DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL IV

Job Description and Duties

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.

ELS deputy 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. 

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Special Requirements

• A LiveScan check will be required.

• Deputies must be active members of the California State Bar.
  

• If you submit your application by mail, please contact the HR consultants to confirm it has been received.

• Clearly indicate the Job Control Code ( JC-530540) 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 Office of the Attorney General. The process is described at: .

• You do not have to take an exam before you apply for a job. However, you must complete and pass the exam to be eligible for hire.

• Please note that appointment to the DAG classifications will be made using the following examinations:
  DAG III exam– at least 5 years of legal experience: DAG III Examination DAG IV exam– at least 6 years of legal experience: 

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: 10/1/2026

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 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-Heather Nguyen

Attn: Heather Nguyen (JC-530540)

1300 I Street Suite 720

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-Heather Nguyen

Heather Nguyen (JC-530540)

1300 I Street Suite 720

Sacramento , CA 95814

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

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 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
• Other - Writing sample reflecting analytical abilities and effective writing style, such as an appellate brief, a memorandum in supportof a motion for summary judgment, a trial brief, a mediation brief, or a motion to dismiss or closing argument before an administrative body.

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.

Benefits

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
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Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Officer
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California Relay Service: View phone number on us.fitly.work (TTY), View phone number on us.fitly.work (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

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.
  

• ELS deputies 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.