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Graduate Legal Assistant Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

... and assist with the legal aspects of As You Sow 's shareholder advocacy work; * Work ... graduate legal experience (including clerkships or fellowships) with litigation experience;

Corporate Counsel

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$142K - $213K/yr

... law. * Assist with corporate governance matters, including board and committee materials and ... Post-graduate legal degree and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar * 3+ years of ...

Legal Intern

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$55 - $62/hr

The Legal Intern will assist with a variety of legal projects, which are expected to include ... Working towards a graduate law degree (JD or LLM) at an accredited law school with a strong ...

Required : • JD or equivalent post-graduate qualification • 3-7 years of experience at a law ... Harvey provides AI-driven tools to assist legal professionals with research, document review, and ...

$115K - $130K/yr

Advanced graduate degree or JD desired * Advanced degree preferably in competitive intelligence ... Minimum 4 years' experience as a Paralegal, Litigation Legal Assistant, Legal Researcher or other ...

Showing results 21-40

Graduate Legal Assistant information

See California salary details

$26.6K

$47.6K

$73K

How much do graduate legal assistant jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for graduate legal assistant in California is $47,584.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $37,500.00 and $54,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a graduate legal assistant?

To thrive as a Graduate Legal Assistant, you need a law degree or equivalent qualification, strong research abilities, and a solid understanding of legal terminology and procedures. Familiarity with legal research databases (such as Westlaw or LexisNexis), case management software, and document drafting tools is typically required. Excellent written and verbal communication, attention to detail, and organizational skills help you manage complex information and support legal teams effectively. These competencies are crucial for ensuring accuracy, maintaining compliance, and providing reliable assistance in a fast-paced legal environment.

What types of projects or cases can a graduate legal assistant expect to work on during their first year?

As a Graduate Legal Assistant, you’ll typically support attorneys with tasks like legal research, drafting documents, and organizing case files. In your first year, you might assist with case preparation for hearings or trials, help manage discovery processes, and interact with clients or witnesses under supervision. The work often involves collaborating closely with paralegals and junior lawyers, giving you a broad perspective on different areas of law. The variety of cases you'll support—ranging from civil litigation to corporate matters—provides valuable exposure and lays a strong foundation for career advancement.

What is a graduate legal assistant?

Graduate Legal Assistants are entry-level legal professionals, often recent law school graduates, who support attorneys and legal departments with research, drafting documents, case preparation, and administrative duties. They work under the supervision of licensed attorneys and help with tasks such as preparing legal briefs, conducting legal research, and organizing case files. This role provides valuable hands-on experience for those considering a legal career or preparing to take the bar exam. Graduate Legal Assistants may work in law firms, government agencies, or corporate legal departments.
What are the most commonly searched types of Graduate Legal jobs in California? The most popular types of Graduate Legal jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Graduate Legal Assistant jobs in California? For Graduate Legal Assistant jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Graduate Legal Assistant jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Graduate Legal Assistant jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Graduate Legal Assistant jobs? Cities in California with the most Graduate Legal Assistant job openings:
Infographic showing various Graduate Legal Assistant job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,584 per year, or $22.9 per hour.

$43K/yr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago


U.S. Department Of Homeland Security rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 86 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

93rd of 289 rated public sector bodies


Job description

Organizational Location: These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA), in various locations.
Salary: The salary range indicated in this announcement will be adjusted to include locality payment for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.Qualifications:Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Minimum Qualification requirements as noted below.
Minimum Qualifications for GS-07:
Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service that included performing at least 2 of the following:
  1. Performing a variety of legal administrative support activities for attorneys involved in litigation or other law related activities;
  2. Assisting with tracking court dockets, cases, hearings, depositions and/or other legal administrative matters; and
  3. Assisting with the preparation and maintenance of case files.
OR
Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. Superior Academic Achievement is based on:(1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR (3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/).
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.
Minimum Qualifications for GS-09:
Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service that included performing at least 3 of the following:
  1. Providing legal support in drafting, reviewing, and processing of legal documents;
  2. Gathering, organizing, or analyzing data to support the litigation of a variety of cases or the provision of legal advice to clients and other entities; and
  3. Performing a variety of legal administrative support activities for attorneys involved in litigation or other law related activities.
OR
Education:
Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.
NOTE: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.Education:If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: OTHER

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About U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a federal agency operating within the government services industry in Washington, DC, US. Established in 2003, the DHS is directly responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries. Its main responsibilities include protecting the United States from and responding to terrorist attacks, man-made accidents, and natural disasters. Through its more than 20 component agencies including Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, it ensures the safety of the US through numerous programs and initiatives. The DHS upholds a core value system with the mission of safeguarding the American people, our homeland, and values. Notably, the DHS plays a critical role in the spectral range of activities to prepare, prevent, and respond to possible threats to the US.

Industry

Public administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Washington, DC, US

Year founded

2003