Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Under the direction of the Chief Counsel, the Deputy Chief Counsel, or the Assistant Chief Counsels, the Attorney represents the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) at forensic and State Personnel Board proceedings and provides legal advice to DSH on issues involving the administration of all DSH facilities.

Performs legal research, provides legal advice to DSH clients, and responds to questions about mental health funding and fiscal controls. Provides responses to the Governor's Office, the Health and Human Services Agency and State control departments. Provides legal advice on various DSH programs regarding but are not limited to, legislation, regulations, DSH policy, and Public Records Act requests. Work involves contract negotiations; drafting and reviewing contracts; and employee immigration law. Provides legal advice on issues involving, but not limited to, patient privacy, employee privacy, intellectual property potential conflicts of interest, Cal OSHA audits, risk management, and data sharing.

Preparation of a high volume of pleadings, as well as preparing expert witnesses for hearings; appearances in court and/or before administrative tribunals regarding Orders to Show Cause regarding admissions of individuals determined to be Incompetent to Stand Trial; writs of habeas corpus; involuntary medication or involuntary treatment of Mentally Disordered Offenders, Sexually Violent Predators, and Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity commitments.

***Click on the link to complete the Department of State Hospitals Recruitment Survey:

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a(n) Licensed with the California State Bar License. You will be required to provide a copy of your license prior to being hired.

***While US mail applications are still accepted, applying electronically through your CalCareers account is strongly encouraged.***

NOTE: If applying by mail, please do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (page 10) with your completed State Application (STD 678).  This page is for examination use only.

Candidates who reside outside of the State of California may be admitted to the job interview. However, upon job offer candidates must provide proof of residence in California prior to their appointment becoming effective, or the offer may be rescinded.

Applicants must submit the required documents in order to be considered for this position. Failure to complete the STD 678 in its entirety may result in disqualification, resumes and/or Statements of Qualifications do not take the place of the STD 678. You must clearly indicate the basis of your eligibility (i.e., list, transfer, SROA/Surplus, reinstatement, etc.), classification title, position number, and job control number in the Examination/Job Title section. 

*** Foreign Degrees or Transcripts – Applicants with foreign degrees or transcripts who wish to apply that coursework toward meeting the minimum qualifications of the classification must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which his/her foreign coursework is equivalent. DSH accepts foreign transcript evaluations that are completed by one of the services listed on these webpages:

• or

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 9/17/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of State Hospitals

Carmen Shean

Attn: Carmen Shean

1215 O Street, MS-17

Sacramento , CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of State Hospitals

Carmen Shean

Carmen Shean

1215 O Street, MS-17

Sacramento , CA 95814

Application drop-off locations may be non-operational during weekends and holidays.

08:30 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications -

  Please see the Statement of Qualifications section at the bottom of this job advertisement for more details.

  Applicants must submit the required documents in order to be considered for this position. Applicants who fail to submit the SOQ, as requested (i.e. respond to questions asked), may be disqualified.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Benefits include: Sick Leave, Vacation Leave, 11 Paid State Holidays, one (1), eight (8) hours, Paid Personal Holiday and five (5), forty (40) hours, Paid Professional Development Days (PDD), per fiscal year, excellent Health, Vision and Dental insurance plans; Medical and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts; an Employee Assistance Program; Alternate Workweek Schedules and Flextime; and, enrollment in the CalPERS retirement system.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website:

Human Resources Contact:
Carmen Shean
(916) 957-1202
SacClassificationandPay@dsh.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Office of Human Rights
(916) 573-2727
dsh.eeo@dsh.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Statement of Qualifications

Interested candidates must submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) in addition to the standard state application (form STD 678). Resumes, cover letters, or any other documents cannot substitute the SOQ. When completing the SOQ, provide a response for each question listed below. In your response, include a narrative of all relevant education, training, experience, and skills, including the number of years of experience and the employer where you gained the experience, and explain all answers thoroughly. The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing.

The response should be single spaced, no more than two pages in length, using Arial 12-point font size. Please address the following:

1. Why do you want to work for DSH?
2. DSH Legal Division’s primary practice areas are forensic hearings, labor & employment, civil litigation, and transactional (e.g. contract, Public Records Act). Describe your work experience working in or why you are interested in practicing in these areas.

Applicants that do not submit a SOQ with their application packet will automatically be disqualified from consideration for this position. Cover letters, resumes, and applications will not take the place of this document.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work, Work experience placement, Work at office, Weekend work

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