Criminal Paralegal

County-of-Riverside; Riverside (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual merit increases

Medical, dental, vision insurance

CalPERS pension

Deferred compensation

Generous leave accruals

Paid holidays

Bereavement leave

Tuition discounts

PSLF/TEPSLF qualification

Job summary

Riverside Superior Court is seeking a Criminal Paralegal to provide comprehensive legal and administrative support for capital cases, writs of habeas corpus, and other complex criminal matters.

You will organize records, review legal documents, conduct research, and prepare summaries for judicial officers, while maintaining confidentiality in a fast-paced courtroom environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 2 years of criminal law experience or
• ABA-accredited paralegal program and 4 years of criminal law experience.

Responsibilities

• Organize, index, and maintain records and filings for complex criminal cases.
• Review and summarize motions, briefs, pleadings, transcripts, and other legal documents.
• Conduct legal research and analyze procedural issues in criminal law.
• Prepare factual and legal summaries for judicial officers and the Managing Attorney.
• Attend court hearings and summarize proceedings and rulings.
• Compile and analyze case-related statistics and data.
• Summarize habeas corpus petitions and supporting documents.

Skills

Analytical skills

Legal research

Organizational skills

Professional confidentiality

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

ABA-accredited paralegal program

Job description

The Superior Court of California, County of Riverside is seeking a Criminal Paralegal to provide legal and administrative support to judicial officers handling capital cases, writs of habeas corpus, and other complex criminal matters. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside experienced legal professionals while contributing to some of the Court's most significant and challenging cases.

What You'll Do

In this role, you will:

• Organize, index, and maintain records and filings for complex criminal cases.
• Review and summarize motions, briefs, pleadings, transcripts, and other legal documents.
• Conduct legal research and analyze procedural issues involving criminal law.
• Assist judicial officers and the Managing Attorney by preparing factual and legal summaries.
• Attend court hearings and prepare summaries of proceedings and rulings.
• Compile and analyze case-related statistics and operational data.
• Review and summarize habeas corpus petitions and supporting documentation.
• Communicate complex legal issues clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Maintain organized case files while ensuring the highest level of accuracy and confidentiality.

We're Looking For Someone Who

• Has exceptional analytical and legal research skills.
• Is highly organized and able to manage multiple complex assignments.
• Produces accurate, thorough, and well-written work products.
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises sound professional judgment.
• Communicates effectively with judicial officers, attorneys, court staff, and justice partners.
• Thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced legal environment.
• Is committed to excellence, integrity, and public service.

Minimum Qualifications

Option I

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and
• Two years of full-time experience in criminal law performing legal research, analysis, file organization, or related duties.

Option II

• Completion of an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited paralegal program; and
• Four years of progressively responsible experience in criminal law performing legal research, analysis, file organization, or related duties.

Riverside is the fourth largest county in California and the 10th largest in the United States. There are fourteen court facilities spanning 7,300 square miles that serves Riverside’s 2.4 million residents. The courts and its employees hold a unique role in the public sector. The mission of the Riverside Superior Court is, “…in a fair, accessible, effective, and efficient manner, resolve disputes arising under the law and interpret and apply the law consistently, impartially, and independently to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitutions of California and of the United States.”

At Riverside Superior Court, we reward hard work and dedication!

We offer:

• Annual merit increases for satisfactory job performance
• A robust benefit plan including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance
• A pension plan provided by the California Public Employer's Retirement System also known as CalPERS. You will contribute between 7% and 8% of your biweekly pay, depending on your membership status
• Optional deferred compensation programs
• Generous leave accruals
• Fourteen (14) paid holidays
• Bereavement leave
• Tuition discounts
• Qualified employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)or Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Certification

Selection Procedures

This recruitment will remain open until the needs of the Court have been met and may close at any time. However, the deadline to apply for first round consideration is Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST.

All applications will be reviewed to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications; those candidates deemed most qualified may be invited to an online or written assessment, if applicable.

Candidates who take and successfully pass the assessment may be invited to an oral panel interview. Candidates who are successful in the interview may be placed on an eligible list. Placement on an eligible list is not a guarantee of employment.

Additional steps for the selection process may include a comprehensive background check and drug test.

Status Notifications

You will be notified by email and/or text message during the process of this recruitment through governmentjobs.com. Please check your email spam/junk folders and accept emails ending with governmentjobs.com and riverside.courts.ca.gov. If your information changes, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

Reasonable Accommodations

Riverside Superior Court provides reasonable accommodations upon request for applicants with disabilities. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 951-777-3017 or [e-mail] if you feel you will need an accommodation for any aspect of the selection process. The Human Resources Department requests that it be advised of special needs at least five days prior to the examination so that a reasonable accommodation may be made.