 million square feet (450+ buildings) including issues connected with on-going building maintenance, facility modifications, and changing court space needs.
• Provide legal advice and support for courthouse capital construction projects including construction-related contract procurement, contract administration, contract close-out, warranty enforcement, claims, and litigation.
• Provide legal guidance regarding facilities maintenance procurement…