Josh is a true Riverside native, born and raised. Trying cases is literally in his blood, going back generations! Both Josh’s father and grandfather were Superior Court judges. Josh spent his childhood learning all about the legal profession, even accompanying his Dad to jury trials at the courthouse or autopsies at the coroner’s office.
Josh attended a local Riverside law school, California Southern Law School. While going through law school, he gained valuable experience working at the Riverside District Attorney’s Office as a Law Clerk and in the Training Division. In 2011, after receiving his Juris Doctorate and immediately passing the California State Bar Examination, Josh opened the Law Office of Joshua J. Hanks. The firm specialized in criminal defense. During the first few years of practice, in addition to private clients, Josh handled thousands of court-appointed cases in both misdemeanor and felony courts. He gained more and more experience, serving his clients that could not afford an attorney, but could not be helped by the Public Defender’s Office due to a declared conflict.
After working in private practice, Josh decided to apply to work as a Deputy District Attorney in the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. He was hired and began working in the Identity Theft Unit. Soon Josh was transferred to the Drug DUI Unit where he filed, litigated, and tried all drug-related DUIs in Western Riverside County. Josh received extensive training and insight into the world of DUI litigation.
However, while working as a Deputy District Attorney, Josh confirmed something that he always knew in his heart: his passion was for helping people, not prosecuting them. So, in 2019, Josh left the District Attorney’s Office to return to private practice. After experiencing the law from both sides, Josh was more ready, more committed, and better prepared to provide his clients with quality, passionate representation.
Josh is also very involved in the Riverside community. Josh has coached his high school alma mater’s mock trial team for over 20 years, leading the team to a record number of County Championships and two State Championships. Many of the students Josh coached have gone on to become lawyers and Deputy District Attorneys.
Josh has negotiated countless excellent plea deals on behalf of his clients, on many occasions saving his clients from spending the rest of their lives in prison. Josh is also a skilled trial attorney, having tried dozens of cases to verdict as both a defense attorney and a prosecutor. His time in court has resulted in many very pleased clients. Josh’s hard work, talent and passion do not go unnoticed.
What the Riverside Legal Community has to say about Josh:
“Mr. Joshua Hanks is a preeminent lawyer and advocate. He has established himself
within the legal community as an industrious, hardworking and ethical attorney. Mr. Hanks cares about his clients and that they receive a fair and just outcome.”
- W. Charles Morgan
Retired Judge of the Superior Court
