Chief Attorney

Job Description:

Chief Attorney

Description

CAREER DESCRIPTION

CHIEF ATTORNEY
(Senior Deputy Attorney)

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment will establish an open eligible list, which will be used to fill current and future Senior Deputy Attorney vacancies within the Department of Child Support Services (CSS). The eligible list established may also be used to fill similar and lower-level classifications throughout the County of Orange.

This recruitment will remain open for a minimum of five (5) business days.
Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately, as the deadline to apply is
Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (PST).

CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES (CSS)
Orange County Child Support Services (CSS) is an award-winning, forward-thinking agency of approximately 325 professionals, dedicated to helping parents financially support their children.

The core mission is assisting parents in establishing paternity, establishing financial and medical child support orders, and facilitating the payment of that support through various means, including court action. Under the direction of the Department Director, CSS delivers human services to the community based on a balanced approach emphasizing Customers, Staff, Business Efficiencies, and Performance. CSS also works in close partnership with the Orange County Superior Court, California Department of Child Support Services, and other local child support agencies throughout California.

Click here for more information of Child Support Services.

THE OPPORTUNITY
The County of Orange, Department of Child Support Services has a rewarding opportunity for a proactive, results-oriented leader to oversee the Attorney Team and provide legal analyses, opinions and recommendations as to child support laws, regulations and policies.

Under general direction of the Director of Child Support Services, the Senior Deputy Attorney will:

• Advise Director on all legal matters pertaining to child support, including legislative matters
• Provide consultation and advice on questions of law and procedure
• Manage personnel matters including hiring, employee development, and disciplinary actions
• Act as department liaison as to legal matters with courts, Family Law Facilitator, Private Bar Association, LCSAs, State DCSS and other County agencies and partners
• Develop, evaluate, and implement department goals, objectives, policies and procedures; develop program evaluation, and assure departmental activities are in compliance with laws, policies, regulations, and goals
• Manage, delegate, and direct the work of the attorneys and support staff, establish work standards and procedures
• Perform or direct legal research and prepare legal opinions
• Confer with State DCSS, the Courts, the Private Bar Association, legal organizations, the public and other stakeholders, as appropriate and assigned
• Participate in meetings, seminars, conferences, and prepare presentations and reports for internal and external audiences
• Monitor and systemize regulations, statutes, and case law regarding child support and disseminates information
• Other related duties as required

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will possess at least four (4) years of experience as an attorney in the child support program or related family law field with knowledge in child support laws, regulations, policies, and operations, or at least six (6) months of experience as a Deputy Attorney IV with the County of Orange.

In addition, the ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills with extensive professional work experience and/or knowledge in the following core competencies:

Technical Expertise

• Possess a breadth and depth of knowledge of child support laws, regulations, policies and business practices on a federal, state, and local level
• Experience in child support program engagement, negotiation, establishment and enforcement is highly desirable

Leadership Skills

• Guide and direct others toward meeting departmental objectives
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate
• Model behavior that demonstrates strong work ethic and high level of personal integrity and trustworthiness
• Serve as a key and active participant in meetings and trainings
• Actively seek opportunities to serve the department and colleagues
• Coach and empower staff towards professional development

Problem Solving | Analytical Skills

• Review and analyze studies, data, cases, laws, and reports
• Identify issues and develop reports to present to the court and Executive Management
• Proactively detect problems, weigh risks, balance needs and agency goals, develop solutions and make recommendations
• Utilize data to make informed and responsible decisions

Effective Communication Skills

• Demonstrated ability to compose complex written communications
• Demonstrated ability to communicate well with staff, colleagues, peers, other teams, units, Executive Management, court partners, State DCSS, Private Bar Association, legal partners, and other County agencies
• Ensure customer service and satisfaction; respond timely to inquiries using effective verbal and written skills
• Display proficiency in handling difficult conversations with all levels of staff

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Please click here to view the minimum qualifications for the Senior Deputy Attorney classification as well as the physical & mental requirements and environmental conditions.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Required License/Certificate: Active membership in the State Bar of California. Members in good standing of California State Bar and have been assigned a license number but have inactive membership status are also welcome to apply. An active California State Bar membership and eligibility to practice law in the State of California must be attained by date of appointment and maintained throughout employment.


Background Check: All candidates considered for the position will be required to successfully pass a background check to the satisfaction of the County. The background check may include professional references, criminal check, credit check, educational verification (e.g. degree, license, or official transcripts), etc.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum qualifications. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applications exhibiting qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Application Appraisal Panel (AAP) | Application Review (Weighted 100%)
An Appraisal Panel of job knowledge experts will thoroughly screen and evaluate the application, supplemental questionnaire, and resumes for job knowledge, competencies, and related experience described above.

Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.


Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

Please note: The information you provide on your application and/or response to the supplemental questions may be used as a scoring device, so please be thorough and complete in your response. "See Resume" is not a qualifying response and will not be scored in lieu of the required information.

Veterans Employment Preference Policy (VEPP)
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings.

Please click here to review the policy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EMAIL NOTIFICATION
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at http://www.governmentjobs.com

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Brandy Soria at (714) 245-4580 or Brandy.Soria@ssa.ocgov.com

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

Closing Date/Time: 11/12/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$166,192.00 - $230,588.80 Annually