Closing Date: 23rd March, 2026

Description:

Job Description and Duties:
The California Department of Justice is responsible for protecting and serving the People and interests of California. Among other things, we represent the People of California in civil and criminal matters before trial courts, intermediate appellate courts, and Supreme Courts of California and the United States, and serve as legal counsel to state officers, and most state agencies. Highlighting the importance of these functions are developments at the federal and state level in healthcare, which can or have adversely impacted California.

The Competition Unit of the Healthcare Rights and Access Section conducts all antitrust and other competition-related legal work that impacts the healthcare and pharmaceutical markets and consumers in California. The Competition Unit investigates and enforces California's antitrust and unfair competition laws as well as federal antitrust laws as they might impact the affordability, accessibility, availability, and quality of healthcare services and pharmaceutical products. Typical matters include investigation and litigation over collusive pay-for-delay agreements between pharmaceutical companies, review of proposed mergers of hospitals, healthcare providers, or drug companies in consolidated markets, antitrust cases against hospital systems using anticompetitive contracts and conduct to inflate pricing, and investigations of unusual market moves or pricing. These matters may also include reviewing and proposing legislation, commenting on regulations and guidelines, and other advocacy work.

The Deputy Attorneys General (DAGs) work often in teams that handle this proactive healthcare work in the Attorney General's Office, including difficult and complex legal work related to investigations, trials, writs, and appeals on all antitrust and competition-related matters relating to healthcare, which require the highest level of independent judgment. They may also coordinate and facilitate communications with other state Attorney General's Offices and other federal and state government agencies working on similar issues. DAGs work under the direction of the Supervising Deputy Attorney General, the Senior Assistant Attorney General, the Chief Assistant Attorney General of the Public Rights Division, the Chief Deputy to the Attorney General, and the Attorney General.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement. (https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/FileDownload.aspx?aid=31000556&name=HRACombinedDutyStatements.pdf)

Working Conditions:
This is a hybrid position under current DOJ telework policy, that is subject to modification. The position provides the opportunity to work remotely or in-office most days, but some in-office attendance could be required. Travel and additional in-person attendance may be required for court appearances, meetings, or other occasional operational needs.

Minimum Requirements:

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Deputy Attorney General IV (https://hrnet.calhr.ca.gov/CalHRNet/SpecCrossReference.aspx?ClassID=5705)
Deputy Attorney General (https://hrnet.calhr.ca.gov/CalHRNet/SpecCrossReference.aspx?ClassID=5730)
Deputy Attorney General III (https://hrnet.calhr.ca.gov/CalHRNet/SpecCrossReference.aspx?ClassID=5706)
Deputy Attorney General V (https://hrnet.calhr.ca.gov/CalHRNet/SpecCrossReference.aspx?ClassID=5701)

Additional Documents

Job Application Package Checklist (http://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobApplicationPackageChecklist.aspx?JobControlId=509724)
Duty Statement (https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/FileDownload.aspx?aid=31000556&name=HRACombinedDutyStatements.pdf)

Department Information:

This position is located in the Public Rights Division, Healthcare Rights and Access Section and may be filled in San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Los Angeles, or San Diego. Please clearly indicate your preferred city or cities in your cover letter.
The Deputy Attorney General classifications qualify for a “Hire Above Minimum" (HAM) salary (Hiring Above Minimum Policy). (https://hrmanual.calhr.ca.gov/Home/ManualItem/1/1707#:~:text=Per%20Section%205%2C%20employees%20who,@calhr.ca.gov.)
The starting salary for each classification will be:

Deputy Attorney General Range A (0-24 months): $8,846 and Range B (2-5 years): $9,956
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.
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 of Justice, please visit the Attorney General's website at http://www.oag.ca.gov.
If you'd like to speak with a recruiter prior to submitting your application, please email Recruiters@doj.ca.gov.
Please visit our webpage: Become a DOJ Deputy Attorney General | State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General. (https://oag.ca.gov/dag-recruitment)
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. (https://hrmanual.calhr.ca.gov/Home/ManualItem/1/2113)

Special Requirements:

A fingerprint check will be required.
Clearly indicate the Job Control Code (JC-509724) 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 State Application.
DAG V - Lateral transfers only
Individuals who are new to state service must have list eligibility in order to gain employment with the California Office of the Attorney General. The process is described at: http://oag.ca.gov/careers/exams
Please note that appointment to the DAG classifications will be made using the following examinations:

DAG/Attorney exam – less than 5 years of experience: DAG/Attorney Examination (https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1579)
DAG III exam– at least 5 years of legal experience: DAG III Examination (https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1683)
DAG IV exam– at least 6 years of legal experience: DAG IV Examination (https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=4914)

Application Instructions:
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 3/23/2026

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.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How to Apply:
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Justice
OHR-Nicole Farrah
Attn: Nicole Farrah (JC-509724)
1300 I Street, 7th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Justice
OHR-Nicole Farrah
Nicole Farrah (JC-509724)
1300 I Street, 7th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your applic