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State of California Department of Justice
Rob Bonta
Attorney General
Attorney General
The Attorney General's Honors Program is a highly competitive program for recent law school graduates and newly admitted lawyers who are committed to a career in public service. Honors Program attorneys will work with Department experts on important issues involving criminal justice, consumer protection, preserving the environment, maintaining a fair marketplace, policies and programs administered by state agencies, state public officials and constitutional officers, and, above all, preserving the rule of law. They will have the opportunity to draft legal pleadings, gain courtroom experience, and receive on-the-job training, career development programming and mentorship advice from some of the most senior members of the Attorney General's Office. The 2026 Honors Program class will be Statewide and positions may be located in Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego and/or Los Angeles.
Please join members from the California Department of Justice for one or more of our four online events as we discuss our Attorney General's Honors Program (visit the Application Process page for more information – Applications are now being accepted for Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego through JC-490212 (GLA) and JC-490213 (DAG). The deadline to apply for the Honors Program is October 17, 2025). We look forward to discussing the program, the application process, and why it's an excellent opportunity for third-year law students, recent law school graduates and newly admitted attorneys who are committed to a career in public service. We will also provide information regarding the Solicitor General's Fellowship and will have staff on hand to answer questions during the webinar. Please view the previously recorded webinar from one of our General Information Sessions. To register for the webinars, please select one of the webinars below. We hope to see you!
Thursday, September 11 – 12:00 – 1:00pm
Webinar 1 – Criminal Division
Register here
Tuesday, September 16 – 12:00 – 1:00pm
Webinar 2 – Public Rights Division
Register here
Tuesday, September 23 – 12:00 – 1:00pm
Webinar 3 – Division of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse
Register here
Thursday, September 25 – 12:00 – 1:00pm
Webinar 4 – Civil Division
Register here
The Attorney General's Honors Program is open to third-year law students and students in their final year of other graduate law programs (e.g., LL.M. programs) at an accredited law school, newly admitted lawyers in their first year of practice, judicial clerks, and individuals participating in government, academic or public interest fellowships who will complete their clerkships or fellowships in September 2026. Applicants should be California Bar members, or plan to take the July 2026 Bar exam. Failure to pass the California Bar exam within 12 months of employment may result in termination from the program. We encourage all applicants to take the earliest possible California Bar exam. The Attorney General's Honors Program asks for a two-year commitment, beginning in September 2026.
To begin the application process, you will need to fill out a State application (STD 678). You will also need to provide a resume, a writing sample, a personal statement, two letters of recommendation, and law school transcripts. Please see "Application Checklist" section below for more detailed information.
Applications should be submitted electronically through the appropriate job bulletin (JC-490212 or JC-490213) using your CalCareers account at https://www.jobs.ca.gov/. If you choose not to apply electronically, a hard copy application package (postmarked by October 17, 2025) may be submitted by mailing it to:
Department of Justice
Attorney General's Honors Program
Attn: Attorney Hiring Unit
1300 I Street, 7th floor
Sacramento, CA, 95814
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by October 17, 2025 in order to be considered. We will not consider late applications. We will not consider incomplete applications or applications submitted by email or fax.
Candidates selected to move forward in the process will be notified regarding interviews in November 2025. Interviews are anticipated to be scheduled in December 2025.
If you have any questions, please contact aghonorsapps@doj.ca.gov.
Please note: If you are applying to both the Honors Program and the Geoffrey Wright Fellowship, a complete application package must be submitted for each program.
Application materials: