Location: California-Los Angeles
Description: <div id="jobDescriptionText" class="jobsearch-jobDescriptionText"><div> <div> <div> POSITION INFORMATION </div> <div> THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS A REBULLETIN TO CONTINUE THE FILING FOR THIS EXAMINATION THAT WAS SUSPENDED ON JANUARY 19, 2022 AND UPDATE INFORMATION IN THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS: VACANCY INFORMATION AND COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT. PERSONS WHO PREVIOUSLY APPLIED AND WHOSE APPLICATIONS WERE ACCEPTED NEED NOT REAPPLY, BUT MAY SUBMIT ANY UPDATED INFORMATION OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IF THEY WISH VIA EMAIL TO humanresources@lacera.com. THE INFORMATION MUST INCLUDE THE CORRECT EXAMINATION TITLE AND NUMBER. INDIVIDUALS WHOSE APPLICATIONS WERE NOT ACCEPTED DUE TO INCOMPLETE INFORMATION MAY REAPPLY FOR THIS EXAMINATION. <div> This examination will remain open until LACERA's hiring needs are met and is subject to closure without prior notice. </div> EXAMINATION INFORMATION: Examination Number: 9-9212-G, Job Bulletin Number: 21-09 TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: Open Competitive Job Opportunity The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) administers and manages the $75 billion retirement fund for the County of Los Angeles. We provide retirement, disability, and death benefits to eligible County employees and their beneficiaries, and collect, deposit, invest, and manage retirement funds collected from the County, outside districts, and County employees. LACERA is the largest county retirement association in the United States with over 184,000 members. Our membership is comprised of individuals from a diverse range of careers, age groups, and ethnicities. Benefits include health insurance, annual leave, sick leave, retirement, paid holidays, and ride share program. LACERA Values: We work together toward achieving our Mission through our shared Values. Our Values include Professionalism, Respect, Open Communication, Fairness, Integrity, and Teamwork. ABOUT THE POSITION: The Staff Counsel classification is used in the Legal Division and in the Disability Litigation Division. The current vacancies are located in the Legal Division, which is responsible for providing legal advice and representation to LACERA and its Boards of Retirement and Investments. The Legal Division is comprised of a Chief Counsel, a Legislative Affairs Officer, Senior Staff Counsels, Staff Counsels, Legal Analysts, Legal Secretaries, and will soon add a Director of Compliance. Legal staff work in one of four sections: Litigation, Investments, Benefits, and Disability. Please click to view the recruitment brochure for Staff Counsel (Investments) (Download PDF reader). The Staff Counsel may work within the following areas of law: <ul> <li> Benefits-Including advising LACERA staff and the Board of Retirement with regard to pension benefits issues under the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937, California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act, and other applicable law; processing and interpretation of domestic relations orders and other court orders; and handling of administrative appeals before the Board of Retirement.</li> <li> Disability—Including assisting the Disability Retirement Services Division in connection with disability retirement applications; providing written and oral advice to staff and the Board of Retirement regarding disability retirement law issues.</li> <li> Employment—Including legal support to Human Resources Division on a wide range of employment matters including labor laws, discrimination laws under Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and California Family Rights Act (CFRA), civil service rules and workplace investigations; participation at the bargaining table during union negotiations.</li> <li> Healthcare—Including providing advice to the Retiree Healthcare Division on retiree healthcare issues, member questions and claims, and contracting advice in connection with insurance renewals.</li> <li> Investments and Commercial Contracts—Including providing investment professionals with legal advice relating to investment transactions; reviewing, drafting, and negotiating documentation for various investment transactions, including private equity, hedge funds, real assets, real estate, and public markets, and other asset classes; supervising outside counsel on investment transactions; legal support on a wide range of transactional matters; drafting memos, policies and procedures to the Board of Investments; drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts relating to investments; and drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts for all of LACERA’s operations.</li> <li> Litigation—Including representation of LACERA in state and federal trial and appellate courts in connection with member and other claims by or against the fund, including writs of mandate, breach of fiduciary duty, and other pension law claims; oversight of outside counsel when engaged to represent LACERA in litigation; reporting of litigation-related matters to the Board of Retirement and Board of Retirement; handling of administrative appeals before the Board of Retirement; preparation of written documents; first and second chair oral hearings, arguments, and presentations; other litigation-related responsibilities.