Attorney IV

The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) is the nation’s largest public pension fund, providing retirement and health benefits to public employees, retirees, and their families. Headquartered in downtown Sacramento, we are a destination employer with an international reputation for leadership and innovation. At CalPERS, we’re committed to people – the people we serve, our team members, and the larger community around us. CalPERS is situated near the Napa Valley, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and other desirable destinations, and we offer competitive benefit packages, compensation, and opportunities for advancement.

If you are interested in becoming part of a diverse and inclusive workforce where talent, experience, and expertise are valued, CalPERS invites you to apply for this employment opportunity. To find out more about our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, visit our website!

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required for this position. Applications received without the SOQ will not be considered. Please scroll down to special requirements to see details.

This posting has been extended until December 05, 2025.

Anticipated Interview Dates: In person interviews are anticipated to be held the week of December 15, 2025.

Telework Information: This position is eligible for hybrid work schedule, with up to two days of remote work and three days or more onsite, per week.

Sponsorship
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship. CalPERS does not participate in E-Verify for employment authorization purposes.

Effective July 1, 2025, The California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 directs that each employee in Bargaining Unit 2 shall receive a 4.62 percent reduction in pay in exchange for 8 hours PLP 2025 leave credits, monthly. The salary range(s) included in the job advertisement do not reflect the 4.62 percent reduction in pay.

CalPERS is currently seeking an Attorney III / IV in the Pension & Tax Unit in the Legal Office.

Duties include but are not limited to: Advising staff on a variety of difficult and complex legal issues relating to CalPERS program divisions, including, but not limited to, Customer Services and Support, Benefit Services, Financial Office, Pension Contracts and Prefunding Programs, Actuarial Office, Office of Audit Services, Public Affairs, Legislative Affairs, and Strategy, Projects & Data Divisions. Advising clients on matters of difficult and complex governmental law, including Constitutional and statutory interpretation, pension and employee benefit law, federal tax law, administrative law, open meeting law, public records requests, and fiduciary principles.

Researching and writing difficult and complex formal and informal legal opinions for specific program areas. Ensuring opinions are timely, accurate and complete, and presents alternative courses of action and analysis of those alternatives where appropriate, with a recommendation. Conferring with system management, staff, and others to gather necessary background, interpretation, and context of issues and facts presented in opinion requests.

Keeping clients informed of the status of all assignments. Keeping the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel and Associate General Counsel informed on the status of all significant issues. Reviewing and approving critical correspondence and other critical documents. Drafting critical documents and representing the system on a variety of difficult and complex legal issues.

Providing informal or oral advice to system management and staff on a variety of program-specific legal issues, as needed. Evaluating difficult and complex state and federal legislation to determine the potential impact on CalPERS, including assisting in the preparation of bill analyses, drafting legislation, and recommending amendments.

Working closely with the Executive Office on Special Projects, such as legal analysis for pension-related and tax issues and high-profile matters.

This position is eligible for a Hire Above Minimum (HAM) salary. Government Code section 19836 authorizes the Department of Human Resources (CalHR) to allow an exception to provide a rate above the established minimum salary range for selected classifications, as determined by CalHR.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $11,993.00 - $16,096.00 per month

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Sacramento, CA 95811