Paralegal I - Confidential

Salary : $49,704.00 - $63,432.00 Annually Location : 96001, CA Job Type: Full-Time Regular Job Number: 1248_CC_ Department: County Counsel's Office Opening Date: 10/29/2024 Closing Date: Continuous THE CURRENT VACANCY IS IN THE COUNTY COUNSEL'S OFFICE SKILLS OR EXPERIENCES LISTED UNDER THE IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT MAY ALSO BE USED TO SCREEN APPLICATIONS SEE "SPECIAL REQUIREMENT" SECTION REGARDING POSSESSION OF A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE AND SECTION REGARDING BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE, SECTION 6450 RESPONSES TO SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS REQUIRED FINAL FILING DATE: *CONTINUOUS* SALARY INFORMATION Paralegal I - Confidential: $4,142 - $5,286 APPROXIMATE MONTHLY* / $23.90 - $30.50 APPROXIMATE HOURLY* *Please refer to the Confidential and Unrepresented Employees section of the referenced website for potential future salary increases* Please visit ABOUT SHASTA COUNTY Shasta County offers all the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small-town atmosphere. With its natural beauty, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT The County Counsel provides most of the civil legal services the County requires. The County Counsel is the attorney for the County, including the Board of Supervisors, and all County officer, departments, boards and commissions, and the Shasta County Grand Jury. For legal sufficiency, the office drafts or reviews all proposed legislation, contracts, leases, deeds, ordinances, and resolutions. Statutory interpretation and the issuance of legal opinions in response to requests from County officials comprise another major area of responsibility. The County Counsel also identifies and explains legal trends to assist in program planning. ABOUT THE POSITION Under close supervision of attorney staff, provides paraprofessional legal support work, including legal research and legal document preparation, requiring knowledge of legal theory and procedures, and to perform related duties as required. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS This paraprofessional classification performs a variety of legal tasks under the supervision of attorney staff. Incumbents will generally receive assignments involving the preparation and analysis of legal documents, routine legal research and application of technical knowledge involving legal theory and procedures. Incumbents may also train clerical staff. Paralegal I is the entry-level paraprofessional classification in the Paralegal series. Initially under immediate supervision, incumbents learn and perform routine paralegal duties. As experience is gained, assignments become more varied, complex, and difficult; close supervision and frequent review of work lessen as an incumbent demonstrates skill to perform the work independently. Positions at this level usually perform most of the duties required of the positions at the II-level but are not expected to function at the same skill level and usually exercise less independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods. This is a Confidential classification. Confidential in this context according to the Personnel Rules means "a non-management employee who, in the course of his or her duties, is regularly privy to management planning or decision making regarding the County's administration of employer-employee relations as determined by the Board of Supervisors." EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Performs paralegal services for the County Counsel and attorney staff; researches legal issues and reviews statutes and other municipal codes/ordinances, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles, and other documents; drafts routine pleadings, briefs, appeals and other litigation related documents including, but not limited to, petitions, complaints, answers, and declarations; reviews and summarizes deposition and hearing transcripts; drafts routine ordinances, resolutions, leases, contracts and contract amendments, staff reports, deed restrictions/conservation easements and standard real estate documents; acts on an intermediate level as small claims advisor; provides legal technical support in various areas of civil law for projects such as: processing, codification and publication of County ordinances and ensuring internal consistency of the County Code; prepares public hearing notices; and calendaring and tracking milestones related to real estate transactions; assists staff in tracking existing and proposed legislation; provides legislative history and status reports; contacts attorneys and others to coordinate calendars, meetings and the conduct of legal business; organizes and maintains litigation and non-litigation files and materials; organizes document control in situations involving voluminous documents; may appear in court in a support capacity for attorneys; performs related duties as assigned. TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following: Knowledge of : Procedures involved in finding relevant material in standard legal reference books; methods and techniques of legal research, discovery and fact investigation; civil procedure; principles of legal writing legal concepts, terminology, phraseology, forms, documents, principles, procedures and practices; federal, state, and local court processes and procedures; general operation of the court system; computer equipment and applications utilized by the department; office methods and practices, procedures, supplies and equipment; proper English usage, grammar, spelling and punctuation; business correspondence and report writing; basic principles and techniques of training and supervision. Ability to : Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information; understand and carry out complex oral and written directions; independently gather information and prepare reports and correspondence; research, analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence and precedents to legal issues; organize large amounts of data, facts and research; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; read and understand federal and state court decisions, statutes, regulations and legal documents; draft legal documents and pleadings; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; interpret and apply laws, rules and written and oral directions to specific situations