Court Probate Examiner (Open and Promotional)

County of San Mateo • San Mateo, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision from the Senior/Supervising Court Staff Attorney, the Probate Examiner provides technical and procedural support to Attorneys and Judicial officers for probate matters. This specialized technical level position performs complex and specialized probate assignments, requiring the use of advanced specialized knowledge of probate policies, practices, and procedures. The person selected for this position will provide paraprofessional legal assistance on the technical and procedural aspects of probate law, applying probate rules, policies, procedures, and practices in carrying out difficult and detailed processes. The Probate Examiner will perform the full range of probate case evaluation and work closely with judicial officers, attorneys, county agencies, and unrepresented litigants. The Probate Examiner works in a variety of settings primarily outside the courtroom, performs the final examination on probate case files prior to hearings in the Court, and recommends court approval on matters that are in order and may be approved by petition. The Probate Examiner classification is distinguished from Court Staff Attorney in that the latter is assigned to a variety of areas to perform all phases of legal work.

Requirements

• A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited educational institution and a minimum of two years' employment experience with a court, a public or private law office, a public administrator, public guardian, public conservator, or private professional fiduciary.
• A paralegal certificate or an Associate of Arts degree from an accredited educational institution and a minimum of a total of four years' employment experience with a court, a public or private law office, a public administrator, public guardian, public conservator, or private professional fiduciary.
• A juris doctor degree from an educational institution approved by the American Bar Association or accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California and a minimum of six months' employment experience with a court, a public or private law office, a public administrator, public guardian, public conservator, or private professional fiduciary.
• Knowledge of Provisions of the Probate Code, Civil Code and other California codes, California Rules of Court, and local court rules pertaining to the preparation, acceptance, and processing of probate documents.
• Knowledge of State and local Rules of Court that govern court operations, including but not limited to, the processing of court documents.
• Knowledge of Legal terminology, procedures, principles, and concepts relevant to probate cases.
• Knowledge of Correct English usage, including grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Knowledge of Office practices and procedures, including operation of standard office equipment such as a computer.
• Knowledge of Techniques for dealing with persons of various ages and ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, who may have physical and/or emotional problems.
• Ability to Interpret, evaluate, and explain complex laws, regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to probate law.
• Ability to Perform legal research, and analyze and apply legal principles, facts, and precedents to legal problems.
• Ability to Prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports, documents, correspondence, procedures, and other written materials.
• Ability to Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to Interact appropriately with judges, court staff, attorneys, and the public.
• Ability to Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Ability to Maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Receive, examine, and process complex probate petitions and supporting pleadings for accuracy and inform judicial officers of any deficiencies.
• Review the accountings of a variety of pending probate case files set for hearing by the court for compliance with jurisdictional and procedural requirements of existing statutes, rules, and policy, note deficiencies where appropriate, and recommend approval to a judicial officer those matters which are in good order.
• Confer and communicate with attorneys, litigants, other members of the public, judges, and courtroom staff, provide information regarding court procedures and materials, answer inquiries and explain legal filing processes, and explain fees and fines.
• Review files to ensure documentation is procedurally correct in compliance with appropriate laws and local rules and note deficiencies and contact attorneys and petitioners to resolve problems and issues.
• Perform legal research of statutes in applicable areas of law and brief the judge regarding unusual cases prior to hearing.
• Prepare summary documentation, set forth the facts of each matter before the court, summarize the legal factors and any issues, and make recommendations for action.
• Monitor changes to probate and family law, recommend policy and procedural changes required for compliance, and institute such modifications after approval.
• Attend court hearings and provide consultation on procedural matters as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level