Attorney III

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is currently hiring an Attorney III within our Office of Legal Services (OLS). In this role, you will serve on our Public Health Programs (PHP) Team, which provides in-house legal advice and representation to over 200 public health programs spanning multiple subject areas, including such topics as infectious disease surveillance and control, chronic disease and injury prevention, food, drug, and radiation safety, genetic disease screening, the Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program, and the licensing of numerous health facilities, from clinics to general acute care hospitals.

The deadline to apply is December 11, 2025, at 11:59PM PT. Please reach out to Apply@cdph.ca.gov with any questions.

Responsibilities:

• Provide written and oral legal advice to the Department on complex matters of law pertaining to assigned CDPH Centers, Divisions, and Offices (CDOs) and/or programs
• Advise on statutory and regulatory requirements for the conduct of state business including, but not limited to, contracts, information management, public records disclosure, open meeting laws, review and drafting of legislation and regulations, and such other legal issues as may arise
• Undertake legal research in complex areas of both federal and state law and provides oral and written legal analysis to key decision makers within and outside of the Department, including staff within Department programs, the OLS Deputy Director and Chief Counsel, and the CDPH Director
• Serve as a lead in advising the Director, Executive staff, upper management, the California Health and Human Services (CHHS) Agency, and the Governor’s Office, as needed
• Provide expert legal and policy advice to the CDPH Director, the OLS Deputy Director and Chief Counsel, Department Executive staff, the CHHS Agency, and management on complex legal issues related to his/her assigned CDOs and/or programs
• Work with assigned CDOs and/or programs and the Office of Legislative and Governmental Affairs (LGA) to develop positions and legislation to solve sensitive and complex problems of the Department, and to develop innovative theories and solutions to emerging issues
• Prepare and review contracts, notices, bill analyses, regulations, decision memorandum, and other documents of legal consequence
• Coordinate with other OLS attorneys to ensure consistent legal interpretation, strategy, and advice on such issues
• Act as a litigation liaison with the California Attorney General’s Office (AGO), and coordinate and oversee CDOs and/or programs’ responses to formal discovery and litigation-related Public Records Act (PRA) requests propounded in connection with pending trial court matters
• Draft factual summaries and legal points and authorities in support of Department positions. Provide litigation support to the AGO in litigation filed against, or involving the Department stemming from, among other things, Administrative Procedure Act challenges, as well as administrative decisions on appeal, which includes, but is not limited to, legal correspondence, negotiation, and developing strategies and tactics in matters of significance to the Department

At CDPH, equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.

New to State Service? The following steps will navigate you through the application process:

1. Create a CalCareer account by going to https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHRPublic/Login.aspx.

2. Confirm that you meet the minimum qualifications for the position you are wanting to apply for. A link to view minimum qualifications is listed on each job posting.

3. After confirming that you meet the minimum qualifications, take, and pass the corresponding examination. Most exams are available online and can be found on CalCareers under the Exam/Assessment Search tab. Please note, while candidates are welcome to apply to positions without taking the examination, candidates pass the examination prior to appointment. Please review the minimum qualifications thoroughly, prior to beginning the examination.

4. Apply! Follow all directions and be sure to submit all requested documentation.

Link to Apply: https://bit.ly/3Xzcwd1

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $10,852.00 - $15,325.00 per month

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Sacramento, CA 95814