requiring the use of independent judgment and minimal supervision; use sound judgment within the scope and limit of authority delegated; manage assigned workload; operate personal computers and utilize computer applications used by the department; establish and maintain cooperative work relationships; follow workplace safety policies and procedures. Work primarily in an office environment including sitting at a desk working with computer equipment, on the phone and in meetings for prolonged periods; regularly working with files and with general office equipment; travel to and take notes in Court. These employment standards are typically attained with a minimum of two (2) years of experience as a paralegal in a civil law practice. SPECIAL REQUIREMENT Possession of an appropriate California driver license may be required for some positions. A paralegal shall possess at least one of the following, as required by Business & Professions Code, section 6450. (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 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 who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegal tasks. (4) A high school diploma or general equivalency diploma, a minimum of three years of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegal tasks. This experience and training shall be completed no later than December 31, 2003. Additionally, incumbents in this class are required to fulfill the mandatory continuing education requirements as defined by the California Business and Professions Code, section 6450 (d). SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS Responses to the following must be submitted with a completed application. How many years of experience do you possess as a paralegal in a law office? Please select all of the following that you possess: A certificate of completion from a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association. A certificate of completion from a paralegal program at, or a degree from, a postsecondary institution that requires the successful completion of a minimum of 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. 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 who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegal tasks. A high school diploma or general equivalency diploma, a minimum of three years of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegal tasks. This experience and training shall be completed no later than December 31, 2003. None of the above 3. I acknowledge that this position is in an office that works closely with victims of crime and that some tasks required in this role may involve reading police reports, hearing stories about victimization, exposure to graphic materials, and speaking with victims on the phone or in person. Yes/No 4. I acknowledge this position requires an appropriate California driver's license. Yes/No PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS All new employees are required to have their paycheck directly deposited to a bank account. Some positions may require a valid California driver's license and acceptable driving record according to County policy. Reasonable accommodations may be made for those persons who are disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act to perform the essential functions of the position. As part of the selection process, all individuals provided with a preliminary offer of employment with Shasta County will be subject to a background investigation, including a criminal history check (primarily completed through the taking of fingerprints). An image of your fingerprints will be captured and sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history, (if any), will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application. Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered. Based on the results of the background investigation and criminal history check, applicants may then be provided with an offer of employment conditioned on the results of a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol testing. Shasta County participates in E-Verify. For more information visit here . If you do not have internet access, contact Personnel at (530) to request a flyer. In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, County employees, in the event of a disaster are considered disaster workers and may be asked to respond accordingly. Employees in this classification are covered under the CalPERS retirement program. Depending on the provisions of the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) and other applicable laws, an employee in this classification will be covered under one of the following CalPERS retirement formulas: (1) 2% at 55, (2) 2% at 60, or (3) 2% at 62. An employee in this classification will also contribute up to 9.5% of his/her pay to this plan or will contribute such other amount to the plan as authorized by PEPRA and other applicable laws. Please visit our employees benefit page at Employee Benefits for additional information regarding benefits and CalPERS coverage information. The provisions in this flyer and on the County website are for information purposes only. To the extent the provisions of the flyer or the County website are inconsistent with PEPRA and other applicable laws, PEPRA and other applicable laws shall govern. APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURES Shasta County Personnel will accept applications and responses to the supplemental questions until the position is filled. A Resume and/or Cover Letter will be accepted in addition to the application form but will not serve as a substitute for a completed application. It is not acceptable to complete the application with statements such as, "Refer to Resume and/or Cover Letter," or "See Attached Resume and/or Cover Letter" the employment application must be completed in its entirety prior to submission. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Closing date postmarks or faxes will NOT be accepted. This recruitment will establish a list that may or may not be used by other departments. Prior applicants must reapply to be considered. Applicants will be screened and those considered best qualified will be invited to appear for an oral and/or written examination. Meeting the announced requirements does not guarantee inclusion into the selection process. