Family Law Facilitator

County of Sonoma; Santa Rosa (CA); Sur place; USD 90 000 - 130 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

County of Sonoma seeks a Family Law Facilitator to design and lead a court-based family law program, serving litigants without counsel, handling child/spousal support processes, forms, parentage education, and referrals. Supervises para-professional staff and volunteers as part of the court management team.

The role requires CA Bar membership and extensive family law experience, with ability to train staff, serve diverse clients, and coordinate resources.

Qualifications

• Active membership in the State Bar of California is required.
• Five years' admission to the California Supreme Court, plus 3+ years in family law.
• Proficiency in family law support and forms software; knowledge of DV issues.
• Extensive knowledge of family law principles, procedures, and related resources.

Responsabilités

• Plans, administers the Family Law Facilitator program.
• Develops policies and procedures for operations.
• Supervises attorneys, legal staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Designs clinics and workshops for self-represented litigants.
• Mediates family matters and drafts stipulations.
• Prepares orders, tentative rulings, and court documents.

Connaissances

Leadership

Mediation

Staff supervision

Policy development

Training staff

Public service

Case management

Interpersonal skills

Formation

Active membership in the State Bar of California

Description du poste

Position Summary

Under general direction, the Family Law Facilitator is responsible for providing services mandated by Family Code sections 10000-10015, and CA Rule of Court 10.960, which include the development, planning, implementation, and administration of a family law program to provide services to litigants not represented by counsel.

This position facilitates and expedites the direction of the customer family law proceedings related to child support, spousal support and health insurance matters; provides educational materials to parents regarding the process of establishing parentage; distributes necessary court forms and voluntary declarations of paternity; provides assistance in completing forms; prepares support schedules based upon statutory guidelines; mediates and drafts stipulations agreed to by all parties; prepares orders after hearings and judgments; prepares tentative rulings; and provides other services related to Family Law proceedings, without representing any party or creating an attorney-client relationship.

The Family Law Facilitator has responsibility for the direct supervision of para-professional staff and volunteers.

The Family Law Facilitator is a single incumbent classification that performs all related functions in the overall management and operations of the Family Law Facilitator (may be delegated and overseen), and/or other programs and/or services offering assistance to litigants. The classification is a member of the court’s management team and provides leadership and supervision to attorneys, paralegals, and clerical support staff.

Typical Duties

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 or exclusive.

• Plans, implements, and administers Family Law Facilitator program. May assist or be assigned to oversee the Civil Self-Help programs and services.
• Develops and implements operational policies and procedures.
• Recruits, trains and supervises attorneys, legal assistants or other clerical staff, interns, and/or volunteers.
• Designs content of and conduct clinics and workshops for self-represented litigants in a variety of family law matters.
• Provides educational materials to parents concerning the process of establishing parentage and establishing, modifying, and enforcing child and spousal support in the courts.
• Provides mediation for family matters such as property division in marital dissolution, separation and nullity cases; parentage matters.
• Assists in the preparation of domestic violence restraining order applications.
• Distributes necessary court forms and voluntary declarations of paternity; provides assistance in completing the forms and orders after hearing.
• Identifies community resources related to family law program services and community based organizations.
• Provides referrals to the Department of Child Support Services, and other community agencies and resources that provide services for parents and children.
• Prepares and maintains records of the court, monthly statistical reports, and scheduling.
• Meets with litigants to mediate issues of child support, spousal support, and maintenance of health insurance.
• Prepares support schedules based on statutory guidelines.
• Drafts stipulations to include all issues agreed to by the parties.
• Reviews paperwork and examines documents, including Judgment packets, prior to submission to the judge for consideration.
• Prepares Petitions, Responses, Request for Orders and Responsive declarations in Dissolution, Nullity, Legal Separation and Paternity cases.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

The minimum qualifications for the Family Law Facilitator position are mandated by the California Rule of Court, Rule 5.430, as follows:

Education: Active membership in the State Bar of California.

