Description:

Job Description and Duties:
Looking for more than just a job? Here's your chance to be involved in significant cases that can have a meaningful impact on critical health, education and welfare policy in California.

The Attorney General's Health, Education, and Welfare section (HEW) is seeking highly motivated attorneys, at all levels, who want to represent state agencies in high-impact, policy-driven litigation involving cutting-edge issues of state constitutional law and statutory interpretation. In this role, you will defend statewide laws, rules, and policies with far-reaching implications for large segments of the population in such areas as public-education delivery, Medi-Cal benefits, regulation of healthcare providers, constitutional free-speech and privacy rights, and the State's End of Life Option Act. HEW's cases, which are often precedent-setting, high profile, and groundbreaking, create the opportunity for our attorneys to frequently interact with the Governor's Office, state-agency leadership, and a variety of outside interest groups.

HEW represents the Governor, the Attorney General, and over 30 state agencies in defense of the State's health, educational, and welfare programs. Our work safeguards the availability and distribution of vital state benefits and resources, including Medi-Cal, unemployment benefits, CalWorks, In-Home Supportive Services, and public K-12 education.

If you desire to be part of a talented team that furthers California's important public interests every day, then we strongly encourage you to apply. We offer the opportunity to lead your own cases, attain your professional goals, and gain valuable litigation experience. Job training, excellent benefits, and promotional advancement are available.

Duties include:

Representing state agencies and officials in all phases of complex civil litigation in state and federal courts
Defending constitutional and statutory challenges to state laws and regulations
Carrying a diverse caseload, including writ proceedings, motion practice, and civil/class action litigation
Researching and drafting briefing on issues of first impression
Advising clients and providing detailed case analyses and recommendations
Communicating with opposing counsel, clients, and judges

HEW 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.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P7X675V

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement. (https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/FileDownload.aspx?aid=22992737&name=ALLHEWdutystmtDAG-DAGV.pdf)

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=425437)
Duty Statement (https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/FileDownload.aspx?aid=22992737&name=ALLHEWdutystmtDAG-DAGV.pdf)

Department Information:

This position is located in the Division of Civil Law, Health, Education & Welfare Section, and may be filled in either Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento or San Francisco. Please clearly indicate which city you prefer in your cover letter.
The hiring unit has established the following cut-off dates for this job control: every Thursday. Applications will be reviewed according to the date of submission. If your application is submitted after the most recent cut-off date, it will be applied to the next review period.
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.
DAG V consideration - lateral transfers only.
If you would like to speak with a recruiter prior to submitting your application, please email Recruiters@doj.ca.gov
For more information about the department please visit the Attorney General's website at www.oag.ca.gov.
Please visit our new webpage: Become a DOJ Deputy Attorney General | State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General. (https://oag.ca.gov/dag-recruitment)

Special Requirements:

A fingerprint check will be required.
Must be willing and able to work a full-time schedule which may exceed a 40 hour week when operational needs require.
Deputies must be active members of the California State Bar.
Clearly indicate the Job Control Code (JC-425437) 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.
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:

Attorney exam – less than 5 years of experience: Attorney Examination (https://exams.spb.ca.gov/exams/sc/index.cfm)
DAG III exam– at least 5 years of legal experience: DAG III Examination (https://jobs.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/Bulletin.aspx?examCD=9PB28)
DAG IV exam– at least 6 years of legal experience: DAG IV Examination (https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/dag-iv-bulletin.pdf)

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:

Superior legal research, writing, analytical, and oral advocacy skills
Demonstrated aptitude for litigating complex, high-profile matters or a strong desire to litigate such cases
Litigation experience in federal and state courts
Experience in class actions or a strong desire to litigate such cases
Experience drafting pleadings and motions, conducting offensive and defensive discovery, including depositions and expert discovery
Ability to work independently and in teams under time pressure, while applying strategic judgment and producing high quality work
Ability to present well-researched and reasoned arguments before the court, both orally and in writing
Openness to collaboration, including receiving feedback from colleagues, supervisors, and clients on written work product
Demonstration of a genuine interest in working for the government

A successful candidate will be well organized, detail-oriented, team-oriented, and have a positive attitude, an excellent work ethic, and strong interpersonal skills. HEW values 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.

Deputies are public officials who represent the State and the Attorney General. We expect deputies to provide excellent representation, and to treat clients, staff, and opposing counsel with respect and professionalism. Deputies must act in the public interest and comply with financial disclosure and conflict-of-interest laws and regulations.