Correctional Law Graduate Legal Assistant

The Correctional Law Section is one of the largest in the Civil Division of the California Attorney General’s Office, with approximately 125 deputies in several locations statewide.

Our section offers opportunities to work on individual civil rights cases, high-profile matters, appeals, and class-actions. Graduate Legal Assistants in the Correctional Law Section defend state employees in federal and state litigation brought by inmates. Graduate Legal Assistants provide excellent representation to high-ranking government officials as well as correctional administrators and employees.

Duties include:

• Engaging in all aspects of civil litigation, from inception through trial, settlement, or appeal
• Investigating facts and analyzing documentary evidence
• Exercising independence and initiative in cases involving cutting-edge issues of Constitutional Law and Civil Rights
• Carrying a caseload while working collaboratively with supervisors and colleagues to achieve excellent results for the State of California
• Traveling as necessary for depositions, witness interviews, client meetings, and site inspections inside correctional institutions statewide

This is a full-time position, in a collegial office environment, with opportunities for intermittent telework.

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

Salary

• $5,227 - $6,550/month

Qualifications

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

• GRADUATE LEGAL ASSISTANT

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:

• Strong research and writing skills
• Experience in general civil litigation
• Experience drafting discovery motions, dispositive motions, and appellate briefs
• Strong oral-argument skills
• Experience assisting in civil discovery, depositions, trial preparation, bench or jury trials, and appellate work
• Interest in correctional law, prison procedures, and applicable constitutional law

Other Information

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Department Information

• This position is located in the Division of Civil Law, Correctional Law Section, and may be filled in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego. Please indicate your preferred location in your cover letter.

• 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.

• For more information about the department please visit the Attorney General’s web site 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, which is slated to end October 31, 2026. 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.

• Travel to state prisons, including some in remote areas, may be required.

• Clearly indicate the Job Control Code (JC-530730) 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 State Application.

• Unofficial law school transcripts will be accepted during the application process; however, submission of official transcripts is required prior to appointment.

• Appointment to the Graduate Legal Assistant (GLA) class is limited term. Permanent appointment to the Deputy Attorney General (DAG) class may be based on successful admission to the California State Bar and DAG list eligibility.

• 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.

• Graduate Legal Assistant Exam

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: 10/28/2026

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-530730)
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-530730)
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 written by the candidate, without assistance of any kind, including use of Gen AI.
• Other - Writing sample consisting of a dispositive motion, pretrial brief, or appellate brief without the assistance of Gen AI or anyother type of AI.
  

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

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.

Benefits

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