Deputy Attorney General Jobs in California
Deputy Attorney General jobs in California are concentrated in state government enforcement, consumer protection, public land litigation, and criminal appeals, with openings at every level from entry-level deputy to senior supervising attorney. Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are the dominant hiring hubs, where the California Department of Justice, the Attorney General's Office, and large county district attorney offices maintain substantial legal staffs. The most in-demand specialties include environmental law, healthcare enforcement, and complex civil litigation. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Job Summary
Join the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office
The Santa Monica City Attorney's office seeks an attorney with at least five years of experience to serve as a Deputy City Attorney in the Civil Litigation Division. The mission of the Santa Monica City Attorney is to do excellent legal work efficiently and cost-effectively. As advisors to City officials and staff, to provide timely and complete assistance. As advocates, to represent the City and its employees vigorously and fairly. As prosecutors, to diligently and justly enforce the law on behalf of the People of California.
Position Overview
Duties may include but are not limited to:
The attorney will defend the City and its employees in civil litigation primarily in personal injury, employment, and law enforcement related claims.
The successful applicant will have a combination of required and preferred qualifications, including high ethical standards and effective litigation skills.
Required Qualifications:
- Civil litigation experience, including dispute resolution.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and exercise sound legal and strategic judgment under pressure.
- High ethical standards, professional integrity, and commitment to public service.
- Strong communication, advocacy, legal research and writing skills.
- Creative, strategic, and analytical thinking in legal matters, with a positive problem-solving attitude.
- Ability to work collegially with colleagues and clients.
- License to practice law in the State of California and familiarity with the California Code of Civil Procedure.
Preferred, But Not Required, Qualifications:
- Experience litigating cases in Federal Court.
- Jury Trial experience.
Compensation
- Annual Salary: DCA II Steps 1-5 $143,628 - $177,312
- Annual Salary: DCA III Steps 1-5 $222,492 - $274,680
- Work Schedule: 9/80 schedule with alternating Fridays off
- Hybrid Work: Currently available
- Application Deadline: Thursday, October 1, 2026
- Benefits: Comprehensive City benefits package
- Employment Status: At-will position represented by the Public Attorneys Union
Work Schedule
Division work assignments are subject to change based on the operational needs and workload of the City Attorney’s Office overall. The hours of the position are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on alternate Fridays. This is a 9/80 work schedule. Hybrid remote work schedule is currently available but not guaranteed, with a minimum of two days in the office, moving to a minimum of three days in the office in January 2027 (Tuesday – Thursday). Evening and weekend duties may be required to attend City Council meetings, public meetings or events.
Application Instructions
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample of no more than ten pages, and the names of three references (will not be contacted prior to interview). These materials should be submitted in a single pdf document by email to CAO.Opportunities@santamonica.gov with the subject line: “Application – DCA, Civil Litigation Division.” Candidates must apply by Thursday, October 1, 2026, when consideration of applicants will begin.
A background check will be required prior to beginning employment. Salary is dependent on qualifications and experience, excellent benefits. Salary range is Deputy City Attorney II, Steps 1-5 $143,628 to $177,312 and Deputy City Attorney III, Steps 1-5, $222,492 to $274,680. This position is at will but part of the Public Attorneys Union.
Equal Opportunity Employer. See the EEO Policy on the City Attorney’s Office website.
Job Summary
Join the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office
The Santa Monica City Attorney's office seeks an attorney with at least five years of experience to serve as a Deputy City Attorney in the Civil Litigation Division. The mission of the Santa Monica City Attorney is to do excellent legal work efficiently and cost-effectively. As advisors to City officials and staff, to provide timely and complete assistance. As advocates, to represent the City and its employees vigorously and fairly. As prosecutors, to diligently and justly enforce the law on behalf of the People of California.
Position Overview
Duties may include but are not limited to:
The attorney will defend the City and its employees in civil litigation primarily in personal injury, employment, and law enforcement related claims.
The successful applicant will have a combination of required and preferred qualifications, including high ethical standards and effective litigation skills.
Required Qualifications:
- Civil litigation experience, including dispute resolution.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and exercise sound legal and strategic judgment under pressure.
- High ethical standards, professional integrity, and commitment to public service.
- Strong communication, advocacy, legal research and writing skills.
