Paralegal I/II - CN

County of Riverside•Riverside, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The County of Riverside's Office of County Counsel has an opportunity for a Paralegal I/II - CN located in Riverside, CA. The Office of County Counsel is seeking a detail-oriented and tech-forward paralegal to support attorneys and staff by combining traditional paralegal responsibilities with the effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The ideal candidate brings knowledge of litigation procedures, and a genuine comfort with AI-assisted legal tools – using them not as a shortcut, but as a workflow optimizer for quality legal work. This is a high-impact role for a paralegal who wants to shape how modern litigation practices operate, and is enthusiastic about leveraging AI to improve efficiency, accuracy, and client service while maintaining strict confidentiality and professional ethics. Competitive candidates will be proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.), able to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment, and highly organized while remaining flexible to manage changing assignments and priorities. Further, competitive candidates will be proficient in applying AI responsibly across the legal workflow, including legal research, drafting, document analysis, contract review, and knowledge management. They will understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI and consistently verify outputs to ensure accuracy, compliance, and high-quality legal work. Employees in a Confidential designated class are defined by Section 3.b. of the Employee Relations Resolution, as "any employee who may be privy to the decision-making process of County management affecting employee relations" and are only authorized for broad use within the departments of Executive Office, Clerk of the Board, County Counsel, and Human Resources. Salary Range Paralegal I - CN: $62,705 - $84,806 Annually Paralegal II - CN: $66,355 - $91,655 Annually Hybrid schedule available after training and probationary period. The level at which the position will be filled is at the discretion of the department. The organization reserves the right to modify or revoke the hybrid arrangement at any time based on operational, business, or organizational needs. The County of Riverside seeks candidates to fill positions throughout Riverside County. A list of eligible candidates will be established to fill current and future vacancies. Meet the Team! The Office of County Counsel is a full-service law office that provides advisory and litigation support on issues of vital concern to the County and its residents such as health care, public safety, child welfare, land development, environmental protection, public finance, taxation and elections.

Requirements

Paralegal I Education: Successful completion of the education required by the State of California pursuant to the California Business and Professions Codes Chapter 5.6 Paralegals 6450 (c). A paralegal shall possess at least one of the following: (1) A certificate of completion of a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association. (2) A certificate of completion of a paralegal program at, or a degree from, a postsecondary institution that requires the successful completion of a minimum of 24 semester, or equivalent, units in law-related courses and that has been accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization or approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. (3) A baccalaureate degree or an advanced degree in any subject, a minimum of one year of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegal tasks. (4) A high school diploma or general equivalency diploma, a minimum of three years of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegal tasks. This experience and training shall be completed no later than December 31, 2003.
Paralegal I Knowledge of: Principles of civil law and their application; legal research methods and techniques; preparation of briefs and opinions; resources available in a law library; trial and hearing procedures and rules of evidence; County government functions and legal responsibilities.
Paralegal I Ability to: Perform legal research; interview witnesses; analyze legal problems; prepare drafts of legal documents; present statements of fact and law; argue clearly and logically in written and oral form; interpret applicable state and federal codes, laws and statutes; work cooperatively with others.
Paralegal II Education: Successful completion of the education required by the State of California pursuant to the California Business and Professions Codes Chapter 5.6 Paralegals 6450 (c). A paralegal shall possess at least one of the following: (1) A certificate of completion of a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association. (2) A certificate of completion of a paralegal program at, or a degree from, a postsecondary institution that requires the successful completion of a minimum of 24 semester, or equivalent, units in law-related courses and that has been accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization or approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. (3) A baccalaureate degree or an advanced degree in any subject, a minimum of one year of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegal tasks. (4) A high school diploma or general equivalency diploma, a minimum of three years of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegal tasks. This experience and training shall be completed no later than December 31, 2003.
Paralegal II Experience: One year equivalent to a Paralegal I with the County of Riverside or in a law office performing paralegal duties that demonstrates possession of the knowledge and abilities relevant to the specific assignment.
Paralegal II Knowledge of: Principles of civil and their application; legal research methods and techniques; preparation of briefs and opinions; resources available in a law library; trial and hearing procedures and rules of evidence; County government functions and legal responsibilities.
Paralegal II Ability to: Perform legal research; interview witnesses; analyze legal problems; prepare drafts of legal documents; present statements of fact and law; argue clearly and logically in written and oral form; interpret applicable state and federal codes, laws and statutes; work cooperatively with others.
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.)
Able to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
Highly organized while remaining flexible to manage changing assignments and priorities.
Proficient in applying AI responsibly across the legal workflow, including legal research, drafting, document analysis, contract review, and knowledge management.
Understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI and consistently verify outputs to ensure accuracy, compliance, and high-quality legal work.

Nice To Haves

Experience using AI platforms, such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Westlaw CoCounsel, or other approved legal AI applications
Familiarity with legal research platforms, such as Westlaw or LexisNexis
Interest in legal technology and workflow optimization
Must maintain a current paralegal certification or degree by certified completion of the mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) post-employment standards.
The Paralegal series is required to certify completion of MCLE credits every two years pursuant to the California Business and Professions Code Chapter 5.6 Paralegals 6450 (d).

Responsibilities

Research and analyze law sources (i.e., statutes, ordinances, court decisions, criminal pleadings, police reports, legal documents, and articles) for use in preparing legal documents (i.e., briefs, pleadings, contracts, deeds, opinions) for review, approval and use by an attorney using traditional legal research platforms and AI-assisted tools.
Interview witnesses, defendants and others in civil cases for pre-trial or pre-hearing declarations; respond to propounding discovery and discovery requests.
Correspond with clients and witnesses; collect client background information.
Draft and review pleadings, motions, contracts, memoranda of points and authorities, interrogatories and answers, complaints and answers, crossclaims, discovery, correspondence, affidavits, briefs, declarations, and other legal documents.
Review legal documents and forms for completeness and conformance to specific requirements set forth in applicable legal codes. This task includes verifying citations, statutes, regulations, and case law before submission.
Gather factual information and perform legal research not available through routine sources to assist attorneys in determining appropriate legal action.
Perform preliminary analysis of legislative bills and research legislative histories.
Summarize, organize and index prior opinions, testimony, depositions, and documentary material from interrogatories; organize and index trial documents; prepare exhibits and assist attorneys at trial by keeping track of exhibits, testimony and documents.
May act as a liaison to County departments and outside agencies; may serve as an immediate assistant to a senior or supervising attorney.
Monitor litigation deadlines and maintain case calendars.
Organize and maintain digital case files and document management systems.
Utilize approved AI platforms to assist with legal research, document summarization, drafting, proofreading, and workflow automation.
Review and verify all AI-generated work for legal accuracy, completeness, and compliance before attorney review.
Develop and refine AI prompts to improve the quality and consistency of legal work products.
Identify opportunities to automate repetitive administrative and legal tasks.
Assist in implementing AI best practices throughout the Office of County Counsel.
Stay informed about emerging legal technology and AI developments relevant to legal practice.
Protect confidential and privileged information when using AI tools.
AI-assisted workflow management leverage AI tools to accelerate contract review, deposition summaries, chronology building, and first-draft preparation. Critically evaluate AI outputs for accuracy and legal soundness before use.
Maintain accurate billing records and task documentation when required.