Special Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights

California Department of Justice; California; On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The California Department of Justice is seeking a Special Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in California. This role involves advising the Attorney General on civil rights litigation and policy while managing cross-divisional work. Qualified candidates should have 5 to 7 years of legal experience, particularly in civil rights law, and strong communication and leadership skills. The position offers the opportunity to represent the Attorney General at various meetings and necessitates working from locations such as Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, or San Francisco.

Qualifications

• 5 to 7 years of legal or policy experience, preferably in civil rights law.
• Ability to prioritize and execute legal and policy objectives.
• Establish relationships with civil rights policy leaders.

Responsibilities

• Advise the Attorney General on civil rights-related litigation and policy.
• Coordinate and develop tracking for civil rights-related litigation.
• Represent the Attorney General at meetings with agencies and groups.

Skills

Legal/litigation experience

Public policy experience

Strong written and oral communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership ability

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent

Job description

The Special Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights serves as the principal advisor to the Attorney General and Chief Deputy Attorney General regarding civil rights related litigation and policy matters. The Special Assistant Attorney General advances the Attorney General’s civil rights-related legal and policy priorities within the Department and serves as liaison between the Attorney General’s Office and external individuals and/or interest groups on civil rights-related matters.

The Special Assistant Attorney General coordinates and assists in developing and tracking the Department’s civil rights-related litigation and resolving major cases reflecting the priorities of the Attorney General, working primarily with the Department’s Civil Rights Enforcement Section and Police Practices Section. In particular, the Special Assistant works on litigation, legislation and policy related to discrimination (race, gender, LGBTQ+, etc.), voting rights, disability rights, children’s justice, education, hate crimes, police misconduct, and pattern and practice investigations. They manage cross-divisional policy work within the Department to ensure office policy decisions and programs are consistent with the Attorney General’s stated goals. The Special Assistant Attorney General also plays an integral role in the federal accountability work being done by the Department vis a vis the current federal administration.

The Special Assistant serves under the general supervision of the Chief Deputy Attorney General and the direct supervision of the Chief of Policy to the Attorney General.

Frequently, the Special Assistant Attorney General will represent or accompany the Attorney General at meetings and events involving local, state, and federal agencies, associations, and advocacy groups.

Minimum Qualifications

We are seeking qualified attorneys with excellent academic credentials, legal/litigation experience, and public policy experience. A minimum of 5 to 7 years’ experience performing legal or policy duties, with a background in civil rights law. The ideal candidate will have established relationships with civil rights policy leaders at the local, state, and national level and is a strategic thinker with the ability to identify, prioritize, and execute the Attorney General’s legal and policy objectives in the realm of civil rights.

Desirable Qualifications

Highly organized, strong written and oral communication skills (i.e., drafting summaries and making clear and concise presentations on key issues); able to manage multiple tasks and projects at the same time; have excellent interpersonal skills; demonstrated leadership ability, effective manager of own and others’ work; ability to interact positively and effectively with other members of the Attorney General’s Office at all levels; an understanding of the state and federal political environment and the impact on civil rights policy strategies and goals; and sharp attention to details as well as an appreciation for the big picture.

(This individual will need to be able to report to either our Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, or San Francisco offices)