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.
Shall Consider:
- Deputy Attorney General Range A (0-24 months): $8,846 and Range B (2-5 years): $9,956
- Deputy Attorney General III (5 years): $12,046
- Deputy Attorney General IV (6+ years): $13,313
Qualifications
Minimum Qualification:
- Membership in CA State Bar
Desirable Qualifications:
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.
Application Process
Please submit your application to the link below by 3/10/2026 by 11:59 PM
Apply here: https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=505532
A complete application should include:
- State Application (completed online)
- Resume
- 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.
- 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.
