Salary : $143,964.96 - $217,902.48 Annually
Location : Pasadena, CA
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: RC 26-02
Department: Legal Services
Opening Date: 05/28/2026
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: 991
POSITION INFORMATIONTHIS IS NOT A CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONThis announcement is for a Call for Resumes for the position of Staff Counsel, LACERA - (Benefits) The Call for Resumes can be officially suspended at any time. Annual Salary: $11,997.08 - $18,158.54 Monthly.
BENEFITS:LACERA offers a comprehensive benefits package including a cafeteria benefit plan (14.5% - 17% of monthly base salary), annual leave, defined benefit retirement plan, Savings Plan (401k), Deferred Compensation Plan (457), 13 paid holidays per year, savings plan, tuition reimbursement, hybrid work schedule, and a ride share program.
ABOUT THE POSITION: The Legal Division is comprised of a Chief Counsel, Senior Staff Counsels, Staff Counsels, Legal Analysts, and Legal Secretaries. Legal staff work in one of four sections: Litigation and Employment, Investments and Commercial Transactions, Benefits, and Disability.
The current vacancy is in the Benefits Section of the Legal Division. This position will be part of a team of attorneys, legal analysts, and secretarial support that provide legal advice and representation on all aspects of administration of the pension plan and retiree health care plan other than disability to LACERA and its Boards of Retirement and Investments, the Executive Office, the Member Operations Group, and other divisions as needed in the performance of LACERA's fiduciary duty of loyalty and prudence in providing benefits to members and their beneficiaries. Issues will include interpretation of the California Constitution, County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (CERL), the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), the Internal Revenue Code, and other benefit eligibility and delivery laws, regulations and internal policies, and procedures. The position will involve legal research, analysis, writing, collaboration, and presentation to the Board of Retirement and its committees. The position will advise the Board of Retirement on administrative appeals by members.
BENEFITS STAFF COUNSEL ROLE:The Benefits Staff Counsel position reports to LACERA's Senior Benefits Staff Counsel. The role of Benefits Staff Counsel is responsible for the following duties:
- Providing legal support to the Board of Retirement, the Executive Office, the Member Operations Group, and other LACERA Divisions as needed on a wide range of benefits matters, including benefits eligibility (other than disability), the interpretation and application of CERL, PEPRA, the Internal Revenue Code, and other relevant state and federal laws and regulations and LACERA policies and procedures.
- Working closely with Senior Benefits Staff Counsel, other attorneys (including outside counsel), and staff, provide legal advice on complex benefits issues, benefits-related tax questions, fiduciary matters, and ethics and compliance matters.
- Preparing legal memos and presenting them to the Board of Retirement for action or counseling on benefits issues and topics in open and closed session, including advising on the development and refinement of LACERA's policies, procedures, and practices.
- Advising staff and the Board of Retirement in connection with administrative appeals filed by members on benefits issues.
- Processing domestic relations orders submitted by members in connection with the split of pension rights and related issues, including guardianship, and conservatorship, and reviewing Powers of Attorney.
- Supervising the activities of legal staff and outside counsel on benefits issues.
- Providing legal support to the Boards, Committees, and staff at meetings in the absence of Senior Benefits Staff Counsel and Chief Counsel.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS To view the complete job description for this classification, please click
REQUIREMENTS SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:Four years' experience in the practice of employee benefits law, tax law related to employee benefit plans, public agency law or a comparable legal specialty.
Other Requirements: Applicants must be able to perform the essential functions of this classification, with or without a reasonable accommodation.
LICENSE: Admission to practice law in all courts of California
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS- Demonstrated experience providing legal advice with regards to the administration of retirement, health, and other employee benefits.
- Demonstrated experience reviewing court orders regarding dissolution, guardianship, and conservatorship.
- Demonstrated experience making presentations on benefit issues.
- Demonstrated experience advising a board of trustees or directors, or a board level committee, preferably on benefits issues.
How to Submit Your Interest...If you wish to be considered for this position, please submit your resume along with a cover letter that describes how you meet the selection requirements and any of the desired qualifications listed above, along with 2 writing samples.
Resume, cover letter and 2 writing samples MUST be attached during the submission of your online application. Faxed, emailed, or hard copy submissions will not be accepted. Application submissions without a resume AND cover letter AND 2 writing samples may be disqualified from further consideration.
To submit your interest online, go to or click directly here.
Please contact Sharon Norton, Senior Human Resources Analyst at for any questions.This is not a Civil Service Examination 
