Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Under the general direction of the Chief Counsel, the Deputy Chief Counsel, the Assistant Chief Counsel or Attorney Supervisor(s), the Attorney III provides senior-level legal support and counsel to the Director, Executive Staff, and the various program and operational divisions of the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) on complex and sensitive legal issues related to the administration of DSH facilities and operations.

Performs legal research and provides sound legal advice to DSH clients on broad and specialized areas of law affecting difficult or sensitive programs relating to Government & Hospital Operations. Responds to questions about mental health funding and fiscal controls. Advises on policy and best practices in subject areas such as employment, contracts, law enforcement, regulations, facilities projects, and conflicts of interest.

Drafts and reviews contracts and provides assistance with contract negotiations, represents the Department in employment litigation before the State Personnel Board, California Department of Human Resources, Department of Industrial Relations and other administrative bodies. Consults on issues involving, but not limited to employee discipline and privacy, property rights, patient cost of care, regulations, legislation, landlord tenant issues, intellectual property, potential conflicts of interest, CalOSHA audits, risk management, data sharing, and departmental contracts, including registry and services contracts. Reviews and represent DSH in proceedings before and investigations conducted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and California Civil Rights Department on complaints filed with those entities.

Drafts memoranda, provides legal advice and recommendations to DSH clients, responds to questions from DSH clients and stakeholders, prepares and presents training and education to DSH Legal staff and DSH program or hospital staff.

Provides written and oral responses to inquiries from the Governor's Office, the Health and Human Services Agency, and State control departments. Interacts with DSH staff, county or state stakeholders, as well as opposing counsel, representatives who have a high level of expertise or specialization, judges.

***Click on the link to complete the Department of State Hospitals Recruitment Survey:

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

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.

***While US mail applications are still accepted, applying electronically through your CalCareers account is strongly encouraged.***

NOTE: If applying by mail, please do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (page 10) with your completed State Application (STD 678).  This page is for examination use only.

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.

Applicants must submit the required documents in order to be considered for this position. Failure to complete the STD 678 in its entirety may result in disqualification, resumes and/or Statements of Qualifications do not take the place of the STD 678. You must clearly indicate the basis of your eligibility (i.e., list, transfer, SROA/Surplus, reinstatement, etc.), classification title, position number, and job control number in the Examination/Job Title section. 

*** Foreign Degrees or Transcripts – Applicants with foreign degrees or transcripts who wish to apply that coursework toward meeting the minimum qualifications of the classification must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which his/her foreign coursework is equivalent. DSH accepts foreign transcript evaluations that are completed by one of the services listed on these webpages:

• or

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: 10/9/2026

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 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 State Hospitals

Carmen Shean

Attn: Carmen Shean

1215 O Street, MS-17

Sacramento , CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

Department of State Hospitals

Carmen Shean

Carmen Shean

1215 O Street, MS-17

Sacramento , CA 95814

Application drop-off locations may be non-operational during weekends and holidays.

08:30 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 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 -

  Please see the Statement of Qualifications section at the bottom of this job advertisement for more details.

  Applicants must submit the required documents in order to be considered for this position. Applicants who fail to submit the SOQ, as requested (i.e. respond to questions asked), may be disqualified.

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.

Benefits

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

Benefits include: Sick Leave, Vacation Leave, 11 Paid State Holidays, one (1), eight (8) hours, Paid Personal Holiday and five (5), forty (40) hours, Paid Professional Development Days (PDD), per fiscal year, excellent Health, Vision and Dental insurance plans; Medical and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts; an Employee Assistance Program; Alternate Workweek Schedules and Flextime; and, enrollment in the CalPERS retirement system.

Contact Information

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

Department Website:

Human Resources Contact:
Carmen Shean
(916) 957-1202
SacClassificationandPay@dsh.ca.gov

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:
Office of Human Rights
(916) 573-2727
dsh.eeo@dsh.ca.gov

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.

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

Interested candidates must submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) in addition to the standard state application (form STD 678). Resumes, cover letters, or any other documents cannot substitute the SOQ. When completing the SOQ, kindly answer the below questions, including in your response a narrative of all relevant education, training, experience, and skills, including the number of years of experience and the employer where you gained the experience, and explain all answers thoroughly. The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing.

The response should be single spaced, no more than two pages in length, using Arial 12-point font size. Please address the following:

1. The Department of State Hospitals (DSH) Legal Division engages with a number of clients and stakeholders as it relates to individuals committed to DSH. Describe your experience engaging with clients and internal or external stakeholders. Include any experience leading projects, meetings, or rulemaking.
2. As an Attorney III you will be expected to handle difficult and time-sensitive matters facing DSH, which may include patient cost of care, regulations, legislation, state contracting, employee discipline, reasonable accommodation, and privacy, Equal Employment Opportunity investigations and complaints, and interaction with Administrative Law Judges, public employee unions, and county, state, and federal agencies. Describe your experience and approach managing multiple assignments, a heavy workload, and meeting a variety of deadlines, in light of the subject matters listed above.
3. As an Attorney III you will be expected to handle hearings and other appearances, representing DSH. Please describe your experience appearing before administrative bodies, the courts, or in settlement negotiations.

Applicants that do not submit a SOQ with their application packet will automatically be disqualified from consideration for this position. Cover letters, resumes, and applications will not take the place of this document.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work, Work at office, Weekend work

Similar Jobs