JUDICIAL STAFF COUNSEL III

Salary : $129,929.54 - $166,277.02 Annually
Location : San Bernardino County Court Districts, CA
Job Type: Regular
Job Number: 27-005
Division: Legal Division
Department: Legal Research
Opening Date: 07/01/2026
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Teamsters - Professional
Max Number of Applicants: 200

Description
NOW HIRING: JUDICIAL STAFF COUNSEL III - CIVIL LITIGATION EXPERT

The Superior Court is seeking an experienced attorney with a strong background in Civil Litigation to provide trusted legal counsel and support to our judges.

Telework/On-Site Opportunity
After completing the probationary period, this position is eligible for a full-time telework schedule. During the probationary period, telework may be available at the Court's discretion. 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 Telework is at the sole discretion of the Court and may be rescinded immediately, without prior notice, based on the needs of the San Bernardino Superior Court.

RECRUITMENT DEADLINE:
Now accepting applications for a current vacancy and future openings. Applicants must complete all required supplemental questions and provide documentation of education and relevant experience. Incomplete applications will not be considered and will not move forward in the selection process.
A resume will not be accepted in place of the required application or the responses to the supplemental questions.
About the Position
Under minimal direction, performs general and specialized legal research and analysis, reviewing cases and making recommendations to the Court, advising the Court on complex matters of law, preparing drafts of legal opinions, legal memoranda and other documents; and performs related duties as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics
Incumbents in the Judicial Staff Counsel classification perform difficult and complex legal research activities and must exercise a high degree of independent judgment with accurate and neutral legal research and analysis of substantive and procedural issues on matters pending before the court and provide recommendations for rulings to assist the judicial officers with their decisions.

Judicial Staff Counsel is distinguished from Staff Attorney in that the latter provides legal assistance to self-represented litigants in the Self-Help and Family Law Facilitator Programs.
For additional details about the role, please review the full job description:

Essential Functions

1. Researches, identifies and analyzes legal and factual issues in matters set for hearing in the court; reviews case files including motions, writs and other pleadings, prepares legal memoranda and summary of findings and provides research used in rendering decisions.
2. Confers with judicial officers regarding questions resulting from the memorandum, general legal issues regarding matters pending before the Court, and changes in the law or emerging issues impacting a pending case.
3. Stays abreast of developments in statutory and case law to anticipate the effect of changes that would impact judicial recommendations.

As Assigned:

1. May research legal issues in specialized areas of probate law, including decedents' estates, wills, trusts, conservatorships and guardianships; analyzes legal issues; reviews case files, including motions and other pleadings; prepares memoranda and makes recommendations for disposition of matters before the Court.
2. May review, evaluate and analyze appellate briefs, trial records, writ petitions, motions and other pertinent documents to determine factual accuracy, legal issues on appeal, and scope and complexity of issues raised; performs legal research and analysis of the merits of the parties' appellate arguments; drafts proposed appellate decisions; confers with judicial officers regarding issues; prepares final opinions as directed.
3. May provide judicial support for specialized and emerging areas of the law including CEQA and complex litigation such as preparing comprehensive memoranda, analyzing developments in statutes and regulations, and coordinating with court staff and other courts on processes and procedures.
4. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, active membership in good standing in the State Bar of California, and five (5) years of experience in the practice of law, including three (3) years of experience in litigation, performing legal research and drafting legal opinions and/or briefs; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:

• A California Class C driver's license will be reviewed on a position basis in accordance with ADA regulations.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of California and federal law and procedure with special emphasis on California Civil Law and Procedure;
• California judicial system and local court operations and procedures;
• Advanced principles, methods and techniques of legal research and investigation, including methods and procedures for conducting efficient online legal research;
• Judicial ethics, responsibilities and the context in which they are carried out;
• Principles and practices of sound business and legal communication; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation and the requirements of the California Style Manual.

Knowledge of As Assigned:

• Appellate Division processes and Rules of Court, statutes, and case law applicable to traffic, misdemeanor, and limited civil appeals;
• Probate court processes and California probate law and procedure;
• Federal and state law, codes and regulations applicable to CEQA and land use;
• Federal and state law, codes and regulations applicable to complex litigation in California.

Selection Process

1. Human resources will evaluate all applications to identify those who meet the minimum qualifications, as well as any desirable qualifications listed. Only candidates who fulfill these requirements will proceed in the process.
2. Your responses to the supplemental questions may be scored and ranked. Depending on the number of applicants, you might also need to complete an online assessment or a screening interview.
3. If you successfully pass step 2 and meet the minimum qualifications, your name will be added to the eligible list. From this list, you may be considered for an interview. Please note that being on the eligible list does not guarantee an interview or a job offer.

BENEFITS SUMMARY
PROFESSIONALS BENEFIT GROUP

The San Bernardino Superior Court offers a range of benefit programs for employees and their eligible dependents. These include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a variety of voluntary benefits. Programs and benefit amounts vary and are based on bargaining unit, family size, hire date, plan selection, and number of hours worked. A summary of benefits is provided below.
Health and Welfare Benefits

MEDICAL: The Court offers a variety of comprehensive health plan options to fit individual employee needs. The Court contributes up to $250.00 in benefit plan dollars each pay period to help full-time employees pay for health premiums. In addition, the health plan subsidy the court contributes toward the employee cost is 59.5% to 63% based on plan selection and level of coverage.

