Overview
The State of California offers a variety of legal careers to support agencies across the state.
A legal professional in state government can support policy making, advocate for change, assist in the administration of court procedures, conduct research or facilitate negotiations.
Did you know that you can work in the legal profession without a law degree? Legal professionals come from many backgrounds, but they all share interest in using the law to support agencies across California. Whether you are a recent graduate, current law student or experienced attorney, there are opportunities for a meaningful career in California state government.
What You Might Work On
In California state government, professionals in this field often:
- Perform preliminary analysis of legislative bills
- Present information before courts and administrative boards
- Conduct research and organize testimonies or depositions
Is This a Good Fit?
While roles and responsibilities vary, you might enjoy this field if you:
- Like researching complex topics to drive change
- Enjoy using written and oral communication skills
- Want to make a meaningful difference through the legal system
Job Classifications
What are job classifications?
Job classifications map to specific job titles found across California state government. A corresponding code maps to the required exam for that classification. For example, 00105778 is the code for attorneys.
How to use them:
You can use the job classifications to search for positions on CalCareers in the classification section within the advanced search filter. You can also use key words to find roles in the search bar on the home page. Below is a list of common examples, but additional roles and classifications can be found on CalCareers.
| Exam Code | Classification Name | Common Keywords | Typical Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00102957 | Law Indexer | Law Indexer, Indexer | This is the entry and trainee level for this series. Law Indexers perform complex review, analysis, interpretation and summarization of legislation, statutes and legal opinions to create and edit various legislative and legal publications and research tools |
| 00101820 | Legal Assistant | Legal Assistant, Legal | Assist in reviewing legal documents and appeals, review information for legal proceedings, perform preliminary analyses of legislative bills, organize testimonies and depositions, perform routine research |
| 00105778 | Attorney | Attorney | This is the entry level for individuals qualified to practice law in the State of California. Attorneys may review, analyze, interpret and apply laws, court decisions and other legal authorities in the preparation of cases, opinions and briefs; prepare legal documents, assist in the presentation of cases before courts and administrative bodies, assemble and evaluate evidence, secure and interview witnesses; conduct special investigations involved in the enforcement of state laws and departmental rules and regulations. |
| 00106016 | Administrative Law Judge | Administrative Law Judge, Law, Judge | Administrative Law Judges conduct routine hearings and issue proposed and final decisions on appeals or petitions in accordance with applicable law or contracts for various state or other public agencies. They also prepare proposed and final decisions containing findings of fact, make conclusions of law, conduct hearings on a variety of laws, administer oaths, rule on motions and conduct prehearing conferences; instruct participants at hearings as to their procedural rights; question witnesses and more. |
Where You Could Work
State government is broad – so where should you start?
One approach is to focus on a type of role. Another is to focus on a mission area or the kind of impact you want to have (i.e., in public health, education, transportation or elsewhere).
Keep in mind: mission areas often span multiple agencies, so you may find relevant roles in places you wouldn’t expect!
Professionals in this field work across many state agencies depending on mission area, including:
- Child and Family Programs: California Department of Social Services
- Healthcare Operations: California Department of State Hospitals
- Technology Law: California Department of Justice
- Vehicle Regulation: California Department of Motor Vehicles
Examples of California Agencies with Legal Professionals
Did you know you could have a legal career at one of these agencies? Note: This is not an exhaustive list of all the options in California state government, but a helpful starting place as you begin exploring your future legal career!
| Agency Name |
|---|
| California Agricultural Labor Relations Board |
| California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation |
| California Department of Education |
| California Department of Fish and Wildlife |
| California Department of Insurance |
| California Department of Justice |
| California Department of Real Estate |
| California Department of Transportation |
| California High Speed Rail Authority |
| California Office of Tax Appeals |
Sample Positions
Administrative Law Judge [00106016]
| Employer / agency | California Department of Social Services |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | Los Angeles County |
| Mission context | The mission of the California Department of Social Services is to serve, protect and support the people of California experiencing need in ways that empower wellbeing and disrupt systemic inequities. |
In this role, you may:
- Preside over hearings in California Department of Social Services and California Department of Health Care Services program areas, which may include program areas such as CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services, Scope of Benefits, Resource Family Approval and Covered California, among others
- Interpret and apply various provisions of federal and state statutes, regulations and department policies
- Rule on objections and subpoena requests raised during the process of hearing a case, address postponement requests, set continued hearings, and address other case management issues to maintain proper flow of cases
Legal Assistant [00101820]
| Employer / agency | California Department of Managed Health Care |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | Sacramento County |
| Mission context | The mission of the Department of Managed Health Care is to ensure health plan members have access to equitable, high-quality, timely and affordable health care within a stable health care delivery system. |
In this role, you may:
- Provide legal support to staff in connection with the enforcement of the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act that regulates managed care organizations and health maintenance organizations
- Manage caseloads consisting of prosecuting health plans for failing to timely file grievance reports with the department
- Perform routine paralegal duties as well as technical duties
Attorney [00105778]
| Employer / agency | California State Compensation Insurance Fund |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | San Diego County |
| Mission context | State Fund is California’s largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance. It offers comprehensive products and services that provide a strong and stable option for employers and injured employees with fast, reliable claims service and medical and indemnity benefits. |
In this role, you may:
- Appear before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board
- Draft pleadings, correspondences and other legal documents
- Conduct discovery and supporting case development.
- Participate in settlement discussions and negotiations
