Supreme Court Attorney, Level - C

The Supreme Court of California, located in San Francisco, is accepting applications for the position of Supreme Court Attorney on the Criminal Central Staff. These positions will be filled as one-year clerkships, with the possibility of renewal for a second year. These positions are scheduled to begin on or about May 1, 2026, and September 1, 2026, but may become available sooner depending on the court’s staffing needs.

Please indicate your availability in your cover letter.

The California Supreme Court is the state’s highest court. Its decisions are binding on all other California state courts. The court conducts regular sessions in San Francisco, as well as in Los Angeles and Sacramento; it may also hold special sessions elsewhere in the state.

The state Constitution gives the Supreme Court the authority to review decisions of the Courts of Appeal. This discretionary review power enables the Supreme Court to decide important legal questions and to maintain uniformity in the law. The court selects specific issues for review, or it may decide all the issues in a case. The court also has original jurisdiction in proceedings for extraordinary relief in the form of mandamus, certiorari, prohibition, and habeas corpus, and other matters specified by the Constitution.

The Supreme Court of California offers a hybrid work schedule with a minimum of two days per week in the office, depending on work assignments.

Some highlights of our benefits package include:

• Health/Dental/Vision benefits programs
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
• 1 personal holiday per year
• Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuter costs
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• Flex Elect Program for medical and child care expenses

Please note:

Due to statewide fiscal conditions, state-level judicial branch employee pay is temporarily reduced by 3% through June 30, 2027. In exchange for this reduction, employees accrue an additional 5 hours of paid personal leave each month.

The Supreme Court of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Third year law school students and recent law school graduates are invited to apply. If selected for employment, a candidate who is not a member of the Bar will generally be hired into a Graduate Legal Assistant classification pending admission.

Active membership in the State Bar of California.

Active membership in the State Bar of California and the equivalent of two years of post-bar legal experience in a legal setting such as a private law practice, corporation, government agency, law school, court, or legal publishing company.

OR

The equivalent of two years of post-bar legal experience in a legal setting as described above, including one year of experience as an appellate attorney, Level A, with the judicial branch. Work experience as a law clerk to a federal judge after passing a state bar but prior to formal state bar admission will be considered equivalent to post-bar legal experience.

Active membership in the State Bar of California and the equivalent of three years of post-bar legal experience in a legal setting such as a private law practice, corporation, government agency, law school, court, or legal publishing company.

OR

One year of experience as an appellate court attorney, Level B, with the judicial branch. Work experience as a law clerk to a federal judge after passing a state bar but prior to formal state bar admission will be considered equivalent to post-bar legal experience.

Additional experience in excess of the minimum qualifications: in particular, experience as a judicial staff attorney or judicial extern, an appellate practitioner, or a comparable position emphasizing criminal law, legal writing and analysis, and experience in exercising adjudicatory (as opposed to advocacy) skills; possess a strong work ethic; and the demonstrated ability to manage an individual workload, to meet tight deadlines, to be self‑motivated, and to respond to the need for increased productivity when the caseload increases.