Natural Resources Law Attorney

California state agencies manage our air, water, wildlife, forests and other natural resources, and when those agencies need advice or are in court, they turn to the Natural Resources Law Section for legal representation. We are looking for a bright, energetic attorney to join our section to help further our client agencies’ missions of protecting and fairly managing our state’s natural resources.

You will be asked to advise and represent state agencies including the Air Resources Board, the State Water Resources Control Board and the nine regional water quality control boards, the Department of Water Resources, the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Fish and Game Commission, CAL FIRE and the Board of Forestry, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the Department of Food & Agriculture, among others.

Attorneys in the section will typically handle cases involving air pollution, water rights and water supply, water quality, CEQA, hazardous substances, endangered species, wildfire cost recovery, and timber harvest plans, as well as business and corporate issues.

The position’s duties include representing state agencies in litigation matters from soup to nuts: from providing pre-litigation advice, to every aspect of pre-trial and trial litigation, to appeals in the state and federal courts, including working with our Office of the Solicitor General on matters that reach the U.S. Supreme Court. You will serve as plaintiff’s counsel prosecuting civil environmental enforcement cases, and as defense counsel defending state agency actions.

We advise some boards and commissions on compliance with open meeting laws and on other issues when asked. Most of your work will be in state and federal courts in California, but some could be in courts in other states as well. Every deputy’s case load varies, and attorneys who are mission driven and welcome challenges thrive here.

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

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

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

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

• Hands‑on litigation experience, such as drafting and arguing motions, taking and defending depositions, and conducting bench or jury trials
• Experience with and/or a demonstrated interest in environmental law or policy
• Ability to work independently and in teams
• Excellent communication, analytical, organization, and negotiation skills
• Being a self‑starter with a positive attitude