Attorney V (JC-529788)
- California State Water Resources Control Board
- Hybrid (Sacramento, CA, USA)
- $12,659 - $16,883 monthly
Job Description
To be considered for this position, you must apply at CalCareers.ca.gov. To apply, you must first create a CalCareers account. Once your account is created, you can search for job code 529788 to locate the job posting and apply.
Link: CalCareers
Note: This position will no longer be available on CalCareers once the job closes on 9/16/2026. No applications will be accepted after the job closing date.
Job Description and Duties
Please note, the Water Boards do not participate in E-Verify.
The State Water Resources Control Board’s Office of Chief Counsel has an opening for an Attorney V in the State Board Water Quality and Administration Branch. The position location is 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
The State Water Resources Control Board and the nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards are the principal state agencies for the coordination and control of water quality in the State of California. As part of their water quality functions, the Water Boards administer state and federal clean water programs that include adopting water quality control plans and regulatory policies that establish water quality standards and implementation programs, issuing permits that protect the quality of all waters of the state, issuing site remediation orders, and other actions to protect waters of the state. The Office of Chief Counsel provides legal counsel to the State Water Board’s Board Members, Executive Management, and Division of Water Quality. The practice is varied and interesting. It includes participation in the most complex administrative adjudications and general representation of the board and assisting in civil litigation involving the board’s actions. Board attorneys work independently in a fast-paced, collegial environment.
Duties:
Under the general direction of an Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel, the Attorney V reviews, analyzes, interprets, and applies statutes, regulations, court decisions and other legal authorities, prepares legal documents, assists in the presentation of cases in court and before administrative tribunals, and assists in preparing legislation, regulations, plans, and policies. The Attorney V position provides legal advice in the most difficult and complex agency and litigation decision making on water quality issues, and requires a high level of expertise and independence, as well as the skills and experience to develop and work with innovative and novel legal theories
Additional information:
Candidates must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class.
If the position requires driving, you must possess a current and valid driver’s license. Please Do Not include full Social Security Number, method of eligibility, and LEAP information in your application package.
Please let us know how you heard about this position by taking this brief survey: Recruitment Survey.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Working Conditions
Positions at the Water Boards may be eligible for telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the position and might be expected to comply with Executive Order (EO) 22-25 after July 1, 2026.
Salary Information - CalHR salary rules allow appointment at the entrance rate (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 2, § 599.673) of a classification. For classes with alternate ranges, placement is based on education/experience. Employees appointed to the Attorney or Water Resource Control Engineer classification will receive Recruitment Higher Above Minimum (HAM) rate in accordance with the approved Civil Service Pay Scales.
In addition, note: Effective July 1, 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) which reduces an employee’s monthly salary in exchange for leave credits. Employees appointed to this classification will have their monthly salary reduced and will accrue hours of PLP 2025 on the first day of each pay period in accordance with the applicable bargaining contract. The salary range(s) included on this job posting do not reflect the reduction in pay.
Job type: Full-Time
$12,659.00 - $16,883.00 per Month
The Water Resources Control Board is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSFL) Qualified Employer.
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) and the nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards (Regional Water Boards), collectively known as the California Water Boards (Water Boards), are dedicated to a single vision: abundant clean water for human uses and environmental protection to sustain California's future. Under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and the state's pioneering Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, the State and Regional Water Boards have regulatory responsibility for protecting the water quality of nearly 1.6 million acres of lakes, 1.3 million acres of bays and estuaries, 211,000 miles of rivers and streams, and about 1,100 miles of exquisite California coastline.
We believe the diversity of our employees and their unique ideas inspire innovative solutions to further our mission to preserve, enhance and restore the quality of California’s water resources. Join the Water Boards and help us protect the environment and public health and ensure proper allocation and efficient use for future generations.
We offer full-time permanent positions, internships (paid and nonpaid), and volunteer opportunities. We also have flexible work schedules. Benefits include health, dental, vision, retirement and much more, and may be eligible on first day of hire.
Mission Statement:
To preserve, enhance, and restore the quality of California’s water resources and drinking water for the protection of the environment, public health, and all beneficial uses, and to ensure proper water resource allocation and efficient use, for the benefit of present and future generations.