Subscribe to Our Newsletter
State of California Department of Justice
Rob Bonta
Attorney General
Attorney General
Each year, one applicant is selected to serve in a limited term assignment as a fellow in the California Office of the Solicitor General (OSG). Originally named the Earl Warren Solicitor General Fellowship, the fellowship was renamed in 2023 after Geoffrey Wright, who served as a fellow between 2017 and 2019.
The Solicitor General is responsible for ensuring the excellence of the Attorney General’s appellate practice. OSG serves as a clearinghouse for appeals handled by the Department; provides appellate advice to all divisions within the Department; prepares or oversees the preparation of briefs, petitions, and other papers filed in appellate courts, including the U.S. and California Supreme Courts; and argues selected appeals in federal and state courts. The Geoffrey Wright Fellow participates in and supports OSG’s full range of operations, and works with other attorneys in OSG and the Department on a wide variety of civil and criminal cases involving significant constitutional, statutory, and policy questions, often under tight deadlines. Duties include researching and advising on complex or novel legal issues; assisting with the review and preparation of recommendations for action in appellate matters, including filing or joining amicus curiae briefs in significant cases; handling or assisting with the drafting and reviewing of briefs and other court papers and with preparation for oral argument, including participating in moot courts; and assisting with the development and implementation of best practices for appellate litigation. We expect that a Wright Fellow will have the opportunity to argue at least one appeal in a state or federal court.
For the 2025-2027 Program, the deadline to submit your application package is October 14, 2024.
The Wright Fellowship 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. Applicants to the Wright Fellowship program should have an excellent academic record and strong writing skills. Applicants must be California Bar members, or plan to take the July 2025 California Bar exam. Failure to pass the California Bar exam may result in termination from the program. We encourage all applicants to take the earliest possible California Bar exam.
In addition to minimum eligibility requirements, desirable qualifications include: journal, moot court and/or mock trial experience; and a demonstrated interest in public service. In addition, the strongest applicants to the Wright Fellowship program will have appellate clerkship experience, for example with the U.S. Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court, or a federal court of appeals.
To begin the application process, you will need to fill out a State application (STD 678) and the Wright Fellowship Application. 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.
We recommend that you submit your completed application(s) and all required documents electronically through a CalCareers account at www.jobs.ca.gov. If you choose not to apply electronically, a hard copy application package (postmarked by October 14, 2024) may be submitted by mailing it to:
Department of Justice
Wright Fellowship 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 14, 2024 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 approximately November 2024. Interviews are anticipated to be scheduled in December 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact your career services office or aghonorsapps@doj.ca.gov.
Please note: If you are applying to both the Honors Program and the Wright Fellowship, a complete application package must be submitted for each program.
Completed Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents must be submitted to apply for this program. Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the final filing date in order to be considered (October 14, 2024). Incomplete applications or materials submitted by email or fax will not be considered.
Application materials: