Deputy Solicitor General

About the Organization

Attorney General Rob Bonta is the State’s chief law officer, responsible for ensuring that state laws are uniformly and adequately enforced. The Department of Justice includes approximately 4,500 employees who provide legal and law enforcement services to the State, including representing the People of California in civil and criminal matters before trial courts, appellate courts and the supreme courts of California and the United States, and engaging in law enforcement activities.

The Solicitor General is appointed by the Attorney General and serves as the chief appellate lawyer for the Department of Justice. The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has authority and responsibility for ensuring the excellence of the Attorney General’s appellate practice. OSG participates in discretionary appellate litigation decisions, such as whether to seek review by the U.S. or California Supreme Court;

prepares or oversees the preparation of petitions, briefs, and other papers filed in appellate courts; and takes a lead role in the briefing and argument of some appeals in both state and federal courts, including in many of the Department’s most complex or sensitive appellate matters. Other functions include fostering consultation and consistency on important legal issues and promoting excellence in appellate practice Department-wide.

Under the general direction of the Solicitor General, the Principal Deputy Solicitor General, and a Supervising Deputy Solicitor General, the Deputy Solicitor General will analyze, research, and provide advice on complex or novel legal issues; assist with the review and/or preparation of recommendations concerning Department action in appellate matters, including amicus participation; draft, review, comment on, or edit petitions, briefs, and other papers filed by the Department in appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the California Courts of Appeal;

present or assist with the preparation for oral arguments, including providing moot court assistance for attorneys throughout the Department; assist with identifying and coordinating positions on significant or recurrent legal issues facing the Attorney General’s Office or its clients; maintain awareness of current legal issues and other topics relating to appellate litigation; and assist with developing and implementing best practices for appellate litigation and with providing development and enrichment programs for attorneys throughout the Department.

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

CalHR website:  and CalPERS website:

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

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

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:

Desirable qualifications include clerkships with the U.S. or California Supreme Courts or other federal or state appellate courts; experience briefing or arguing cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and/or the California Courts of Appeal; knowledge of the organization and work of the Department of Justice; experience with areas of law relevant to the work of the Solicitor General’s Office, such as constitutional law, administrative law, and criminal and/or habeas issues;

and familiarity with practice and procedures in appellate and trial courts in California and the United States.

Applicants should have outstanding written and oral communication skills, including in both expository and advocacy writing and presentations; a demonstrated ability to research and analyze complex legal issues; the ability to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different legal arguments; the ability to seek common ground or mutually acceptable positions on difficult issues; and the ability to provide compelling advocacy on behalf of the Department and its clients.

Successful applicants will be required to exercise good judgment, discretion, and tact in all aspects of their work, including interacting with other Department employees or client representatives at all levels. They should have strong individual initiative, be able to work well under pressure, be flexible and resourceful problem‑solvers, and be ready to take part in the development or evolution of Office and Department procedures and best practices.