- Creative, strategic, and analytical thinking in legal matters, with a positive problem-solving attitude.
- Ability to work collegially with colleagues and clients.
- License to practice law in the State of California and familiarity with the California Code of Civil Procedure.
Preferred, But Not Required, Qualifications:
- Experience litigating cases in Federal Court.
- Jury Trial experience.
Compensation
- Annual Salary: DCA II Steps 1-5 $143,628 - $177,312
- Annual Salary: DCA III Steps 1-5 $222,492 - $274,680
- Work Schedule: 9/80 schedule with alternating Fridays off
- Hybrid Work: Currently available
- Application Deadline: Thursday, October 1, 2026
- Benefits: Comprehensive City benefits package
- Employment Status: At-will position represented by the Public Attorneys Union
Work Schedule
Division work assignments are subject to change based on the operational needs and workload of the City Attorney’s Office overall. The hours of the position are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on alternate Fridays. This is a 9/80 work schedule. Hybrid remote work schedule is currently available but not guaranteed, with a minimum of two days in the office, moving to a minimum of three days in the office in January 2027 (Tuesday – Thursday). Evening and weekend duties may be required to attend City Council meetings, public meetings or events.
Application Instructions
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample of no more than ten pages, and the names of three references (will not be contacted prior to interview). These materials should be submitted in a single pdf document by email to CAO.Opportunities@santamonica.gov with the subject line: “Application – DCA, Civil Litigation Division.” Candidates must apply by Thursday, October 1, 2026, when consideration of applicants will begin.
A background check will be required prior to beginning employment. Salary is dependent on qualifications and experience, excellent benefits. Salary range is Deputy City Attorney II, Steps 1-5 $143,628 to $177,312 and Deputy City Attorney III, Steps 1-5, $222,492 to $274,680. This position is at will but part of the Public Attorneys Union.
Equal Opportunity Employer. See the EEO Policy on the City Attorney’s Office website.
See All 21 Deputy Attorney General Jobs in California
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Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Deputy Attorney General Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Government & Public Sector
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in deputy attorney general jobs across California.
- Active membership in the State Bar of California in good standing
- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school
- Experience handling complex civil or criminal litigation in California courts
- Strong legal research and written brief-drafting skills for appellate work
- Familiarity with California Government Code and state administrative procedures
- Ability to obtain a Department of Justice security clearance if required
Deputy Attorney General Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a deputy attorney general in California?
You must be an active member of the State Bar of California in good standing, which requires passing the California Bar Examination administered by the State Bar of California and completing the required moral character determination. A Juris Doctor from an accredited law school is the baseline education requirement. Most candidates also gain courtroom or agency litigation experience before applying to the California Department of Justice or a county office.
Which companies hire deputy attorney generals in California?
Employers hiring deputy attorney generals in California right now include United States Department of Justice, County Of Mendocino, and County of Orange, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's scale of state government and the size of its county justice systems mean a broader range of public-sector employers post these roles than in most other states.
Which California cities have the most deputy attorney general jobs?
Mendocino County, Orange County, and Stockton account for the largest share of deputy attorney general openings in California. Sacramento leads because it is the seat of state government and hosts the California Department of Justice headquarters, while Los Angeles and San Francisco generate volume through their large county district attorney offices, city attorneys, and regional enforcement bureaus serving California's biggest population centers.
Are there remote deputy attorney general jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. About 100% of deputy attorney general openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting that most of this work requires in-person court appearances, depositions, and agency coordination. The portions most suited to remote or hybrid arrangements are legal research, brief writing, and administrative hearing preparation rather than trial-stage litigation.
How can I get hired as a deputy attorney general in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is the California Department of Justice's law student intern and post-bar fellowship programs, which are designed specifically for recent graduates without full attorney experience. County public defender and county counsel offices across Los Angeles, San Diego, and Alameda counties also run associate attorney programs that accept candidates fresh from the bar. A clerkship with a California state appellate or superior court judge is widely recognized as a strong credential that opens doors at both the state and county level.
Where can I find and apply to deputy attorney general jobs in California?
You can find and apply to deputy attorney general jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your practice area and experience level, and apply directly to whichever positions fit your background.
See All 21 Deputy Attorney General Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Deputy Attorney General Jobs