Correctional Law Section Deputy Attorney Genera...

Closing Date: 2nd March, 2026

Description:

The Correctional Law Section is hiring a Deputy Attorney General to join our Appeals Team, where they will frequently handle impactful appeals that often involve cutting-edge issues involving constitutional law and civil rights in a supportive, collaborative environment.

The Correctional Law Section is one of the largest sections in the Civil Division of the California Attorney General's Office, with approximately 125 deputies in several locations statewide. Deputies in the Section handle all aspects of civil litigation, from inception through trial, settlement, and appeal. Our caseload includes individual civil-rights cases and class actions, often involving high-profile matters, and we represent high-ranking government officials as well as correctional administrators and employees.

Appeals Team deputies focus on appeals, including appeals that arise from the Section's class actions. Attorneys draft appellate briefs and argue in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and in state courts of appeal. Appeals Team members also work collaboratively to edit appellate briefs, prepare deputies for oral argument, engage with colleagues and clients regarding appellate strategy, advise deputies on trial matters to preserve or avoid issues for appeal, and confer with attorneys in other sections, including our Solicitor General's Office, on crossover matters.

Qualified applicants should have excellent writing, oral advocacy, analytical, and editing skills. This is a full-time position, in a collegial office environment, with a flexible hybrid telework policy. Travel and in-person attendance may be required for court appearances and for other operational reasons.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Minimum Requirements:
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.
Deputy Attorney General III
Deputy Attorney General
Deputy Attorney General IV
Additional Documents
Job Application Package Checklist
Duty Statement

Department Information:

• This position is located in the Division of Civil Law, Correctional Law Section and may be filled in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego. Please clearly indicate which city you prefer in your cover letter.
• 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.
• The Deputy Attorney General classifications qualify for a “Hire Above Minimum" (HAM) salary (Hiring Above Minimum Policy).
• 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.
• DAG V consideration - lateral transfers only.
• For more information about the department please visit the Attorney General's web site at www.oag.ca.gov.
• Please visit our webpage: Become a DOJ Deputy Attorney General | State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.
• If you would like to speak with a recruiter prior to submitting your application, please email recruiters@doj.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.

Special Requirements:
A fingerprint check will be required.

Travel to state prisons, including some in remote areas, may be required.

Clearly indicate the Job Control Code (JC-506343) 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.

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/how-to-apply.

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
• DAG III exam– at least 5 years of legal experience: DAG III Examination
• DAG IV exam– at least 6 years of legal experience: DAG IV Examination

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.

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:
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Department of Justice
OHR-Heather Nguyen
Attn: Heather Nguyen (JC-506343)
1300 I Street Suite 720
Sacramento, CA 95814
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Department of Justice
OHR-Heather Nguyen
Heather Nguyen (JC-506343)
1300 I Street Suite 720
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• 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.
• Other - Cover letter written by the candidate, without assistance of any kind, including use of Gen AI.
• Other - Writing sample consisting of a dispositive motion, pretrial brief, or appellate brief, preferably written in the last year, without the assistance of Gen AI or any other type of AI.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications:
In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
Strong research and writing skills (exhibited by recent and frequent drafting of discovery motions, dispositive motions, and appellate briefs); recent and frequent experience in general civil litigation; strong oral-argument skills (exhibited by recent and frequent appearances in trial and appellate courts, and participation in mediations or settlement conferences); recent and frequent experience in civil discovery, depositions, trial preparation, bench or jury trials, and appellate work; interest in correctional law, prison procedures, and applicable constitutional law; ability to handle cases independently; and experience handling complex litigation. Strong applicants will have researched, written, and argued at least one dispositive motion, pretrial motion, or appeal within the prior year, and will have responded to and propounded discovery (including at least one deposition) within th

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