Welcome
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.
About The Riverside Superior Court
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.”
Competitive Compensation Package
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
Application Process
All applicants are required to submit a completed online application and supplemental questionnaire. To learn more about how to create an application, click HERE.
Résumés will not be accepted in lieu of the required application and supplemental questionnaire.
Human Resources will review applications to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications; therefore, it is to your benefit to include all current and previous related work experience. When listing Court experience, please include dates and classification of each position held, if more than one.
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 Recruitment@riverside.courts.ca.gov 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.
At the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, we are committed to not only providing a rewarding career but also taking care of our employees in every way possible. We understand that your health and well-being are just as important as your work, which is why we offer a powerhouse benefits package designed with YOU in mind.
Here’s what you get when you join our team:
- Top-Tier Health Coverage: Premium medical plans through CalPERS, plus Delta Dental and VSP Vision to keep you and your family healthy and smiling.
- Substantial Contributions: Receive court contributions towards the cost of medical, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family. Eight of our ten medical plan options are covered at 100%, which means you will have absolutely zero out-of-pocket monthly premium costs, helping you stay healthy without breaking the bank!
Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Court Contributions
- Employee Only: $1,264/month
- Employee + 1 Dependent: $2,117/month
- Employee + Family: $2,754/month
- Financial Flexibility: Save smart with a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for healthcare and dependent care expenses.
- Peace of Mind: Secure supplemental life insurance benefits through Lincoln Financial.
- Court paid basic life/accidental dismemberment (AD&D) insurance in the amount of:
- $50,000/$50,000
- Golden Retirement: Build a strong future with a CalPERS pension and additional Nationwide 457(b) retirement savings options.
- Emotional Wellness: Access confidential support through our court provided Employee Assistance Program (EAP) whenever you need it.
Work-Life Balance You Can Count On
- Generous Paid Time Off
- 14 Paid Holidays
- Depending on your role, you may be eligible for:
- 9/80 Schedule: Work 80 hours over 9 days.
- 4/10 Schedule: Work four 10-hour days with a three-day weekend, every week.
- Hybrid Work Options: Some positions may qualify for a hybrid schedule, blending in-office collaboration with the convenience of remote work.
- Bereavement Leave for life's toughest moments
- Tuition Discounts to help you grow and learn
Crushing Student Debt?
We’ve got you covered. We offer
eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and
Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Certification—so you can keep building your career
and wipe out your student loans.
This is more than a job—it’s a career with purpose, benefits, and a team that’s got your back.
01
The information you provide will be used to rate your qualifications for the position. Résumés will not be accepted in lieu of completing these questions. Please provide concise, descriptive, and detailed information when answering the question. If you do not have experience, please write "NONE". NOTE: 'See résumé', 'See above', or copy and paste of your résumé are not considered qualifying responses and will not be scored. By selecting yes below, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this application requirement.
02
Which best describes your highest level of education?
- None
- Less than High School or GED
- High School or GED
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree
- Doctorate degree
03
Have you completed a paralegal program that is accredited and certified by the American Bar Association?
04
How many years of experience do you have working with a court, public or private law office, or a public agency working in the field of criminal law performing duties involving research, analysis, file organization and maintenance, and/or related tasks?
- Less than two years
- At least 2 years
- At least 3 years
- At least 4 years
- At least 5 years or more
05
Describe any experience you have with complex criminal litigation (such as death penalty cases or other criminal cases involving complex issues of law), including your role, the jurisdiction, and the stage of the case (trial, direct appeal, or post-conviction).
06
Describe your experience with legal research. What databases or research resources have you used?
07
Travel may be required to any location within the region, as needed. Please indicate which region(s) you are interested in applying for. You may select more than one region.
- Western Region: locations in Banning, Corona, Moreno Valley, and Riverside
- Mid-County Region: locations in Hemet, Murrieta and Temecula
- Desert Region: locations in Blythe, Indio and Palm Springs
08
This position requires the ability to transport between or among different work locations when needed to carry out job-related essential functions. Do you have reliable transportation to travel between the different court locations? If traveling in a court vehicle, you must possess a valid California Driver License. Are you able to meet this requirement?
09
Do you have any employment gap(s) within the last 10 years? If yes, please answer the question below. Failure to do so will lead to disqualification.
10
Please explain any gap(s) in employment.
