The Role
Provides comprehensive litigation support to federal public defenders across pre-indictment cases, trials, sentencing, appeals, and habeas matters. Responsibilities include reviewing and organizing discovery, preparing case materials, managing databases and digital evidence, creating reports and courtroom presentations, maintaining case indices and witness files, supporting experts and bail processes, and meeting clients. The role requires advanced technology skills, litigation paralegal experience, flexibility for nights and weekends, and collaboration with defense teams.
Summary Generated by Built In
The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California is accepting applications for a full-time trial paralegal. The trial paralegal will be stationed in the Los Angeles main office. The Federal Public Defender’s Office is committed to the pursuit of justice by aggressively advocating in federal court for the constitutional rights and inherent dignity of individuals who are charged with federal crimes and cannot afford their own lawyer.
Job Duties: Trial paralegals provide a full range of support to attorneys in all types of federal matters, including pre-indictment cases, trials, appeals, and habeas cases. Trial paralegals must be available to work during regular business hours, and when necessary, during evenings and weekends. General areas of responsibility are noted below.
Paralegal Job Duties:Software & Technical Responsibilities:
Requirements: All applicants must have graduated from an accredited school with a bachelor's degree and five (5) or more years of experience as a litigation paralegal preparing cases for trial and providing support during trial. Candidates must have an advanced technology background (training will be provided for all technology and software tools described above). A paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program is preferred but not required. Preference will be given to applicants with state or federal criminal defense experience.
Varying hours including nights, weekends, and holidays may be required. A background investigation is required as a condition of employment. In line with current appropriations law, applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents seeking citizenship as described here.
Selection Criteria: Candidates must have an interest in advancing the Federal Public Defender’s mission of providing high-quality criminal defense to indigent individuals; must keep up with emerging technology trends; have strong oral and written communication skills; be able to work independently, be flexible, and take initiative; and work well in teams.
Salary/Benefits: This is a full-time, at-will position. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience and is subject to direct deposit. Benefits include health and life insurance, retirement, and a Thrift Savings Plan. After successfully completing a probationary period, eligible employees may elect to telework up to two days per week, subject to certain conditions. For more information on benefits, see http://www.uscourts.gov/careers/benefits.
How to Apply: Apply by submitting a letter of interest, résumé, and three references. We will accept applications until September 11, 2026, or until filled. Interviews will occur on a rolling basis and the open position may be filled before that date. Priority will be given to early applicants. The Federal Public Defender’s Office may fill current and future positions from this vacancy announcement. Please, no phone calls.
The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California is committed to equal opportunity in the workplace. All applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age, are encouraged to apply.
Job Duties: Trial paralegals provide a full range of support to attorneys in all types of federal matters, including pre-indictment cases, trials, appeals, and habeas cases. Trial paralegals must be available to work during regular business hours, and when necessary, during evenings and weekends. General areas of responsibility are noted below.
Paralegal Job Duties:Software & Technical Responsibilities:
- Assisting attorneys in case preparation, including trials, sentencing and evidentiary hearings
- Identifying the best technology for review and analysis of discovery and case material
- Reviewing, analyzing, and organizing multi-faceted discovery
- Analyzing, producing, and presenting reports and summarizing evidence for the defense team or for presentations in the courtroom
- Creating, maintaining, and updating indices, chronologies, witness lists, witness files and documents
- Working with defense teams to develop and implement case strategies to meet the needs of each individual case
- Identifying and preparing documents for experts
- Assisting attorneys and clients with bail processes
- Attending meetings with clients in/out of custody
- Using technology to analyze, present and communicate information to case teams.
- Using database programs (e.g., Eclipse, CaseMap, Summation, Relativity) to manage and review electronically stored information
- Editing and ingesting load files, tagging, and exporting content
- Using digital presentation tools in the courtroom (e.g., Trial Director, PowerPoint)
- Using forensic tools (e.g., Cellebrite, Axiom) to review and extract data from forensically captured digital devices
- Editing/converting audio and video files and working with proprietary video formats (NVRs, dash cam, pole cam, etc.)
- Proficiency with Office 365 applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, OneDrive), Adobe Acrobat, and dtSearch
- Experience with online research databases (e.g., PACER, State Court databases, Westlaw, LexisNexis, and Accurint)
Requirements: All applicants must have graduated from an accredited school with a bachelor's degree and five (5) or more years of experience as a litigation paralegal preparing cases for trial and providing support during trial. Candidates must have an advanced technology background (training will be provided for all technology and software tools described above). A paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program is preferred but not required. Preference will be given to applicants with state or federal criminal defense experience.
Varying hours including nights, weekends, and holidays may be required. A background investigation is required as a condition of employment. In line with current appropriations law, applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents seeking citizenship as described here.
Selection Criteria: Candidates must have an interest in advancing the Federal Public Defender’s mission of providing high-quality criminal defense to indigent individuals; must keep up with emerging technology trends; have strong oral and written communication skills; be able to work independently, be flexible, and take initiative; and work well in teams.
Salary/Benefits: This is a full-time, at-will position. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience and is subject to direct deposit. Benefits include health and life insurance, retirement, and a Thrift Savings Plan. After successfully completing a probationary period, eligible employees may elect to telework up to two days per week, subject to certain conditions. For more information on benefits, see http://www.uscourts.gov/careers/benefits.
How to Apply: Apply by submitting a letter of interest, résumé, and three references. We will accept applications until September 11, 2026, or until filled. Interviews will occur on a rolling basis and the open position may be filled before that date. Priority will be given to early applicants. The Federal Public Defender’s Office may fill current and future positions from this vacancy announcement. Please, no phone calls.
The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California is committed to equal opportunity in the workplace. All applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age, are encouraged to apply.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school
- Five or more years of experience as a litigation paralegal preparing cases for trial and providing trial support
- Advanced technology background
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Ability to work independently, remain flexible, take initiative, and work well in teams
- United States citizenship or permanent residency with intent to seek citizenship
- Paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program
- State or federal criminal defense experience
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The Company
What We Do
Federal public defender organizations provide legal representation to individuals facing federal criminal charges who cannot afford an attorney. They are part of the United States Courts System and are dedicated to upholding the right to counsel.
