Attorney - Criminal, Bakersfield - 038

Superior Court of California, County of Kern; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

Superior Court of California, County of Kern invites applications for Associate and Senior Attorney positions in Bakersfield. Responsibilities include research, writing memoranda, advising judges, and reviewing appellate matters. Potential to lead, mentor staff, and participate in court proceedings as a pro tem.

Active State Bar membership is required with several years of licensed practice. The roles emphasize rigorous legal analysis, civil and criminal expertise, and collaboration with

Qualifications

• Active membership in the State Bar of California.
• 3 years as a practicing licensed attorney or equivalent as determined by the Court.
• Knowledge of California Rules of Court and local court rules; ability to apply them to law and motion matters.

Responsibilities

• Researches difficult legal questions and prepares memoranda and summaries for judicial officers.
• Advises the court on difficult legal questions in specialized areas of law.
• Reviews cases on appeal and prepares preliminary opinions for court consideration.
• May train, review work, and schedule assignments of Deputy Attorneys or other staff.
• May preside over court proceedings as a pro tem.
• Assists with drafting of legislative proposals and other legal work.

Skills

Legal research

Memoranda writing

Court advisory

Oral arguments

Staff training

Education

State Bar of California

Job description

Description

ATTORNEY - CRIMINAL

Metro, Bakersfield - 038

Associate Attorney

$4,233.59 - $5,168.33 biweekly

Senior Attorney

$4,608.20 - $5,625.65 biweekly

This regular full-time position recruitment is open continuous and may close at anytime without notice.

Incumbent may have the ability to work fully remote.

Associate Attorney

Under general supervision, this professional level position performs research assignments on behalf of the Superior Court, some involving new concepts in the law or issues lacking applicable prior legal precedents. Reviews pleadings, motions, writs, and legal briefs submitted to the Superior Court and prepares memoranda for the judicial officers.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the intermediate journey level of the Attorney series. This class is distinguished from the Deputy Attorney class in that it performs under less supervision and is given a higher volume caseload with more complexity. This class is distinguished from the higher level Senior Attorney class in that the latter performs the more difficult and complex legal duties and/or may serve as a lead worker, mentoring and coordination the duties of attorneys and other legal staff.

Senior Attorney

Under limited direction, this professional level performs the most complex, legal work of the court; acts a legal advisor and provides technical research assistance to the court judges, executive, and managerial staff, may plan, assign, and review the work of other attorneys.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the advanced journey/lead worker level of the Attorney series. Incumbents may serve as a lead worker, mentoring and coordinating the work of attorneys and other legal staff. This class is distinguished from the lower level Attorney class in that it performs more complex legal research work demanding a higher degree of resourcefulness and knowledge. This class is distinguished from the higher level Supervising Attorney class in that the latter has full supervisory authority regarding hiring, firing, discipline, performance assessments, training, etc., for a staff of attorneys, senior attorneys, and other legal staff.

Essential Functions

Associate Attorney

• Researches difficult legal questions and prepares memoranda, documents and summary of alternatives for judicial officer’s consideration.
• Advises the court on difficult legal questions regarding specialized areas of law.
• Responds to judicial officer inquiries and prepares memorandum, documents and summaries of alternatives for the judicial officer’s and executive staff’s consideration.
• Reviews cases on appeal, researches pertinent issues and law, and prepares preliminary opinion for the courts’ consideration.
• Confers with judicial officers with respect to procedural and substantive legal issues and requirements of individual cases.
• May serve as legal adviser to the judicial officers, judicial committees, or executive officers on specific matters before the court.
• May assist with the drafting of legislative measures and other legal work required by the court.
• May train, review work, and schedule assignments of the Deputy Attorney or other staff.
• May preside over various Court proceedings as a hearing officer on a pro tem basis.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Senior Attorney

Researches difficult legal questions and prepares memoranda, documents, and summaries of alternatives for the judge(s) and executive staff’s consideration.

• May train, review work, and schedule assignments of other legal staff.
• Reviews appealed cases; researches pertinent issues and law; and prepares preliminary opinion for the courts’ consideration.
• Confers with judges, attorneys and the public with respect to procedural and substantive legal issues and requirements of individual cases.
• Assists with the drafting of legislative proposals.
• Writes proposed decisions on matters currently before the court; processes petitions for Writs of Habeas Corpus.
• Advise judges on a variety of civil and criminal issues and proceedings.
• Obtains investigation reports and advises the judges as to proper disposition.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Associate Attorney

Incumbents perform their work under general direction. Attorneys conduct extensive legal research using independent judgment, discretion, and initiative. Erroneous recommendations, decisions, or failure to achieve objectives may result in substantial delays and considerable expenditure of resources. Incumbents in this class may have supervisory responsibility for the work of others.

Employment Standards

Active membership in the State Bar of California, and work experience of (3) years as a practicing licensed attorney OR any combination of training, education and experience equivalent, as determined by the Court, that would provide the required knowledge and abilities for the position.

Senior Attorney

Incumbents in this classification receive limited direction within a broad framework of policies and procedures and may oversee the work of other legal staff. Assigned duties require the exercise of judgment to choose among possible actions, often without clear precedents. Erroneous recommendations, decisions, or failure to achieve objectives may result in substantial delays and considerable expenditure of resources.

Employment Standards

Active membership in the State Bar of California and work experience of (2) two years in the class of Associate Attorney or (4) four years in the practice of law OR any combination of training, education and experience equivalent, as determined by the Court, that would provide the required knowledge and abilities for the position.

Associate Attorney

Knowledge of: legal principles and their applications, especially with regard to civil law and motion matters; legal research methods and techniques; California Rules of Court, local rules of court, and judicial preferences in regard to applying the rules to law and motion write-ups; theory, application, and use of bonds in civil litigation; rules of evidence in the conduct of court proceedings; current key or critical court decisions impacting law and motion issues; policies and procedures of the Superior Court.

Ability to: analyze legal concepts and apply legal principles and practices; present arguments and standards of fact and law clearly and logically in written and oral form; perform legal research of a technical and complex nature; deal tactfully with the public and court personnel; train and review the work of others if applicable.

Senior Attorney

Knowledge of: legal principles, precedents and their application, statutory and constitutional laws of the State of California, principles of civil and criminal law, methods, materials and practices of legal research and writing.

Ability to: present statements of fact and law and argue clearly and logically in written and oral form is required.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Superior Court of California, County of Kern offers a comprehensive benefit package which includes but is not limited to medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage; prescription coverage; life insurance; a defined benefit retirement plan and additional deferred compensation option; and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).