Paralegal (Self-Help Center)

Description

Preference will be given to candidates who are bilingual in English and Spanish.
In order to be eligible for consideration, interested candidates must submit the following documents:
1. Court Application
2. Proof of completion of an accredited legal paraprofessional training program with possession of a paralegal certificate from a California Paralegal certificate program or, a baccalaureate or advanced degree in accordance with Business & Professions Code 6450, or a Juris Doctorate
3. Cover Letter
4. Resume
5. Responses to the Supplemental Questions.

Failure to post all required documents will automatically result in being eliminated from the recruitment. After a thorough review, those candidates who best exhibit the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities in their application materials will be invited to continue the recruitment process, which may include:

Examples of Duties

Positions in this class may perform any or all of the below listed duties. These should be interpreted as examples of the work and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

• Assist self-represented litigants from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds with completion of legal forms
• Interview and triage self-represented litigants, assessing their legal problems and determine the appropriate next steps
• Identify non-routine cases and ask for specific direction from supervising attorney; Prepare papers in accordance with those directions
• Explain legal procedure and process to self-represented litigants one-on-one and in group/workshop settings
• Prepare orders after hearings conforming to clerk's minutes using legal forms, and a variety of legal software programs, as well as the court's case management system
• Assist the Family Law Facilitator and other staff attorneys with a variety of paraprofessional legal duties
• Make phone calls, gather materials, conduct internet research; prepare forms and flyers
• Research and analyze statutes, legislation and case law
• Write reports, collect and analyze data needed for legal or administrative matters
• Provide guidance to clerical staff and interns
• Develop office procedures and processes
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications & Examples of Experience and Training

A typical way to acquire the required knowledge, skills and abilities would be:
Education/License/Certificates:
1. Certificate of completion of a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association

Other Information

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of
1. Principles and practices of civil and administrative law applicable to practice as a paralegal
2. Rules, statutes, and case authority applicable to areas of law served by the unit to which the paralegal is assigned, including but not limited to parentage, family law, child and spousal support, guardianship, unlawful detainers, and small claims
3. California court procedures, rules of evidence and burden-of-proof issues
4. Principles, practices and techniques of legal research and writing
5. Methods and techniques of effective interviewing
6. Methods and techniques of legal research and investigation
7. Legal forms and the content required for filing cases, including, but not limited to, family law, small claims, landlord-tenant and guardianship
8. Standard business software and specialized legal software and programs
9. Correct English usage including spelling, grammar and punctuation; practices of legal communication
10. Effective customer service practices and techniques

Skill and Ability to:
1. Effectively communicate in writing, in person and on the telephone with pro-per litigants and other agencies
2. Provide exceptional customer service
3. Learn and develop skills prioritizing, maintaining and coordinating a heavy workload
4. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Court staff attorneys, officers of the Court, judicial system employees, litigants and the public
5. Conduct legal research using legal databases and books and analyze factual and legal claims and issues
6. Draft a wide variety of legal documents competently, ensuring that they meet all legal requirements and deadlines
7. Present statements of fact, law and basic arguments clearly, logically and concisely
8. Use interviewing skills to obtain accurate, useful information from Court customers to identify their problems/needs and develop appropriate support measures
9. Understand, interpret, communicate and apply specialized and complicated legal information and procedures applicable to the assignment
10. Operate a computer and use specialized legal software/programs, as well as standard business software
11. Stay up to date on new/developing laws, forms and legal information relevant to the assignment
12. Manage multiple tasks, set priorities and meet deadlines
13. Exercise confidentiality and use tact, diplomacy and compassion when dealing with customers' personal issues and confidential situations
14. Maintain neutrality as a court employee in all dealings with the public

The Superior Court of California, County of Monterey offers a comprehensive benefits program. The below benefits summary is based on a full-time position benefits may be prorated for part-time positions:

Vacation: Accrues at the rate of 3.7 hours per 80 hours earned in a biweekly pay period. The accrual rate increases after 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service.

Holidays: 14 days a year.

Sick Leave: Provides salary continuation for absence due to illness and is earned at the rate of 3.08 hours 80 hours earned in a biweekly pay period.

Bereavement Leave: Up to 3 days of paid leave.

Educational Leave: Two 8-hour day per calendar year.

Education Reimbursement: Up to $1,000 per year.

Medical Insurance: employee and dependent coverage available.

Dental Insurance: employee and dependent coverage available.

Vision Care Insurance: employee and dependent coverage available.

Life Insurance: $50,000 life insurance policy.

Deferred Compensation: A voluntary deferred compensation program is available.

Retirement: Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Employer and Employee (based on percentage of pay) contributes into CalPERS

This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The
benefits and wages listed in the Court Personnel Policies or applicable MOU
prevail over this listing.