Deputy Attorney General - Employment Law Section

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 is looking for attorneys with 0-5 years of experience to develop and hone their litigation and trial skills.

ELS deputy duties include:

• Handling all aspects of complex civil employment cases, including drafting and arguing motions, interviewing witnesses, conducting depositions and other discovery, preparing and arguing summary judgment motions, conducting expert discovery, and preparing for trial.
• First- and second-chairing jury and bench trials.
• Handling contested administrative evidentiary hearings before the State Personnel Board.
• Defending agency administrative actions against petitions for writ 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 .

Working Conditions

ELS 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, and are expected to be available for meetings and to respond to emails and phone calls during regular business hours.

Special Requirements

• 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 consultant to confirm it has been received.

• Clearly indicate the Job Control Code ( JC-533714) 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/Attorney exam – less than 5 years of experience:  DAG/Attorney Examination

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:

• Excellent legal research skills
• Ability to interview witnesses and examine both percipient and expert witnesses at depositions, hearings, and trials
• Effective written advocacy skills in preparing briefs, presenting testimony, and advocating at hearings before administrative bodies, trial courts, and appellate courts
• Ability to learn and competently navigate litigation and document management software
• Ability to clearly and respectfully advise and communicate with clients, colleagues, and court personnel
• Openness to collaboration, including receiving feedback from colleagues, supervisors, and clients on case strategy and written work product
• Experience presenting testimony, and advocating at hearings before administrative bodies, trial courts, and appellate courts
  
• Civil litigation experience obtained as a law clerk or extern
• Employment litigation experience is a plus, but not required

A successful candidate should be well organized, detail-oriented, have a positive attitude, and be team-oriented, as well as have an excellent work ethic and strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.  We value 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.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website (under Unit 2 - Attorneys and Hearing Officers) and the CalPERS website.

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.

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 support of a motion for summary judgment,  a trial brief, a mediation brief, or a motion to dismiss or closing argument before an administrative body.