Experience: Five years admission to the practice of law before the Supreme Court of the State of California; AND a minimum of three (3) years of experience as a lawyer with emphasis in family law matters; proficiency in family law support and forms software programs; AND basic understanding of law and psychological issues related to domestic violence.

Extensive knowledge of: Family Law principles and court procedures, program and policy development and implementation, family law related resources and referral services; case management practices; laws, regulation and professional practice relating to family law issues, disputes, and resolutions; legal terminology, court operations and courtroom procedure; and governmental and private community resources and referral agencies.

Ability to: Exercise judgment to choose among possible options often without clear precedents; develop organizational expectations; train staff in applying professional principles within the court system; establish rapport with litigants; effectively assist litigants under stressful circumstances; identify and utilize support services and community resources; prepare concise reports and records, develop and conduct independent research projects; review literature, codes, laws, records as related to family law, understand and interpret the effect of legislative changes on Family Law Facilitator Program; effectively communicate with people of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and temperaments.

Judgment and Responsibility: Incumbents receive limited direction within a broad framework of policies and procedures and may supervise other staff, including volunteers. Assigned duties require the exercise of judgment to choose among possible actions, often without clear precedents.

Additional Qualifications

• Minimum of 40 hours' training in mediation techniques and approaches.

Highly Desirable Candidates Will Possess The Following

• Experience in family law litigation.
• Experience as a Certified Family Law Specialist.
• Spanish language fluency.

General Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for this position include:

• Family law principles and court procedures.
• Program and policy development and implementation.
• Family law-related resources and community-based organizations and referral services.
• Federal, state and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to area of assigned responsibility.
• General functions and organization of the judicial system, including areas of litigation and the roles and functions of other legal and law enforcement agencies.
• Principles and practices of case and calendar management.
• Research methods and statistical analysis techniques.
• Analyze, interpret and explain legal principles and issues.
• Understand, interpret, explain and apply local, state and federal policy, laws and regulations applicable to family law programs.
• Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive studies, reports, correspondence and other written materials.
• Communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing to different audiences and facilitate understanding/agreement.
• Present proposals and recommendations clearly, logically and persuasively.
• Operate a computer and use standard business and case management software.
• Use tact and diplomacy dealing with sensitive and complex issues, situations and concerned people.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work, including judicial officers and staff, members of the bar, other governmental and community agencies, and program customers.
• Work with people of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

Retirement Plan

Tax deferred contributory system under the County Retirement Act of 1937. This is a defined benefit plan integrated with Social Security. Employee may elect to make additional contributions into a separate 457 deferred compensation account up to the IRS annual maximum.

Vacation Leave

Regular, full-time Court employees accrue vacation at the following rates:

Approx. YearsIn-Service HoursBi-weekly AccrualApprox. Days EquivalentMax Accrual0 - 20 - 4,174.2 5.8619

376

2 - 34174.3 - 6261.4 6.2620.4

3763 - 46261.5 - 8348.5 6.6521.6

3764 - 58348.6 - 10435.6 7.06

23

3765 - 1010,435.7 - 20,871.27.9525.9

3.76

10 - 1520,871.3 - 31,306.88.88

28.9

37615 - 2031,306.9 - 41,742.4 9.76

31.8

376

20 - 2541,742.5 - 52,17810.35

33.7

376

25+52,178.1 or more10.66

34.7

376

Sick Leave

12 days per year with no limit on accumulation.

Holidays

14 paid fixed holidays per year, plus nineteen miscellaneous floating holiday hours, granted via compensatory time off.

Insurance

Employees and their dependents are eligible for dental, vision and the choice of three health plans. The Court's current contribution is approximately 92% of the premium for the health plan selected.

Short and long term disability plans fully paid by the Court.

Employee assistance program.

Term life insurance equal to two (2) times the annual salary is provided by the Court; additional life insurance may be purchased.