Paralegal (Self-Help Center)

Superior Court of California, County of Monterey; California (MO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Superior Court of California, County of Monterey is seeking a Paralegal in the Self Help Center to assist self-represented litigants with preparing legal documents and navigating family law matters. The role emphasizes research, drafting, and case management support under supervision of a Family Law Facilitator.

Candidates should have a paralegal certificate (ABA approved) or an equivalent degree as well as coursework or experience in relevant law areas, with bilingual skills in English and

Qualifications

• A certificate of completion of a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association
• A certificate of completion of a paralegal program at, or a degree from, a postsecondary institution with 24 law-related units and accredited
• A bachelor's degree or higher in any subject with at least one year of law-related experience
• A Juris Doctorate Degree
• English/Spanish bilingual skills are highly desirable for this position.

Responsibilities

• Assist self-represented litigants from diverse backgrounds with completion of legal forms.
• Interview and triage self-represented litigants, assessing legal problems and next steps.
• Identify non-routine cases and seek direction from supervising attorney; prepare papers accordingly.
• Explain legal procedures to self-represented litigants, one-on-one and in group settings.
• Prepare orders after hearings using legal forms and court case management systems.
• Assist with paraprofessional duties for Family Law Facilitator and staff attorneys.
• Gather materials, conduct online research, prepare forms and flyers.
• Research statutes, legislation and case law; draft reports and analyze data.
• Provide guidance to clerical staff and interns; develop office procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Written communication

Customer service

Multi-tasking

Interpersonal skills

Legal research

Education

Paralegal certificate (ABA approved)

Postsecondary law-related degree with 24 units

Bachelor's or higher with 1 year law experience

Juris Doctorate

Tools

Legal software

Court management system

Job description

Description

In order to be eligible for consideration, interested candidates must submit the following documents: Court Application
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
Cover Letter
Resume
Responses to the Supplemental Questions.

Preference will be given to candidates who are bilingual in English and Spanish.

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:

On-site Pre-Interview Exercise and On-site Panel Interview(s)

DEFINITION

Under general supervision of the Family Law Facilitator or other staff attorneys, the Paralegal in the Self Help Center assists Self-Represented litigants in preparing legal documents, identifying necessary legal steps to proceed in the litigant's case, reviewing the litigant's file history, researching and analyzing legal statutes and case law, preparing orders after hearing, assisting with case management duties, answering general legal/procedural questions, assisting the Family Law Facilitator and other staff attorneys with a variety of paraprofessional legal duties and performs other duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This position is responsible for performing assignments requiring a professional understanding of law and legal procedures in a variety of legal fields, but primarily family law, small claims, small civil, probate and unlawful detainer actions. This position does not require membership in the State Bar of California.

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.

1. Assist self-represented litigants from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds with completion of legal forms.
2. Interview and triage self-represented litigants, assessing their legal problems and determine the appropriate next steps.
3. Identify non-routine cases and ask for specific direction from supervising attorney; Prepare papers in accordance with those directions.
4. Explain legal procedure and process to self-represented litigants one-on-one and in group/workshop settings.
5. 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.
6. Assist the Family Law Facilitator and other staff attorneys with a variety of paraprofessional legal duties.
7. Make phone calls, gather materials, conduct internet research; prepare forms and flyers.
8. Research and analyze statutes, legislation and case law.
9. Write reports, collect and analyze data needed for legal or administrative matters.
10. Provide guidance to clerical staff and interns.
11. Develop office procedures and processes.
12. 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. A certificate of completion of a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association 2. A certificate of completion of a paralegal program at, or a degree from, a postsecondary institution that requires the successful completion of a minimum of twenty-four (24) semester, or equivalent, units in law-related courses and that has been accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization or approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education 3. A baccalaureate degree or an advanced degree in any subject, a minimum of one year of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney in accordance with the Business & Professions Code section 6450 (Section 6450(c) (3) and (c) (4). AND Two (2) years of increasingly responsible legal, court and/or judicial support experience that includes researching legal issues and drafting legal documents. 4. A Juris Doctorate Degree

English/Spanish bilingual skills are highly desirable for this position.

Other Information

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of: 1. Principles and practices of civil, criminal 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