DENTAL: The dental subsidy is equivalent to 100% of the employee only DPPO coverage plan (but not less than twenty-three dollars and two cents {$23.02} per pay period.)
VISION: Court-paid plan for employees. No co-pay/deductible for eye exams; frames and standard lenses or contact lenses (in lieu of standard lenses) every twelve (12) months.
SHORT-TERM DISABILITY: Court-paid benefit that provides partial income replacement in the event that an employee is unable to work due to a non-work related disability.
LIFE INSURANCE: Court-paid basic life insurance benefit of $50,000. Additional supplemental life and AD&D insurance benefits may be purchased voluntarily.
MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNT: Flexible Spending Account (FSA) that helps participating employees lower their taxable income. Under this plan, employees elect to set aside pre-tax money each pay period to pay for eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses for themselves and their eligible dependents that are not paid by insurance or reimbursed by any other benefit plan.
DEPENDENT CARE ASSISTANCE PLAN: This is a type of Flexible Spending Account (FSA) that helps participating eligible employees lower their taxable income. Under this plan, employees may set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified childcare or dependent care expenses that are necessary for the employee and/or spouse to continue working.
Leave Allowances

VACATION: After completion of the requisite hours of continuous service (based on the bargaining unit), employees are eligible to use accrued vacation allowance. Depending on length of service, employees may accrue from 80 to 176 hours annually.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAVE: Forty (40) hours of additional leave to be used during the calendar year, prorated depending on start date.

HOLIDAY: Fourteen (14) paid recognized holidays and the accrual of two (2) floating holidays annually.
SICK LEAVE: Employees in regular positions accrue approximately 3.39 hours of sick leave per pay period to use during instances of authorized absence due to illness, injury, or medically related appointments.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: ALL employees are eligible to receive a maximum of thirty-two (32) hours of paid leave per occurrence for bereavement leave due to the death of a person in the immediate family.
Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plans

RETIREMENT: The Court is a 1937 Act employer. More detailed information may be found by contacting SBCERA at (909) 885-7980 or toll-free at 1-877-722-3721 or by visiting the website at San Bernardino County Retirement Association. The Court does not pay into the Social Security system; however, it does contribute to Medicare.
Retirement benefits subject to change.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Employees are eligible to participate in the Court's 457 Deferred Compensation Plan. This is the supplemental retirement plan that permits employees to defer a certain portion of their pre or post tax salary, within certain Internal Revenue Service (IRS) limits, to an account maintained by an investment service provider. Participating employees in the pre-tax option postpone paying taxes on the deferred portion of their income.
Additional Benefits

TUITION BENEFIT: Employees with at least twelve (12) months of Court service will be allowed a maximum of $600.00 each fiscal year. These monies may be used for job related education or career development, book fees or to reimburse membership dues in professional organizations.
CAR ALLOWANCE: Use of Court Vehicle.
COMMUTER SERVICES: This program assists with providing information on carpools, rideshare matching, and public transportation options. The Court offers incentives for employees eligible to participating in Ridesharing activities.
FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE: The Court recognizes the importance of work/life balance. Employees may request alternative work scheduling or flexible work schedules when classifications meet the requirements.
The Human Resources Department reserves the right to modify the benefit programs in accordance with the Personnel Rules and Regulations.
01

The information you provide on this questionnaire will be used to assess your relevant education and experience in a competitive evaluation of qualifications. Be as specific as possible and include all information requested. Providing complete, organized, and detailed responses to each question is your advantage. (Do not reply; refer to a resume or other documentation.) If you do not have experience in an area, please answer "N/A". Please make sure to answer each question as clearly and concisely as possible. When responding to each question, include the length of experience, employer, and job title. Only the most qualified candidates will be invited to an oral interview after an administrative review of each application and supplemental questionnaire.

• I understand the instructions above and certify that all statements made in this supplemental application are true and complete to the best of my knowledge.

02

What is your highest level of education?

• High School graduate or equivalent
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Juris Doctor
• None of the Above

03

What is your State Bar of California license number?
04

Do you have an active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have five (5) years of experience in the practice of law?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have at least three years of experience in: 1) Litigation, 2) performing legal research, AND 3) drafting legalopinions or briefs?

• Yes
• No

07

Indicate the litigation areas(s) in which you hold experience as a licensed attorney.

• Criminal Law
• Writs
• Civil Law/Litigation
• Appeals
• Other
• None of the above

08

In detail, describe your experience as a licensed attorney from your selection in the previous question. Specify the employer, position held, and dates when describing your experience. If no experience, indicate "N/A"
09

In detail, describe your Civil Law experience in LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING. Please describe your experience in drafting motions, legal opinions, statements of decision, and/or other memoranda of law.
10

Describe your experience with legal research tools, including electronic legal research, word processing program