Assistant Counsel Jobs in California

The position may be filled at the Associate Counsel or Assistant General Counsel based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and the selection process.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) is seeking highly qualified applicants to join the SCPPA Legal team in the role of Associate Counsel or Assistant General Counsel. The successful candidate will be appointed at the level commensurate with their experience, qualifications, and demonstrated ability to independently handle complex legal matters. This position reports to SCPPA's General Counsel.

ABOUT SCPPA

SCPPA is a joint powers agency, a government agency created in 1980 by Southern California cities and an irrigation district to jointly finance, manage, operate, and own electric generation and transmission projects. SCPPA has twelve member agencies: the cities of Anaheim, Azusa, Banning, Burbank, Cerritos, Colton, Glendale, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Riverside and Vernon, and the Imperial Irrigation District. Together, SCPPA's members serve electricity to more than two million residential and business customers throughout Southern California.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

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  Provide legal advice and services to the SCPPA Board of Directors, SCPPA members, Executive Director and staff.
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  Advise on compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies.
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  Draft, review, negotiate and analyze contracts and project-related agreements, including power purchase agreements, purchase and sale agreements, professional services agreements, goods and services agreements, contract amendments, transmission agreements, interconnection agreements, and other energy-related transactions.
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  Provide legal services and advice regarding SCPPA's existing and proposed energy projects and assets.
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  Advise on public agency matters, including procurement requirements, the Ralph M. Brown Act, California Public Records Act, conflict of interest laws, and other laws applicable to joint powers authorities and publicly owned utilities.
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  Review Board agenda reports and related materials for legal content and draft Board resolutions, policies, legal memoranda, and other legal documents.
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  Assist with public records requests and administrative legal matters.
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  Collaborate with SCPPA member attorneys, consultants, and outside counsel.
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  Advise on transactional, real property, contracting, financing, regulatory, environmental, litigation and other matters affecting SCPPA.
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  Represent or serve as counsel to SCPPA at Board, committee and working group meetings, as assigned.
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  Attend and participate in professional group meetings; maintain awareness of new trends and developments in the field of energy law; incorporate new developments as appropriate.

For the full scope of duties, please see Job Descriptions, attached.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical, communication, negotiation and legal research and writing skills; exercise sound judgment; manage multiple assignments effectively; and provide practical, timely, ethical, and solution-oriented legal advice. Experience in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable:

• California public agency / municipal law

• Joint Powers Authority law

• Public power / electric utility law

• Energy transactions / power purchase agreements

• Renewable energy / project development

• Public contracting / procurement

• Environmental law/ CEQA

• Real property / leases / easements

• Transmission / interconnection agreements

• Public finance / tax/ regulatory matters

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Associate Counsel - Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited institution. Prior experience with, and demonstrated interest in, energy law and/or public agency law is highly desirable.

Assistant General Counsel - Juris Doctor degree and a minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience practicing law in California, with demonstrated experience independently handling complex transactional, public agency, electric utility, regulatory, or related legal matters.

Required Licenses: Applicants for both Associate Counsel and Assistant General Counsel positions must have an active license to practice law in California and be in good standing with the California State Bar throughout employment.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Associate Counsel: $122,000 - $162,000 annually. Assistant General Counsel: $162,815 - $191,890 annually.

SCPPA offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Retirement Benefit: Participation in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).
  • “Classic” Members: 2.5% at 55. Classic Members currently pay an 8% employee contribution.
  • PEPRA Members: 2.0% at 62, calculated using the highest 36 consecutive months of pensionable compensation. Employee paid required contribution amounts are established annually by the CalPERS Board.
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457(b) Plan) with employer match set by SCPPA Board of Directors.
• Flexible Benefits Plan that allows Eligible Employees to choose from a variety of benefits to formulate a plan that best suits their needs, and pay for certain health care, dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis.
• Employer subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
• Group Life Insurance and Disability Insurance.
• Work Schedule: Most employees currently work a 9/80 work schedule. SCPPA currently offers a hybrid work opportunities (opportunity to work remotely on Mondays, Fridays and some Thursdays, subject to in-person meeting obligations) following initial 180 days of employment.
• Holiday Pay: SCPPA currently has 13 paid holidays.
• Universal Leave hours accrued based on years of service with SCPPA. (Currently set at 176 hours for employees with 1-5 years of service). Vacation cash out program.
• Tuition Reimbursement Program: Currently up to $5,000 for eligible courses following 12 months of employment.
• Employee Assistance Program.

Detailed information is found ins SCPPA’s current Employee Benefits Policy. SCPPA employee benefits and work schedule are subject to change.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Qualified candidates should submit an application, cover letter, resume, completed questionnaire, and three professional references. Applications will be reviewed as received, and candidates whose qualifications most closely meet SCPPA's needs will be invited to participate in the interview process.

Submit application materials to: SCPPA Administrative Services | sortiz@scppa.org

Deadline for Initial Review of Applications: Friday, October 16, 2026

We anticipate interviews will be held in late October/ early November.

Employment Application is available on our website https://scppa.org/careers/scppa-job-openings/

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

SCPPA is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected status.