Managing Attorney

Job Description

Office of Professional Competence

Annual Salary Range: $169,547 - $254,125

FLSA Exempt / Manager

This position allows for up to four days of remote work per week

About the Office

The Office of Professional Competence (OPC) helps California attorneys practice law ethically. The office develops and maintains resources that facilitate compliance with duties. The office administers a telephone legal ethics called the Ethics Hotline and conducts preventative education and outreach. The office also supports key committees and working groups that provide ethics guidance and address policy and rule changes to support evolving changes in the ethic rules, and certifies Lawyer Referral Services.

About the Position

The Managing Attorney in OPC will oversee the education development team, which includes content design and development for preventative and proactive education for attorneys, and the creation and ongoing development of other attorney resources on topics including professional responsibility, law practice management, attorney aging, and competency. The Managing Attorney will manage the Ethics Hotline program, which provides research assistance to attorneys, and the Support Services Lawyer Assistance Program, which provides education and outreach MCLE programs as well as individual assistance to attorneys experiencing substance use or mental health issues. Additionally, the Managing Attorney will serve as lead counsel to the Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct (COPRAC), a committee of the State Bar that develops advisory ethics opinions and assists the State Bar's Board of Trustees on matters involving attorney professional responsibility, and as the office's representative to the Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) Oversight Committee for the Support Services Lawyer Assistance Program. The Managing Attorney should possess advanced knowledge of California legal ethics, including the Rules of Professional Conduct and the State Bar Act, and the State Bar Rules. Experience in public speaking and rule drafting is preferred.

Definition

Under the general direction of a Program Director, the Managing Attorney provides supervisory leadership to Attorneys and other staff, including program managers, supervisors, senior program analysts, and legal and non-legal staff under their purview. Additionally, the Managing Attorney will provide program development, management, and oversight to the program area or areas for which they are responsible. Additionally, the Managing Attorney is responsible for overseeing, planning, organizing, and directing the administration of programs and committees; the development of plans and interim goals; establishing policy and priorities; adjusting plans to respond to emerging and/or urgent issues; and directing resources to achieve timely outcomes and measurable goals within budget guidelines.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is a management role and may direct the work of Attorneys, Program Managers, and other legal and non-legal staff, including coaching and training, assigning and reviewing work, providing performance feedback, and drafting and issuing performance evaluations and improvement plans.

Examples of Essential Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Directs the work of Attorneys and other staff, including coaching and training, assigning and reviewing work, providing performance feedback, and drafting, issuing, or contributing to performance evaluations and improvement plans.
• May direct the development of the office's goals, management, and oversight to a particular area or areas and serve as the office's expert in that area or areas, including legal ethics and professional responsibility-related programs, committees, and activities; oversight for content development by attorneys and other subject matter experts for educational courses for licensees, including courses for proactive regulation of licensees; and oversight of other programs as assigned that require management of subordinate legal and non-legal staff.
• Keeps informed and assures subordinate staff are informed concerning applicable laws, rules, procedures, policies, and practices relating to their program area or assigned areas.
• Evaluates administrative problems and procedures and recommend solutions and/or alternative methods or procedures. Strategizes regarding ways to improve work and information flow.
• Oversees the preparation and administration of the budget and oversees the management of the resources for assigned program areas.

Employment Standards

Knowledge of:

• State Bar Act and related statutes, the Rules of Professional Conduct, and other State Bar rules as they apply to the performance of significant duties and responsibilities of the position. This includes knowledge of rule revision processes, including the process for amending the Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Effective investigation techniques, case management, and presentation of matters to administrative and ADR bodies, including statutory fee arbitration proceedings.
• California statutory law and provisions of the United States and California Constitutions.
• Rules of evidence and conduct of proceedings in State Bar hearing and review departments.
• Advanced principles of problem identification, analysis, and resolution.
• Advanced principles of effective writing and verbal presentation, including public speaking and preparation and presentation of memoranda to committees and governing bodies.
• Modern office practices and procedures, including standard computer software such as Microsoft Office and case management system applications.
• Effective work coordination and strong case/project management principles.
• Supervisory principles regarding planning, assigning, directing, and reviewing the work of others.
• Supervisory principles regarding performance evaluation.
• Time management.
• Legal research and preparation of reports, briefs, and pleadings.
• Mediation, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
• Advanced principles of effective institutional communication in dealing with diverse constituencies.

Ability to:

• Perform advanced and sophisticated legal analysis and factual evaluations.
• Provide leadership direction and develop staff and programs to meet evolving strategic initiatives.
• Communicate complex legal issues to staff, managers, and members of the public.
• Supervise Attorneys and other legal and non-legal staff within the assigned team.
• Review and edit the work of Attorneys and other legal and nonlegal staff to ensure work meets all applicable professional and legal standards and provide feedback.
• Review, analyze, and evaluate complex written documents prepared by team members.
• Speak effectively in public and to large groups.
• Mediate and resolve disputes, including between members of assigned teams.
• Demonstrate independent judgment and initiative.
• Work independently, as well as cooperatively in a team environment.
• Complete multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Exercise sound judgment and decision-making.
• Make recommendations on complicated and difficult program matters and present them effectively to governing authorities.
• Interpret and analyze complex written documents.
• Act with integrity in all related State Bar business.
• Quickly adapt to changing environments and critical needs to adopt and effectively implement courses of action.
• Maintain the confidentiality of State Bar documents and records.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school.

Experience:

• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible and directly related experience in the practice of law or a law-related field.
• Demonstrated experience as a team or project lead.
• Demonstrated reputation for integrity and no history of disciplinary offenses as an attorney or in any other capacity.

License, Certificate, and Registration Requirements:

• Must be an active member, in good standing, of the State Bar of California. Applicants who meet the Minimum Qualifications will be required to successfully complete the State Bar's selection process for this classification.

About the State Bar

The State Bar of California's mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation, and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system.

Our Values

Clarity | Investing in Our People | Excellence | Respect | Growth Mindset

Learn more about our values.

DEI Statement

We are a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all of our employees and prospective employees experience fairness, dignity, and respect.

Learn more about our commitment to DEI.

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• The State Bar of California

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