DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

State of California; California (MO); On-site; USD 89,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

State of California's Department of Justice seeks a Deputy Attorney General for the Employment Law Section in Los Angeles. This permanent, full-time role offers hybrid telework and requires handling complex civil employment cases, including motions, depositions, and trials.

The position emphasizes strong legal research, advocacy, and collaboration with state agencies, judges, and clients. Applicants must be active California State Bar members and travel as needed for hearings and trials.

Qualifications

• Excellent legal research skills.
• Ability to interview witnesses and examine both percipient and expert witnesses at depositions, hearings, and trials.
• Effective written advocacy skills in briefs, testimony, and appeals.
• Ability to learn and competently navigate litigation and document management software.
• Ability to clearly advise and communicate with clients and court personnel.
• Openness to collaboration and feedback on case strategy and writing.
• Experience presenting testimony and advocating at hearings before administrative bodies, trial and appellate courts.
• Civil litigation experience from law clerk or extern work.
• Employment litigation experience is a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Handle all aspects of complex civil employment cases including motions, depositions, discovery, and summary judgment practice.
• First- and second-chair jury and bench trials.
• Manage administrative evidentiary hearings before the State Personnel Board.
• Defend agency administrative actions against mandamus petitions.
• Draft appellate briefs and argue in Courts of Appeal and Ninth Circuit.
• Obtain work safety and gun violence restraining orders.
• Provide detailed case analyses and recommendations to clients.

Skills

Interview witnesses

Examine witnesses at deposits/hearings

Written advocacy

Litigation software navigation

Client communication

Collaboration/feedback

Presenting testimony

Civil litigation experience

Employment litigation a plus

Job description

Job Posting:Deputy Attorney General - Employment Law Section

Department of Justice

JC-533714 - Deputy Attorney General - Employment Law Section

Salary

$7,969.00 - $12,026.00 per Month. New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Contract and Hours

Permanent, Full Time

Work Location

Los Angeles.

Telework

Hybrid

Job Type

Permanent, Full Time

Roles

Deputy Attorney General - Employment Law Section

Number of Positions

Multiple

Classification

Deputy Attorney General $7,969.00 - $12,026.00 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Salary Ranges

• Deputy Attorney General Range A (0-24 months): $8,846
• Deputy Attorney General Range B (2-5 years): $9,956

Eligibility

New to State candidates will be hired at the starting HAM salary of the DAG classification.

• SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.
• Individuals who are new to State service must have list eligibility in order to gain employment with the Office of the Attorney General. The process is described at: https://oag.ca.gov/careers/how-to-apply.
• Applicants must be active members of the California State Bar.
• Deputies must be active members of the California State Bar.
• Clearly indicate the Job Control Code (JC-533714) and the title of this position in the “Examination or Job Title(s) For Which You Are Applying” section located on the first page of your STD 678 State Application.
• You do not have to take an exam before you apply for a job. However, you must complete and pass the exam to be eligible for hire.
• Appointment to the DAG classifications will be made using the following examinations: DAG/Attorney exam – less than 5 years of experience: DAG/Attorney Examination.

Duties

• Handling all aspects of complex civil employment cases, including drafting and arguing motions, interviewing witnesses, conducting depositions and other discovery, preparing and arguing summary judgment motions, conducting expert discovery, and preparing for trial.
• First-and-second-chairing jury and bench trials.
• Handling contested administrative evidentiary hearings before the State Personnel Board.
• Defending agency administrative actions against petitions for writ of mandamus.
• Drafting appellate briefs and arguing before the Courts of Appeal and Ninth Circuit.
• Obtaining work safety and gun violence restraining orders.
• Communicating with clients, including providing detailed case analyses and recommendations.
• Providing training, guidance, and advice to state agencies on a variety of employment and personnel matters.
• Communicating with judges, court staff, juries, and witnesses.
• Working cooperatively, professionally, and effectively with colleagues, opposing counsel, and clients.

Qualifications

• Excellent legal research skills
• Ability to interview witnesses and examine both percipient and expert witnesses at depositions, hearings, and trials
• Effective written advocacy skills in preparing briefs, presenting testimony, and advocating at hearings before administrative bodies, trial courts, and appellate courts
• Ability to learn and competently navigate litigation and document management software
• Ability to clearly and respectfully advise and communicate with clients, colleagues, and court personnel
• Openness to collaboration, including receiving feedback from colleagues, supervisors, and clients on case strategy and written work product
• Experience presenting testimony, and advocating at hearings before administrative bodies, trial courts, and appellate courts
• Civil litigation experience obtained as a law clerk or extern
• Employment litigation experience is a plus, but not required

Minimum Requirements

• DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

Additional Requirements

ELS deputies are expected to manage their own work-related calendars with multiple deadlines and appearances in varied venues in a timely manner meeting all applicable deadlines.

Candidates should be able to work a full-time schedule, which may include long hours and weekends when necessary, to effectively represent our clients.

ELS deputies will be required to travel to conduct witness interviews and may be required to travel and attend lengthy trials and hearings in other counties requiring overnight stays.

Required Application Package Documents

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Cover letter
• Writing sample reflecting analytical abilities and effective writing style, such as an appellate brief, a memorandum in support of a motion for summary judgment, a trial brief, a mediation brief, or a motion to dismiss or closing argument before an administrative body.

Working Conditions

ELS deputies may largely choose to telework or come into the office, at their option. We are a litigation section so there are some times when in‑office attendance will be required for meetings, court appearances, or other operational reasons. Otherwise, deputies may freely telework if that is their preference. Deputies are expected to be able to report to the office if an urgent need arises, and are expected to be available for meetings and to respond to emails and phone calls during regular business hours.

Final Filing Date

10/30/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Heather Nguyen
[phone]
[e-mail]

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact

EEO Officer
[phone]
[e-mail]

Telecom Accessibility

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Benefit Information

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website (under Unit 2 - Attorneys and Hearing Officers) and the CalPERS website.