Appeals, Writs, and Trials Attorney - San Francisco

Job Description and Duties

Deputies in the Appeals, Writs and Trials section of the Criminal Law Division handle all felony criminal appeals and related writs before the state courts of appeal and the California Supreme Court, including death penalty cases. Deputies also respond to habeas corpus litigation in the United States District Court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Federal habeas litigation may involve discovery and evidentiary hearings. State and federal work routinely requires completion within narrow time frames. Deputies can expect frequent oral arguments in the First and Sixth Districts of the California Court of Appeal, located in San Francisco and San Jose, as well as occasional appearances in the California Supreme Court, United States District Courts in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Sacramento, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. On occasion, the San Francisco office handles recusal trials in Bay Area counties and coastal counties as far north as Humboldt and Del Norte to San Benito and Monterey in the south.

The San Francisco office offers the choice of primarily working remotely, subject to operational needs.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Special Requirements

• A fingerprint 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-523995) and the title of this position in the “Examination or Job Title 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:

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

  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.

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:

An interest in and talent for detailed legal research and writing; experience with appellate or motions practice; strong oral advocacy skills; an ability to work efficiently under substantial time pressure; knowledge of criminal laws and procedures; trial advocacy experience; a willingness to travel as required on cases.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Additional Application Filing Information

Please note, if using the United States Postal Service for delivery, there is no guarantee that your application will be date stamped and will  arrive by the final filing date. If your application does not have a postmark or date stamp and arrives after the final filing date,  your application will not be accepted. Therefore, to ensure timely delivery of your application, it is recommended that you use  either electronic delivery, parcel service, or certified mail. Using one of these options will provide proof of delivery prior to the final filing  date. If you are mailing your application, as a courtesy we ask that you contact the HR consultant listed to confirm your application has been received. This is not required, but highly encouraged so we can ensure the timely submission of your application. 

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.
• Statement of Qualifications - A personal statement, no longer than two pages in length, explaining 1) why the candidate is interested in the position and 2) why the candidate is qualified for the position. Cover letters do not take the place of the SOQ.
• Other - Writing sample consisting of a dispositive motion, pretrial motion or appellate brief preferably written in the prior year. The writing sample or excerpt of a brief or pleading should be no more than 25 pages in length.