Paralegal I/II-Confidential

County of Shasta•Redding, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The current vacancy is in the County Counsel’s Office. The County Counsel provides most of the civil legal services required by the County. The County Counsel represents the County and its officers and employees in civil actions. The office drafts or reviews for legal sufficiency 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. Paralegal I-Confidential: 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. Paralegal II-Confidential: Under general 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.

Requirements

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.
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.
Two (2) years of secretarial or clerical office support experience preparing a variety of legal documents in a public or private law practice.
Two (2) years of paralegal experience comparable to a Paralegal I – Confidential with Shasta County.

Nice To Haves

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 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 bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree in any subject, a minimum of one (1) 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 (3) years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three (3) 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 (3) 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 (3) years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three (3) 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.
Mandatory continuing education requirements as defined by the California Business and Professions Code, section 6450 (d).

Responsibilities

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.