10/6/2025 11:55 PM Pacific
Date Posted 9/24/2025 Contact Lydia Delgado916-445-9481 Number of Openings 1 Salary Pay Range
$11,993 - $16,096 Monthly Length of Work Year 12 Employment Type Full Time Job Description / Essential Elements: Print
Have you ever considered a legal career at the California Department of Education? Your work benefits kids!
Attorney IV is an expert in the most complex and sensitive legal work related to laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to TK-12 education programs. Our lawyers are often involved in cutting-edge litigation on constitutional issues that often impact all state education agencies throughout the country. It is an exciting and rewarding time to be in the world of education law! We offer a wide-range of opportunities and assignments that require diverse legal skills in order to help improve California’s education system.
Specific duties vary depending on ever-changing client needs, but may include:
• Representing the CDE, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) and the State Board of Education (SBE) in litigation in federal and state courts by handling all facets of complex litigation ranging from motions and discovery through trial and appeals.
• Researching and preparing guidance, memoranda or opinions to advise the operation of specialized programs, such as Special Education, Nutrition, After School, Transitional Kindergarten, English Learners, Charter Schools, Curriculum Frameworks, the State Special Schools for the Deaf and Blind, etc.
• Helping draft and analyze sponsored or proposed legislation, advising program staff on interpreting existing laws, and assisting with the drafting of regulations to implement new programs and/or respond to changes to the law.
CDE currently has a hybrid work policy generally requiring in-person work from our Sacramento office two days each week.
STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS: A Statement of Qualifications is REQUIRED and must be submitted with your Employment Application (STD. 678). Applications received without an appropriate Statement of Qualifications based on the instructions will be rejected for being incomplete and will not be considered. Resumes, cover letters, and other documents will not be considered as a response to the Statement of Qualifications. Submit a Statement of Qualifications that addresses each area listed. The Statement of Qualifications shall be no more than three pages in length, typed in Arial font, no smaller than 12 font, no smaller than 1 inch margins and numbered clearly 1-6. The Statement of Qualifications will be used to evaluate your experience. 1. Experience in handling complex litigation matters before federal and state courts and administrative tribunals, including legal research methods, court procedures, discovery, law and motion, expert witnesses, trial and appellate experiences. 2. Experience in handling complex transactional matters including compliance with State contracting and procurement processes, technology development projects, and data privacy and security matters. 3. Experience in developing, analyzing and interpreting statutes, regulations and proposed legislation and advising clients with respect to their implementation and application to unique factual circumstances. 4. Experience in handling complex legal, public policy and administrative matters from an initial request for advice to completion, including identifying and analyzing legal issues, developing and implementing a legal recommendation and/or effective course of action and client management considerations. 5. Experience in providing assistance to a diverse and complex constituency similar to the State Board of Education, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and California Department of Education. 6. Please provide your California State Bar number.
Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate’s relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate. (Must be based on the essential functions of the position and link directly to the knowledge, skills and abilities of the Application Screening Criteria) (850 characters maximum; list format): • Interest in becoming a member of a fast-paced office involved with very challenging issues at the forefront of state and national K-12 public education law • A background in education-related law, civil rights law or litigation is desirable, but not required
Requirements / QualificationsSTATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS: A Statement of Qualifications is REQUIRED and must be submitted with your Employment Application (STD. 678). Applications received without an appropriate Statement of Qualifications based on the instructions will be rejected for being incomplete and will not be considered. Resumes, cover letters, and other documents will not be considered as a response to the Statement of Qualifications. Submit a Statement of Qualifications that addresses each area listed. The Statement of Qualifications shall be no more than three pages in length, typed in Arial font, no smaller than 12 font, no smaller than 1 inch margins and numbered clearly 1-6. The Statement of Qualifications will be used to evaluate your experience. 1. Experience in handling complex litigation matters before federal and state courts and administrative tribunals, including legal research methods, court procedures, discovery, law and motion, expert witnesses, trial and appellate experiences. 2. Experience in handling complex transactional matters including compliance with State contracting and procurement processes, technology development projects, and data privacy and security matters. 3. Experience in developing, analyzing and interpreting statutes, regulations and proposed legislation and advising clients with respect to their implementation and application to unique factual circumstances. 4. Experience in handling complex legal, public policy and administrative matters from an initial request for advice to completion, including identifying and analyzing legal issues, developing and implementing a legal recommendation and/or effective course of action and client management considerations. 5. Experience in providing assistance to a diverse and complex constituency similar to the State Board of Education, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and California Department of Education. 6. Please provide your California State Bar number.
Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate’s relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate. (Must be based on the essential functions of the position and link directly to the knowledge, skills and abilities of the Application Screening Criteria) (850 characters maximum; list format): • Interest in becoming a member of a fast-paced office involved with very challenging issues at the forefront of state and national K-12 public education law • A background in education-related law, civil rights law or litigation is desirable, but not required
Comments and Other Information Hiring Unit Contact: Lorie Adame ladame@cde.ca.gov Comments and Other InformationHiring Unit Contact: Lorie Adame ladame@cde.ca.gov Links Related To This Job Standard State Application Form 678 View Other Job Desc. / Ess. Elem. CalSTRS Links Not all postings qualify for CalSTRS. Informational Only. CalSTRS Info for New Educators ADD TO WISHLIST VIEW JOB WISHLIST APPLY (Current Employees ONLY) APPLY QUICK APPLY