</li> </ul> All specialties require knowledge of the California Public Records Act, the Ralph M. Brown Act, and California conflict of interest rules and rules of ethical conduct. Positions allocable to this class report to the Chief Counsel or Chief Counsel, Disability Litigation. These positions are characterized by assignments involving a full range of civil law cases and disability litigation hearings where attorney error may result in such negative consequences as serious monetary loss or substantial adverse public reaction to LACERA. Incumbent must exercise well-developed legal skills and knowledge and act independently under general direction. VACANCY INFORMATION: The current vacancies are located in the Legal Division in the Investments (Download PDF reader) and Benefits sections; however, the list can be used to fill any future vacancies in other work units and Divisions throughout LACERA. Work Schedule: This full-time position is required to work a 5/40 schedule (e.g. an eight (8) hour day, Monday through Friday) for at least the first twelve (12) months of employment. </div> <div> EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS </div> <div> The following examples are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by persons assigned to each classification. Depending on the assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to the following: Represents and advises LACERA, the Boards of Retirement and Investments, and management staff regarding legal issues concerning their powers, jurisdiction, responsibilities, rights, limitations, operations and procedures. Prepares and tries difficult cases involving public pension law and other specialized bodies of law, such as institutional investments, family law, probate, and contracts. Represents LACERA in disability litigation hearings. Provides advice and assistance regarding conflicts of interest laws, ethics requirements, and other requirements under state and federal laws. Drafts ordinances, legislation, and administrative regulation; prepares legal documents such as contracts, petitions, conveyances, leases, and pleadings. Prepares cases and represents LACERA in administrative hearings, in trial and appellate courts and in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Confers with outside counsel, consultants and government officials on special legal problems. Attends and represents LACERA at outside business seminars and conferences on topics addressing issues of importance to LACERA. </div> <div> REQUIREMENTS </div> <div> <div> SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: Four (4) years of experience in the practice of public agency law*, or in litigation, investments and contracts, employment and employee relations, healthcare, probate, family law, benefits or disability. <ul> <li>Public agency law refers to experience working for the government of a State or political subdivision thereof; any agency of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State; or any interstate government agency.</li> </ul> LICENSE: Admission to practice law in all courts of California **. A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions. PHYSICAL CLASS II Light: Light physical effort which may include occasional light lifting to a 10 pound limit, and some bending, stooping or squatting. Considerable walking may be involved. </div> </div> <div> ADDITIONAL INFORMATION </div> <div> SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION **All applicants must submit the following with their online application at the time of filing, or within 15 calendar days from the application submission date: 1. A copy of a valid and active California Bar card with a visible watermark of the year -OR- a printed copy of the member profile information from the State Bar of California website, with an "Active" status designation. Applications received without this required documentation will be rejected as incomplete. COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT: All LACERA staff members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Successful candidates for this position will be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department. EXAMINATION CONTENT This examination will consist of an Evaluation of Experience, based on application information, weighted 100%. CANDIDATES MUST ACHIEVE A PASSING SCORE OF 70 OR HIGHER ON THE WEIGHTED PORTION OF THE EXAMINATION IN ORDER TO BE PLACED ON THE ELIGIBLE REGISTER. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION The names of candidates receiving a passing grade will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of promulgation. Passing this examination and being placed on the eligible register does not guarantee an offer of employment. SELECTIVE CERTIFICATION: In accordance with TITLE 5—PERSONNEL, APPENDIX 1 (Civil Service Rule 11.03) of the Los Angeles County Code, selective certification will be used for some positions that require special skills and/or training. A Selective Certification may be established for the following areas of law: <ul> <li> Investments and Commercial Contracts</li> <li> Benefits</li> <li> Litigation</li> <li> Employment</li> <li> Healthcare</li> <li> Disability</li> </ul> Specific knowledge of and experience with the specialized functional areas may be the subject of a selection interview and/or job related assessments as a result of the Selective Certification lists. If you wish to be considered in any of the areas above, please clearly indicate the specialized experience in your application and Supplemental Questionnaire. EXAMINATION NOTIFICATIONS: All selection invitations (e.g. oral, performance, written, etc.) and/or special notices will be sent to candidates via email to the email address provided on the official application only. Ensure your email address is correct at the time of filing. Allegations of not receiving the email notification to the email address provided on the official application will not be considered an acceptable reason to authorize an early or late examination administration. For the foreseeable future, all notices including invitation letters, results letters and notices of non-acceptance