DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL IV

Job Description and Duties

The Health Quality Enforcement Section (HQE) is committed to protecting consumers, and enhancing public safety in its practice of health care law on behalf of the Attorney General and the State of California. HQE's work is sensitive, subject to public scrutiny, and calculated to protect health care consumers. HQE seeks experienced public interest minded litigation attorneys to represent health care oversight state agencies in both prosecuting administrative cases against the licenses of dangerously negligent and incompetent medical professionals, including physicians, osteopaths, podiatrists, and psychologists, and defending our clients' health and safety mandates in state and federal civil litigation.

Day-to-day duties include:

• Analyzing medical records and medical expert reports in order to recommend charges and causes for license discipline against licensees under the jurisdiction of health care oversight client agencies
• Representing clients in administrative cases, writs, appeals, and injunctive proceedings in courts, including accusations, statement of issues, requests for bail restrictions and sentencing recommendations in criminal court, and interim suspension petitions against negligent and/or incompetent medical practitioners
• Defending our health care oversight agency clients, board members and client staff in state and federal litigation
• Appearing in specialized proceedings, including public board meetings in both open and closed sessions, and enforcing board subpoenas in superior courts
• Working closely with client agency representatives, sworn and unsworn investigators, medical consultant and independent expert witnesses, and patients to effectuate our clients' mandate to protect the public
• Advising client agencies in programmatic and public policy issues, including providing training to agency staff, including medical consultants and investigators

Deputies are expected to work under time constraints, client and department guidelines, and to abide by ethical and professional standards. Some travel within the state is required.

This is a position with the opportunity to work in the office or remotely with regular required in-office attendance. Travel and additional in person attendance may be required for court appearances, meetings, and other occasional operational needs. 

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

• Clearly indicate the Job Control Code ( JC-523248) 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.

• Clearly indicate the basis of your eligibility in the “Explanations” section located on the first page of your STD 678 State Application. LEAP eligibility should not be disclosed.

• Must be willing and able to work a full-time schedule which may exceed a 40-hour week when operational needs require.

• Must be willing and able to travel and may be required to travel to remote locations within the State, sometimes with little notice and sometimes for lengthy periods of time.

• 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: 
  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.
  

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: 8/21/2026

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-523248)

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-523248)

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 consisting of a dispositive motion, pretrial motion, or appellate brief preferably written in the prior year.

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
View phone number on calcareers.ca.gov
View email address on calcareers.ca.gov

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
View phone number on calcareers.ca.gov
View email address on calcareers.ca.gov

California Relay Service: View phone number on calcareers.ca.gov (TTY), View phone number on calcareers.ca.gov (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.