Deputy General Counsel

Job Description

Office of General Counsel

Annual Salary Range: $187,294 - $280,730

FLSA Exempt / Non-Union Represented

This position allows for up to four days of remote work per week.

About the Office

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) is in-house counsel to the State Bar, providing a full range of services, including representation of the Bar in all state and federal courts and before administrative agencies; advocacy of Bar discipline and admission cases in the California Supreme Court; and, providing legal advice to the State Bar Board of Trustees, and all State Bar entities, executives, and programmatic clients.

OGC provides legal advice and representation in the following areas: admissions and discipline, antitrust, Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, bankruptcy, California Public Records Act, collections, contracts, copyright, governance, labor and employment, legislation, regulations and rules, real estate, regulatory work, and general corporate matters.

About this Position

The Deputy General Counsel (DGC) is a leadership role within the State Bar's Office of General Counsel, serving under the General Counsel's oversight and with acting authority in their absence. This position demands a visionary strategist with relevant experience in public or governmental agencies to lead a team of seasoned attorneys and professional legal staff within Office of General Counsel. The ideal candidate will embody the State Bar's core values, particularly Growth Mindset, Clarity, Respect, and Excellence, while aligning with the organization's mission, Strategic Plan, and goals of the office. The DGC must demonstrate inspirational leadership, fostering a collaborative, inclusive environment that drives results and develops team potential. As a member of the Executive Management Team, the DGC will oversee legal operations, provide crucial counsel to State Bar representatives, and manage budgets and personnel. The role requires a solution oriented and results-driven approach, focusing on efficient achievement of measurable outcomes while adapting to industry developments and implementing best practices. The successful candidate will balance strategic thinking with hands-on management, ensuring high-quality deliverables, meeting deadlines, and continually improving operational efficiency in support of the State Bar's mission and strategic goals, while fostering a collaborative work environment.

Definition

The Deputy General Counsel (DGC) serves under the general oversight of the General Counsel (GC) and acts in the GC's absence with the authority of the GC in fulfilling the responsibilities of the Office of General Counsel (OGC) for the State Bar. The DGC serves in this position consistent with the attorney-client relationship. Under the general oversight of the GC, the DGC is responsible for overseeing, planning, organizing, and directing the legal staff and legal work of the State Bar and providing legal advice, counsel, and representation to the client representatives of the State Bar as necessary to fulfill their duties and responsibilities to the State Bar. The DGC oversees the internal operations of OGC, including the representation of the institutional interests of the State Bar consistent with the Rule of Professional Conduct 3-600. The DGC is a member of the State Bar's Senior Management Team and is responsible for overseeing the budget and personnel of OGC, subject to the Executive Director's overall responsibility to administer the budget, personnel, facilities, and related support activities in accordance with the policy parameters established by the Board of Trustees. The DGC may also oversee other programs as assigned, separate from the administration of OGC.

Examples of Essential Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The DGC serves under the general oversight of the GC and acts in the GC's absence with the authority of the GC. The DGC may similarly also oversee other programs as assigned separately from OGC.
• The DGC serves as a member of the State Bar's Senior Management Team and establishes and maintains effective working relationships with colleagues within the State Bar and professional relationships with external constituencies.
• The DGC oversees all matters pertaining to the legal representation of the State Bar as an entity in matters involving state and federal law, subject to the general oversight of the GC. The DGC also oversees the representation of the State Bar before the California Supreme Court in State Bar disciplinary matters appealed to the Supreme Court, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC oversees the supervision, review, hire, and termination of assigned staff consistent with overall State Bar policy, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC oversees the development and implementation of policies, procedures, strategic plans, systems, and related initiatives consistent with the attorney-client relationship and operational standards of the State Bar, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC oversees the formulation and implementation of short-term and long-term goals and plans to improve the efficiency and efficacy of the legal representation the State Bar receives, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC may act for the GC to serve as the State Bar's chief spokesperson on matters pertaining to legal representation in coordination with the Executive Director/CEO and Executive Management Team on matters pertaining to the State Bar's institutional, legal representation and the administration of OGC, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC oversees and initiates, as appropriate, inter-office projects, programs, and activities, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC provides legal advice and representation to the Board of Trustees on issues related to the State Bar, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC timely responds to inquiries from the public, Board Members, the Judiciary, the Legislature, the Governor's Office, and other constituencies regarding the legal positions of the State Bar, consistent with the limitations of the attorney-client relationship and in coordination with the Executive Director/CEO, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC oversees the preparation and administration of the budget and oversees the management of the resources and personnel of OGC within institutional parameters, subject to the general oversight of the GC, Executive Director.
• The DGC promotes the integrity, objectivity, and efficacy of the Office of General Counsel in serving the legal needs of the State Bar.
• The DGC oversees the counsel retained by the State Bar to provide legal representation, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC maintains appropriate confidentiality in connection with the legal work of OGC and oversees contractors, consultants, experts, and others in addressing the legal needs of the State Bar, subject to the general oversight of the GC.
• The DGC assumes other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Employment Standards

Knowledge of:

• Advanced principles of legal practice in an administrative, institutional, judicial, or related environment.
• Advanced principles of strategic planning, operations, policy development, and implementation.
• Advanced principles of office management, budgeting, administration, and supervision.
• Advanced principles of problem identification, analysis, and resolution.
• Principles of computerized data and word processing systems, including Internet and website usage.
• Principles of centralized information and data-based record-keeping systems.
• Advanced principles of senior institutional management.
• Advanced principles of effective writing and verbal presentations, including public speaking.
• Advanced principles of media communication.
• Advanced principles of public relations/customer service.
• Advanced principles of board and committee administration.
• Advanced principles of organizational behavior and conflict resolution.
• Advanced principles of legal, legislative, and public policy research and analysis.
• Advanced principles of effective institutional communication in dealing with differing constituencies.
• Advanced principles of effective personnel management in a union environment.
• Advanced principles of the administration of justice in California.
• Principles of the legislative process and governmental relations.
• Advanced principles relating to public entity representation under state and federal law.
• Advanced principles governing the professional conduct of attorneys in California.
• Accomplished keyboard skills.

Ability to:

• Receive and relay detailed information through verbal and written communication.
• Communicate clearly and effectively in person, by telephone, computer, and in writing.
• Possess visual capability and digital dexterity to operate a computer and other standard office equipment.
• Review and analyze complex written documents.
• Obtain and present material in oral and/or written form.
• Speak publicly to large groups of people.
• Perform under stress and adopt practical courses of action.
• Effectively interact with others in an interactive office.
• Effectively address conflict.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

• A Master's Degree in a relevant field may substitute for up to two (2) years of experience.
• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school.

Experience:

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible active experience in the practice of law, including experience in a public entity or institutional representation.
• A minimum of five (5) years of senior management/supervisory experience in administering personnel and budget requirements.

License, Certificate, and Registration Requirements:

• Must be an active member, in good standing, of the State Bar of California.

Applicants who meet the Minimum Qualifications will be required to successfully complete the State Bar's selection process for this classification.

About the State Bar

The State Bar of California's mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation, and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system.

Our Values

Clarity | Investing in Our People | Excellence | Respect | Growth Mindset

Learn more about our values.

DEI Statement

We are a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all of our employees and prospective employees experience fairness, dignity, and respect.

Learn more about our commitment to DEI.

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