SPEC: CHIEF COUNSEL CALIFORNIA STATE PERSONNEL BOARD SPECIFICATION CHIEF COUNSEL Series Specification (Established July 1, 1973) SCOPE This series specification describes three legal management positions used in various State departments. Schem Class Code Code Class OBlO 5871 Assistant Chief Counsel OB20 5872 Chief Counsel I, C.E.A. OB30 5873 Chief Counsel II, C.E.A. DEFINITION OF SERIES The Chief Counsel series describes three classifications which have responsibility for the legal program of various State departments. This includes responsibility for planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and reviewing the work of a professional legal staff; acting as legal advisor to top management; preparing legislation and representing the Department before the Legislature; formulating legal policy; and participating as a member of top management in the development and implementation of department policy. ENTRY LEVELS Entry into this series would be typically by experienced attorneys in State service. FACTORS AFFECTING POSITION ALLOCATION: Size of legal program, degree of general policy involvement, extent to which positions influence legal policy, complexity of legal work and impact of legal program. DEFINITION OF LEVELS ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL Works under the general direction of a Chief Counsel II, C.E.A., in planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and reviewing the work of a major legal section of a large legal office. CHIEF COUNSEL I, C.E.A. This is typically the top legal position in a Department with a relatively small legal program having responsibility for planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and reviewing the work of a legal staff. CHIEF COUNSEL II, C.E.A. This is the top legal position in a department with one of the State's larger legal programs having responsibility for planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and reviewing the work of a legal staff. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL Membership in The State Bar of California. (Applicants must have active membership in The State Bar before they will be eligible for appointment.) and Either I Two years of experience in the California state service performing legal duties* at a level of responsibility equivalent to Staff Counsel, Range D. (Applicants who have completed 18 months of the required experience will be admitted to the examination, but must complete two years of such experience before they will be eligible for appointment.) Or II Broad and extensive experience (more than five years) in the practice of law*. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must include the same number of years of qualifying experience as required in Pattern I above performing the duties of a class at a level of responsibility equivalent to that described in Pattern I.) CHIEF COUNSEL I, C.E.A. Membership in The State Bar of California. (Applicants must have active membership in The State Bar before they will be eligible for appointment.) and Either I Two years of experience in the California state service performing legal duties* at a level of responsibility equivalent to Staff Counsel, Range D. (Applicants who have completed 18 months of the required experience will be admitted to the examination, but must complete two years of such experience before they will be eligible for appointment.) *Experience in the "practice of law" or "performing legal duties" is defined as only that legal experience acquired after admission to The Bar. Or II Broad and extensive experience (more than five years) in the practice of law*. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must include the same number of years of qualifying experience as required in Pattern I above performing the duties of a class at a level of responsibility equivalent to that described in Pattern I.) CHIEF COUNSEL II, C.E.A. Membership in The State Bar of California. (Applicants must have active membership in The State Bar before they will be eligible for appointment.) and Either I One year of experience in the California state service performing legal duties* at a level of responsibility equivalent to Assistant Chief Counsel. Or II Two years of experience in the California state service performing legal duties* at a level of responsibility equivalent to Staff Counsel, Range D; and Current employment in a class at a level equivalent to that of Senior Staff Counsel (Specialist) or (Supervisor). Or III One year of experience in the California state service performing legal duties* at a level of responsibility equivalent to Senior Staff Counsel (Specialist) or (Supervisor). Or IV Broad and extensive experience (more than five years) in the practice of law*. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must include the same number of years of qualifying experience as required in Patterns I, II or III above performing the duties of a class at a level of responsibility equivalent to that described in Patterns I, II, or III.) KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES ALL LEVELS Knowledge of: Legal principles and their applications; legal research methods, court procedures, rules of evidence and procedure; administrative law and the conduct of proceedings before administrative bodies; provisions of laws and Government Code sections administered or enforced; principles of public administration, personnel management and supervision; the department's affirmative action program objectives; a manager's role in the affirmative action program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives. Ability to: Analyze legal principles and precedents and apply them to complex legal and administrative problems; present statements of fact, law and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form; draft opinions, pleadings, rulings, regulations and legislation; hold hearings and independently present difficult and complex cases in court; plan, organize and direct the work of a staff of attorneys; effectively contribute to the department's affirmative action objectives. CLASS HISTORY Date Date Title Class Established Revised Changed Assistant Chief Counsel 7/1/73 -- 12/17/85 -- Chief Counsel I, C.E.A. 7/1/73 7/1/73 12/17/85 -- Chief Counsel II, C.E.A. 7/1/73 7/1/73 12/17/85 -- *Experience in the "practice of law" or "performing legal duties" is defined as only that legal experience acquired after admission to The Bar.