SPEC:  STAFF COUNSEL
                CALIFORNIA STATE PERSONNEL BOARD

                               SPECIFICATION


                                                     Schematic Code:  OA75
                                                     Class Code:      5778
                                                     Established:     12/17/85
                                                     Revised:         --
                                                     Title Changed:   --


                                       STAFF COUNSEL


                                        DEFINITION

           This is a recruitment and developmental class for persons qualified
           to practice law in the State of California.  Incumbents assigned to
           Range A perform the least difficult professional legal work of their
           department.  Based upon the appropriate alternate range criteria,
           incumbents advance to Ranges B, C and D and are assigned
           progressively more difficult professional legal work as their
           competence increases.  Incumbents assigned to Range D independently
           perform professional legal work of average difficulty.


                                       TYPICAL TASKS

           Studies, interprets and applies laws, court decisions and other legal
           authorities; prepares or assists in preparing cases, opinions,
           briefs, and other legal documents such as memoranda, digests,
           summaries and reports; assists in the preparation of or responsible
           for preparing cases which may result in litigation before boards,
           commissions, hearing officers, administrative law judges, trial or
           appellate courts; assembles and evaluates evidence; secures and
           interviews witnesses; assists in and holds hearings; conducts special
           investigations involved in the enforcement of State laws and
           departmental rules and regulations; does a wide variety of legal
           research; provides advice or opinions to departmental management or
           members of the public on legal issues arising out of the programs of
           the department in which the incumbent is employed and of the legal
           effect of rules, regulations, proposed legislation, statutory law,
           court decisions and administrative actions; develops proposed
           legislation; testifies before legislative committees; and conducts
           negotiations.


                                  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

           Membership in The State Bar of California.  (Applicants must have
           active membership in The State Bar before they will be eligible for
           appointment.  Applicants who are not members of The State Bar of
           California but who are eligible to take The California State Bar
           examination will be admitted to the examination but will not be
           considered eligible for appointment until they are admitted to The
           State Bar.)


                                  KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

           Knowledge of:  Legal research methods and performing research; legal
           principles and their application; scope and character of California
           statutory law and of the provisions of the California Constitution;
           principles of administrative and constitutional law; trial and
           hearing procedure and rules of evidence.

           Ability to:  Perform research; analyze, appraise, and apply legal
           principles, facts, and precedents to legal problems; present
           statements of fact, law, and argument clearly and logically; draft
           statutes; prepare correspondence involving the explanation of legal
           matters; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course
           of action.