will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that applicants provide a valid email address. Please add snorton@lacera.com and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address book and to the list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as SPAM/JUNK mail. Please note, if you opt out of receiving emails, you can visit governmentjobs.com, log into your profile and check your inbox. The inbox retains a copy of all emails sent, for your records. DO NOT select "Off" under Email Preferences within your profile or click "Unsubscribe" on our notices if you would like LACERA to notify you regarding your application status, test schedules, and other important information pertaining to your candidacy for this position. LACERA will not consider allegations of not receiving the email notification as an acceptable reason to authorize a reschedule or late exam administration COVID-19 VACCINATION MANDATE: All County workforce members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Successful candidates for this position will be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department. APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION: Application must be submitted online. Applicants can check the status of their applications at any time by logging into their account on www.governmentjobs.com. The acceptance of an employment application depends upon whether or not an applicant has provided adequate information that clearly demonstrates meeting the Selection Requirements for the position as stated above. Please complete the application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and completely. Information provided in the supplemental questionnaire must be reflected in the application to be considered. Failure to provide complete information on the employment application and on the supplemental questionnaire will impact the assessment of an applicant's qualifications and acceptance in the selection process. Applications submitted without the complete work history and the supplemental questions completed in their entirety will be rejected as incomplete. "See application" or "See resume" or copy and paste of work experience is not sufficient or qualifying responses. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the completed application or supplemental questionnaire. In the space provided for education, include the names and addresses of schools attended, and number of credits, degree, and/or certificate(s) earned. In order to receive credit for any college course work, or college degree, such as an Associate, Bachelor, Master, Doctorate degree, or for completion of a certificate program, you must include a legible copy of the official diploma, official and/or unofficial transcripts, or an official letter from the accredited institution which shows the area of specialization or official certificate(s) at the time of filing or within ten (10) business days from application submission date. Applicants must provide the appropriate attachments during application submission, email the documentation to humanresources@lacera.com, or fax a photocopy of the required documents to (626) 564-6699 within ten (10) business days of filing. Please include the examination title and number on the documentation. Failure to provide the appropriate documentation may result in your application being rejected as incomplete and will be removed from consideration. Your employment history should be listed in order beginning with the most recent. For each job held, provide the name and address of your employer, your job titles, beginning and ending dates, description of work performed, and reason for leaving. If you have worked in more than one position for one employer, list each job title and/or area of assignment separately on the application to demonstrate your experience in various assignments/occupational areas. Part-time experience will be evaluated on the basis of its fractional equivalent of a 40-hour workweek. All required experience must be paid. This position may require working evenings, weekends, and holidays. TO APPLY ONLINE GO TO: www.lacera.com and click on the Careers link. Faxed, emailed, or hardcopy (paper) applications will not be accepted. COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Candidate(s) who complete examination process with acceptable results will be considered by the Department hiring authority. Upon an offer of employment, a comprehensive background investigation will be conducted, which includes verification of experience, and/or education, credit history, and fingerprinting through the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. BACKGROUND CHECK: Except for a very limited number of positions, candidates will not be asked to provide information about conviction history until they receive a contingent offer of employment. LACERA will make an individualized assessment of whether or not a candidates conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including but not limited to; evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. IMPORTANT NOTE: Please note that ALL information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION or RESCISSION OF APPOINTMENT. Utilizing VERBIAGE from the Classification Specification, Minimum Requirements, and/or Desirable Qualifications serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION and you may be DISQUALIFIED. Applications may be rejected at any stage of the examination process. Requests for accommodation: humanresources@lacera.com Teletype Telephone: (800) 899-4099 Department Contact Name: Sharon Norton Department Email: humanresources@lacera.com </div> </div> </div> </div>
Posted: 25-Oct-2022
Updated: 06-Sep-2024
Closed: 30-Nov-2023
Employer Type: In-House

Staff Counsel, LACERA

LACERA