Are you looking to join a dynamic legal practice providing full-service support, advice, and representation to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)? The transportation sector touches all aspect of daily life and the economy in California and nationally. Caltrans is responsible for 50,000 lane miles of highway and employs 22,000 people throughout the state. To support such an extensive enterprise, Caltrans’ Legal Division is compromised of five offices statewide, including its headquarters office near the State Capitol in Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
Under the close supervision of the Deputy Chief Counsel (DCC) and/or Assistant Chief Counsel (ACC), Attorney Supervisor and attorneys, the Graduate Legal Assistant provides legal and policy support, studies, interprets and applies laws, court decisions, and other authorities in the preparation of moderately difficult and/or complex cases, opinions, and briefs; prepares and presents cases for trial; and/or does a variety of transactional work.
Practice areas include Tort, Eminent Domain, Inverse Condemnation, Environmental Law,Employment, Construction Contract Disputes, Appellate Practice, in-house transactional work and more. Our attorneys represent the Department in State and Federal courts in all phases of litigation, including trial and appellate work. They also advise and assist the Department in delivering projects. Junior attorneys and Graduate Legal Assistants are assigned to a practice group and trained in all aspects of the practice. They are given early exposure to discovery and trial preparation as well as legal research and drafting pleadings. Mid-level attorneys are expected to handle all aspects of a case including taking and defending depositions, taking cases to trial as first or second chair counsel, and appellate work. All employees receive training in Department policies and practices along with continuing legal education.
The GLA classification is primarily designed to afford law school graduates, not yet licensed by the California State Bar Association, an introduction to the practice of law. This position is a catalyst to a career as an attorney in public service. This position provides the opportunity to work with a team of other GLAs who are also starting their legal careers. Upon passing the California State Bar Examination, the Graduate Legal Assistant may compete for a permanent position as Attorney.
