For most Californians, the workings of the Bureau of State Audits may be a mystery, but not for Sharon Reilly, its chief counsel. A graduate of UC Davis, King Hall School of Law, Reilly joined the Bureau in 1999.

The Bureau, a state government agency under the direction of State Auditor Elaine Howle, provides a wide range of assessment and evaluation services of public entities that go beyond the traditional audit. The audits performed by the Bureau are either mandated by state law or requested by a member of the California Legislature and authorized by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The topics of the audits are as diverse as the state, ranging over this last year from the settlement practices of the Department of Insurance under the former California Insurance Commissioner to the crisis in public utilities after deregulation.

Reilly is the only lawyer on the Bureau's professional staff, which consists of certified public accountants, government financial managers, and internal auditors. Although during much of the workday Reilly is busy developing creative solutions for the variety of legal issues that arise during the audit process, she also serves as a member of the Bureau's executive team providing legal advice on administrative operations and as the case manager for any litigation involving the Bureau.

Another function handled by the Bureau is the investigation of whistleblower complaints alleging improper governmental activities. Before an investigative report is released, Reilly reviews it for legal sufficiency. Often during the course of an audit, Reilly focuses on the confidentiality of documents. She finds herself explaining the Bureau's right to access records of the agency that is the subject of the audit and the restrictions the Bureau operates under when determining what information may be included in its public reports.

Reilly was well prepared for her current work with the Bureau by her nine years of experience as an attorney with the Legislative Counsel. The majority of her drafting work was in public education law. Reilly spent her last year at the Legislative Counsel's office working in a unit that provides advice to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.

One would be remiss not to mention the most important aspect of Reilly's life, that is, the balancing act she engages in each day. While many lawyers have trouble balancing a two-career marriage with one or two children, Reilly manages to juggle her duties at the Bureau with the demands of her husband Ilija Cvetich's law practice and their five children ranging in ages from 3 to 14. At the same time, Reilly serves the community by her continued membership on the Board of Directors of Courtyard School.