Court Staff Attorney

Court Staff Attorney - Superior Court of California (San Francisco)

The Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, invites applications from qualified individuals interested in serving as Court Staff Attorney providing legal research and legal consultation for judicial officers in the Criminal Division. The Court Staff Attorney reports directly to the Supervising Court Staff Attorney in the Criminal Division. The incumbent must be an attorney with professional legal experience as a member of the State Bar of California. An incumbent with more than two years of legal experience as a member of the State Bar of California may be appointed at the Court Staff Attorney II level. Once appointed, the incumbent can be re-assigned or transferred to any position in the Court classified as Court Staff Attorney if the needs of the Court necessitate such a change.

Position Overview

Performs professional legal work and research with minimal guidance and supervision.

Performs professional legal assignments and research as assigned, with immediate emphasis in Criminal Court policies and procedures; reviews and summarizes legal evidence, procedural history, and legal contentions in matters related to a variety of legal cases and Court calendars; researches legal authorities, including statutory and case law, appellate court decisions, and legislative history, using both traditional and computerized legal research methods.

Prepares memoranda for matters researched, summarizing background, identifying and analyzing factual and legal issues, and recommending disposition of legal issues for use by judicial officers; meets with judicial officers and provides oral briefings on the results of research, as requested; drafts rulings for Court cases, including minute orders, formal orders, tentative decisions, statements of decision, and judgments for review and use by judicial officers; drafts correspondence to counsel and other concerned parties regarding matters pending before the Court.

Responds to judicial officer inquiries on procedural and substantive issues during trials and pre-trial hearings, researching and briefing motions, evidentiary objections, jury instructions, status of case authorities cited by counsel, and points of substantive law.

Work is performed in an office and courtroom environment; continuous contact with judicial officers, executive management, litigants, attorneys, other staff and the public. Initial assignment will be at the Hall of Justice.

Some remote work may be available based on Court needs.

Salary Ranges

• Court Staff Attorney II: $4,584.10 to $5,572.28 biweekly ($119,186 to $144,879 annually)
• Court Staff Attorney I: $3,772.02 to $4,584.10 biweekly ($98,072 to $119,186 annually)