Research Attorney - Appellate Division

Superior Court of Orange County; Santa Ana (CA); Hybrid; USD 129,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Retirement plan

OBP plan

Deferred comp

HRA

Dental & Vision

Leave benefits

Holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Superior Court of Orange County in Santa Ana, CA seeks an Appellate Division Research Attorney to research legal issues and draft opinions. The role reports to the General Counsel and Supervising Research Attorney and involves reviewing writs, briefs, and records, as well as presenting recommendations to judicial officers.

This position offers telework/on-site flexibility, with work primarily in California courts and collaboration with appellate judges and staff.

Qualifications

• Excellent analytical abilities.

Responsibilities

• Research legal issues in civil and criminal law.
• Review and analyze writs, appellate briefs, trial records, and other documents.
• Draft clear, concise memoranda and proposed opinions.
• Attend judicial case conferences and oral argument hearings.

Job description

RESEARCH ATTORNEY - APPELLATE DIVISION

DEADLINE TO APPLY

This recruitment will be open on a continuous basis; however, the deadline for first round of consideration is Sunday, September 13, 2026. Please note that this recruitment will remain open until the needs of the Court have been met and may close at any time.

This recruitment is open to external candidates, internal OCSC employees, and internal OCSC promotions. This recruitment will be used to fill current vacancies, and an eligible list may be established to fill future vacancies.

SALARY INFORMATION

Research Attorney Annual Range: $129,313.60 - $164,777.60

Anticipated Starting Rate: $129,313.60

(Note: Research Attorneys may be able to promote to Senior Research Attorney upon meeting established criteria. The salary for Senior Research Attorney is up to $187,512.00 annually.)

BENEFITS HIGHLIGHTS

• Choice of five medical plans
• Defined Benefit Retirement Plan (2.50% at 67 formula)
• $3,500 Optional Benefit Plan (OBP) annually
• Optional deferred compensation program (457 plan)
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
• Dental and Vision Plans
• Vacation and sick leave packages
• 14 paid holidays per year
• Tuition reimbursement

TELEWORK/ON-SITE OPPORTUNITY

This position is eligible for a combination of telework and on-site work assignments. Telework must be completed from a pre-designated home-based location within the State of California, and employees may be required to report on-site to address business needs. Telework is at the sole discretion of the Court and may be rescinded with 48 hours' notice, based on the needs of the Orange County Superior Court.

ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT

The Orange County Superior Court was established in 1893 and maintains jurisdiction over a wide range of matters, with our flagship location being the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, with additional courthouses located in Orange (Lamoreaux), Newport Beach (Harbor), Fullerton (North), and Westminster (West), as the fifth-largest trial court in the United States and the third-largest court of general jurisdiction in California. We have more than 140 judicial officers and over 1,500 staff with an operating budget of nearly $280 million.

Our court is recognized for innovation, resource advancements, and community focus while managing over half a million case filings annually and serving a population exceeding three million. The Court's Judges, Commissioners, and employees are recognized for their high standards of achievement, integrity, modernization, and diversity. The Court is committed to ensuring equal access to court services and enhancing public confidence in the court system.

To learn more about the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, visit our homepage at www.occourts.org.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Appellate Division Research Attorneys work under the direction of the Appellate Panel Judges and the General Counsel and report to the Supervising Research Attorney. They are responsible for researching legal issues in both civil and criminal law; carefully reviewing and analyzing writs, appellate briefs, trial records, and other case documents; drafting clear, concise, accurate, and well-organized memoranda and proposed opinions; attending judicial case conferences and Appellate Division oral argument hearings; and making timely recommendations regarding the resolution of legal issues before the court. Additional responsibilities include the ability to discuss issues thoroughly with judicial officers, receive and implement constructive feedback, and work collaboratively to edit and revise one’s work. Excellent analytical