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About the DFPI

The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) protects consumers and oversees financial service providers and products. The DFPI supervises the operations of state-licensed financial institutions, including banks, credit unions and money transmitters. Additionally, the DFPI licenses and regulates a variety of financial service providers, including securities brokers and dealers, investment advisers, payday lenders and other consumer finance lenders. The DFPI offers benefit packages, competitive salary, a robust training program and opportunities for advancement.

 

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-501110

 

Position #(s):

410-103-5780-101

 

Working Title:

Senior Counsel

 

Classification:

ATTORNEY IV

$11,993.00 - $16,096.00 A

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

 

# of Positions:

1

 

Work Location:

Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego

 

Telework:

Hybrid

 

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

 

Job Description And Duties

CalHR has authorized the DFPI to pay candidates hired at the Attorney IV (Range A) a hire above minimum (H.A.M.) rate of $12,925.00 per month. However, effective July 1, 2025, the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 directs that each full-time employee shall receive a reduction in pay in exchange for monthly PLP 2025 leave credits. The salary range(s) included in the job advertisement and the H.A.M. rate above do not reflect the reduction in pay. All Bargaining Unit 2 classifications (including Attorney IVs) will receive a 4.62 percent reduction in pay in exchange for 8 hours of PLP 2025 leave per month. PLP 2025 leave credits do not expire and are provided in addition to standard vacation and annual leave credits.

The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) is recruiting for one Permanent, Full-time Attorney IV position within its Legal Division. This position may be based in the Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego office.

The DFPI is a California state agency that protects California consumers, small businesses, and investors, and administers multiple state licensing laws relating to financial services. Industries that the DFPI regulates include digital financial asset (including crypto asset) businesses, mortgage and student loan servicers, state-licensed lenders, investment advisors, and debt collectors. The DFPI often considers legal and policy issues presented by emerging financial technologies, and develops strategies that protect consumers and investors while encouraging financial innovation that benefits all Californians. The Legal Division is a team of attorneys and professional staff that draft regulations, legal opinions, and legislative analysis, and coordinate the DFPI’s responses to subpoenas and Public Records Act requests.

Under the general direction of an Assistant Chief Counsel of the Legal Division, the Attorney IV will draft regulations to enhance consumer protection and encourage positive financial innovation, provide legal opinions, analyze pending legislation, and work on other tasks to support the DFPI’s regulatory responsibilities.

With respect to rulemaking, the attorney will write complex and time-sensitive regulations; complete all documents necessary to comply with the Office of Administrative Law rulemaking process; schedule and lead public hearings regarding proposed rulemaking; confer with the Office of Administrative Law; and advise the Commissioner on interpretive issues under the Administrative Procedure Act. The attorney will analyze current legal developments and industry practices for the purposes of drafting regulations; initiate or lead projects that involve analysis of legal, economic, regulatory, and social trends that may result in changes in the policies and interpretations of the Commissioner; initiate or lead special projects to implement Department laws and policies; consult with stakeholder groups and other local, state, and federal agencies in order to formulate new regulations; and work with third-party vendors to perform studies to guide rulemaking decisions. The attorney will lead or participate in internal task forces and serve as a subject matter expert and main point of contact and liaison to other state and federal agencies.

The Attorney IV will also write internal legal opinions and external interpretive opinions in response to requests from Department programs and businesses that submit opinion requests consistent with Commissioner’s Release 61-C. Legal and interpretive opinions help Department programs understand the laws they administer and assist private parties in understanding whether a planned business will operate in compliance with the Department’s interpretation of the laws it administers. In drafting legal opinions, the Attorney IV will consider legal precedents and rules of statutory interpretation, public policies underlying the statutes the Department administers, and the practical concerns of the Department’s non-attorney staff responsible for administering the law.

The Attorney IV is also expected to serve as a lead attorney on complex projects, to review and provide feedback for other attorneys’ work product, and to mentor junior attorneys. You will find additional information about the job in the duty statement. This recruitment may be used to fill subsequent vacancies of these positions within the next 180 days.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

 

Final Filing Date: 12/29/2025

 

Examination Information

Applicants will need to take and pass the online Attorney IV exam/assessment to be eligible to apply for Attorney IV positions. Please visit: https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1581

 

Minimum Qualifications

 

All Attorney Levels

 

All classifications require active membership in The California State Bar. (Applicants who are not members of The California State Bar but who are eligible to take the California State Bar examination or are in their final year of law school will be admitted to the examination but will not be considered eligible for appointment until they are admitted to The State Bar.)

 

Applicants who are six months from meeting the required legal experience will be admitted to the examination, but must meet the total required years of experience prior to appointment.

 

Attorney IV

 

Six years of legal experience in the practice of law*, one year of which must have been at a level equivalent to an Attorney III or higher.

 

* “Legal experience in the practice of law" is defined as: (1) only that legal experience acquired after admission to any State Bar, or (2) experience as a judicial clerk for a federal court, California's state courts, or any other state's courts, or (3) legal experience acquired while practicing under a provisional license to practice law issued by the State Bar of California's Provisional Licensure Program, to constitute experience in the practice of law. For an individual's judicial clerkship to qualify as “legal experience in the practice of law," the experience must have been gained after receipt of a Juris Doctor or equivalent degree.

 

Consider a rewarding and challenging career with the DFPI!

 

DFPI Website: www.dfpi.ca.gov