DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL IV

State of California; California (MO); On-site; USD 134,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

California Department of Justice seeks an Employment Law Section Deputy Attorney General IV to handle complex civil employment matters, including motions, depositions, and trials. You will draft appellate briefs, defend agency actions, and advise state agencies on employment issues. Telework options are available with occasional in-office requirements.

Applicants must be active in the California State Bar. The role offers a competitive salary and opportunity for appellate experience in a major

Qualifications

• Civil litigation experience in California state or federal courts.
• Excellent legal research skills.
• Experience drafting and arguing pre-trial motions and briefs.
• Ability to interview witnesses and advocate at hearings.
• Strong written advocacy and communication with clients and courts.

Responsibilities

• Independently handling complex civil employment cases, including motions and depositions.
• Handling jury and bench trials and administrative hearings.
• Defending agency actions and drafting appellate briefs.
• Providing client analyses and recommendations; training and advising agencies.
• Collaborating with colleagues and managing calendars and deadlines.

Skills

Civil litigation

Legal research

Motions & briefs

Deposition & trial

Client communication

Job description

Job Posting:Employment Law Section Deputy Attorney General IV

Department of Justice

JC-530542 -

JC-530542 - Employment Law Section Deputy Attorney General IV

$11,993.00 - $16,096.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/1/2026

Do you love litigation and want more trial experience? Are you committed to serving the people of the State of California? Are you interested in defending the operations of over 100 critical state agencies?

As part of our Employment Law Section practice group of the California Department of Justice, you will handle challenges involving the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, California Family Rights Act, and the Whistleblower Protection Act, among others.

ELSdeputy duties include:

• Independently handling all aspects of complex civil employment cases, including drafting and arguing motions, interviewing witnesses, conducting and defending depositions and other discovery, preparing and arguing summary judgment motions, expert discovery, and preparing for trial
• Handling jury and bench trials
• Handling contested administrative evidentiary hearings before the State Personnel Board
• Defending agency administrative actions against petitions for writs 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

All applicants must reside in California and be active members in good standing of the California State Bar.

Working Conditions

ELSdeputies 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.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL IV
• DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL III
• DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL V

Employment Law Section Deputy Attorney General IV

Classification:

DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL IV $11,993.00 - $16,096.00 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Shall Consider:

DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL III

$10,852.00 - $15,325.00

DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL V

$12,659.00 - $16,883.00

# of Positions:

Multiple

Work Location:

Hybrid

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

These positions are located in the Division of Civil Law, Employment Law Section, and may be filled in Sacramento (JC-530538), Oakland (JC-530540), Los Angeles (JC-530541), or San Diego (JC-530542).

The starting salary for each classification will be:

• Deputy Attorney General III (5 years): $12,046
• Deputy Attorney General IV (6+ years): $13,313
• Deputy Attorney General V (lateral): $14,051

New to State candidates in the DAG series will be hired at the starting HAM salary of the classifications.

DAG V consideration - lateral transfers only.

• Please disregard the SROA/Surplus language below, as the Department of Justice requires applicants to submit their SROA/Surplus letter, if that is the basis of their eligibility.
  
• For more information about the Department please visit the Attorney General’s website at www.oag.ca.gov .

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit. The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings. For additional information please visit Human Resources Manual - CalHR .

Additional Requirements For This Section:

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.

ELSdeputies 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.

• Must be willing to go on prison grounds to interview witnesses or take depositions.
  

Desirable Qualifications

• Civil litigation experience in California state or federal courts
• Excellent legal research skills
• Experience drafting and arguing pre-trial motions, including demurrers, motions to dismiss, and motions for summary judgment
• Effective written advocacy skills in preparing briefs, presenting testimony, and advocating at hearings before administrative bodies, trial courts, and appellate courts
• Ability to interview witnesses and examine percipient and expert witnesses at depositions, hearings, and trials
• 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
• Employment litigation experience is a plus, but not required

We value having a team diverse in viewpoints and life experiences because it enhances the quality of our legal work, and ultimately allows us to best represent our clients. A successful candidate should be well organized, detail-oriented, have a positive attitude, and be team-oriented, as well as have an excellent work ethic and strong interpersonal and collaboration skills. ELSdeputies are expected to behave with the highest level of professionalism even in high stress situations, and understand and abide by the laws of the State of California, Rules of Professional Responsibility and ethics required of all attorneys of this office.

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

Contact Information

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

Human Resources Contact:
Heather Nguyen
[phone]
[e-mail]