Tort & Condemnation Section - Eminent Domain & Inverse Condemnation Deputy Attorney General IV (May consider DAG III, or DAG V)

The Tort and Condemnation Section of the California Attorney General’s Office seeks experienced trial and appellate attorneys with excellent oral advocacy, analytical, and research skills to work as part of team of highly skilled and experienced attorneys defending and prosecuting complex and mass party litigation with an emphasis on eminent domain and inverse condemnation.

The Tort and Condemnation Section represents the state, its agencies, and employees in civil rights, tort, eminent domain and inverse condemnation litigation in both state and federal courts.

Deputies litigate and try difficult and sensitive cases including government tort liability, civil rights, personal injury, medical malpractice, dangerous condition of public property, eminent domain, inverse condemnation, mass flood, and fire actions.

Deputies are expected to work under time constraints, client and department guidelines, and to abide by ethical and professional standards. Deputies must possess excellent communication and writing skills and be proficient in Microsoft Word.

Some travel is required.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Salary

• $11,993 - $16,096/month

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL IV
• DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL III
• DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL V

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:

Demonstrated aptitude for difficult and complex jury trial work and demonstrated knowledge of the Eminent Domain Law are the most significant qualifications.
Demonstrated knowledge of inverse condemnation and the Water Code. Demonstrated ability to identify, analyze and propose solutions to complex issues affecting multiple cases, or client objectives which may arise during litigation in a timely and sensitive manner. The successful applicant should have a command of all aspects of civil litigation in both state and federal trial and appellate courts and experience including: superior writing skills; experience in inverse condemnation and eminent domain matters, tort and personal injury defense, and construction litigation; experience in pre-trial discovery, including taking and defending percipient and expert witness depositions; and drafting and arguing pre-trial motions, including demurrers, motions to dismiss, and motions for summary judgment. Experience evaluating and identifying appropriate expert witnesses is also desirable.

Other Information

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Department Information

• These positions are located in the Division of Civil Law, Tort & Condemnation Section and may be filled in Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, or San Diego. Please clearly indicate your preferred city in the "Explanations" section of your State Application.

• 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.
  
  

• The Deputy Attorney General classifications qualify for a “Hire Above Minimum" (HAM) salary (Hiring Above Minimum Policy).

  The starting salary for each classification will be:

  • Deputy Attorney General III (5 years): $12,046
  • Deputy Attorney General IV (6+ years): $13,313
  • Deputy Attorney General V (Lateral): $14,051

  New to State candidates in the DAG series will be hired at the starting HAM salary of the classifications.

• DAG V consideration - lateral transfers only.

• For more information about the department please visit the Attorney General’s website at www.oag.ca.gov.
  
  
• If you would like to speak with a recruiter prior to submitting your application, please email Recruiters@doj.ca.gov.
  
  

• Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit.The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings. For additional information please visit Human Resources Manual - CalHR.

Special Requirements

• A fingerprint check will be required.

• May be required to travel to remote locations within the State, sometimes with little notice.

• 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.

• Clearly indicate the Job Control Code (JC-505144) 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.
  
  

• 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: DAG IV Examination

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: 2/20/2026

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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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-505144)
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-505144)
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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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 - A writing sample consisting of dispositive motion, pretrial motion or appellate brief preferably written in the last 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.

Working Conditions

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on DOJ's current telework policy. While DOJ supports telework, in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksite with minimal notification if an urgent need arises.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Human Resources Contact:
Heather Nguyen
(916) 210-6444
Heather.Nguyen@doj.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
(916) 210-7580
EERROffice@doj.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device. Benefits

Please access this link to the CalHR Benefit Summary for information on benefits afforded to employees who work for the State of California:

https://www.calhr.ca.gov/Pages/California-State-Civil-Service-Employee-Benefits-Summary.aspx