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of additional application screening, written and/or practical exam(s), oral interview, or any combination thereof. Veterans' Credit : Veterans (as defined by California Government Code section 18973) who have been discharged from military service under conditions other than dishonorable and who receive a passing score on all components of the employment examinations (up to and including oral examinations) shall receive credit for an additional five points to be added to their final examination score. To be considered for this credit, a veteran MUST provide a copy of his or her discharge document (DD-214 or equivalent) and information as to the type of discharge (honorable, dishonorable, etc.) WITH THE EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION ON OR BEFORE THE FINAL FILING DATE. Applicants are encouraged to apply on-line at or submit an application to the Shasta County Personnel Office. Arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants with disabilities. Requests for accommodations may be made to the Shasta County Personnel Office by the filing deadline posted on this bulletin. Shasta County does not discriminate on the basis of disability. If you feel you are being denied service based on a disability, our ADA Coordinator may be reached at (530) ; relay service (800) ; fax (530) . Shasta County will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Shasta County is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act. SHASTA COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Shasta County Personnel 1450 Court Street, Suite 348; Redding, CA 96001; (530) NOTE: Various bargaining units may have benefits that alter from this general summary. This summary of benefits is not a binding document and is provided as a courtesy. Refer to labor agreements (MOUs) for specific benefit information. THESE BENEFITS DO NOT APPLY TO EXTRA HELP EMPLOYEES Holidays: 12 paid holidays (96 hours) per year. 1 Floating holiday annually. Vacation: 10 working days a year during the first three years of service. 15 working days a year - 4 through 9 years of service. 17 working days a year - 10 through 15 years of service. 20 working days a year - 16 or more years of service. Note - accrued vacation leave may not be used until after three months of employment. For purposes of vacation accrual, a working day is no more than 8 hours. Employees may elect to receive a payment for Vacation hours (in lieu of use) for up to eighty hours - in five whole hour increments - of accrued vacation. *Subject to criteria as outlined in Section 16.7 of the Personnel Rules. Sick Leave: 96 hours of sick leave are earned each year with no maximum accrual. Employees terminating in good standing after completion of 5 years of continuous service will receive a pro-rata payoff of accumulated sick leave. Unused sick leave may be converted to PERS service credit upon retirement. Note - accrued sick leave may be used immediately as accrued. Accrued paid leave benefits are used in conjunction with FMLA/CFRA as appropriate. *Vacation and Sick Leave accruals are based on regularly scheduled working hours. Additional time will not be accrued on hours worked over 80 hours within a one pay period. Bereavement: 24 hours paid leave for each non-concurrent death in the immediate family. Health Plan: Shasta County contracts with PERS for medical insurance. Depending on the plan selected, the County pays most of the employee premium, and contributes a portion of the dependent premium. Contributions are made for a portion of a retiree's insurance premium. Dental Plan: The County pays a portion of the employee's and dependents' premium for dental insurance. The employee pays the full premium during the first six months of coverage. Vision Plan: The County pays the employee premium and employees may enroll dependents at their own expense. Life Insurance: The County pays the premium for life insurance for most employees. The amount of coverage varies by bargaining unit. For Confidential employees the current coverage amount is $50,000-$70,000 and is equivalent to 1 year of salary at their current wage. Additional Life insurance is available to purchase through Aflac and The Standard. Retirement: The County is in the Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) coordinated with Social Security. Members hired prior to May 8, 2011 are covered under the retirement formula of 2% @ 55 benefit. Members hired after May 8, 2011 but before January 1, 2013 are covered under the retirement formula of 2% @ 60 benefit. Members hired after January 1, 2013 are covered under the California Public Employees Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) with a benefit formula of 2% @ 62. Please review the specific MOU for stipulated retirement formulas. Employees pay 9.5% of his or her salary, on a pre-tax basis for a period of time as specified in his or her labor contract, or Personnel Rules as appropriate. Members hired prior to 2013 may have a different contribution percentage. Miscellaneous: Deferred Compensation plans available through specified companies with employer match up to 3%. IRC Section 125 plan available for pre-tax payroll deductions for contributions towards un-reimbursed medical expenses and dependent care. Optional additional insurance products are available through Aflac. Employee Assistance Program through ACI Specialty Benefits. ScholarShare 529 - College Savings Plan Golden State Finance Authority - Down payment Assistance Longevity Pay eligibility review with at least ten years of continuous service with Shasta County SHASTA COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Any information on this page or links is subject to change without notice. Shasta County Personnel 1450 Court Street, Room 348 Redding, CA (530) Comments, please email: 01 How many years of experience do you possess as a paralegal in a law office? Less than two years Two years Three years More than three years 02 Please select all of the following that you possess: A certificate of completion from a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association. A certificate of completion from a paralegal program at, or a degree from, a postsecondary institution that requires the successful completion of a minimum of 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. 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 who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform ...

Created: 2024-11-01