Law - Paralegal

Join the Esteemed Superior Court Team!

Are you seeking an opportunity to contribute to your community through a meaningful and prestigious career? The Superior Court is looking for dedicated professionals to join our team and uphold the values of justice and fairness for all.

An Esteemed Profession: Working for the Superior Court is more than just a job—it’s a calling to uphold the Constitution and provide equal protection under the law to everyone.

Enjoy a competitive salary, health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as robust retirement plans to secure your future.

Benefit from paid time off, including holidays, vacation, and sick leave, ensuring time for personal and family commitments.

Expand your career with training programs and opportunities for advancement within the organization.

Community Impact: Be an integral part of a system that ensures justice, equity, and service to the community with integrity.

Not only is Humboldt Superior Court a great place to work and make a difference in the community but we have a generous benefits package. CalPERS Public Retirement System (5 years vesting service required)

Medical

Retiree Medical Plan available upon retirement (5 years service required)

Dental

Paid Court Holidays (14 annually)

457(b) Pre-tax Savings Plan

Employee Assistance Program

Educational Reimbursement Program

Paralegal

Under general supervision, performs paraprofessional legal support work including legal research, interviewing clients, preparing standard documents, assisting in case preparation and other technical assistance on matters before the court.

Under the review of a supervising attorney, Paralegals lead workshops as prepared by attorneys or other qualified staff and provide educational information and materials to the public concerning legal matters; assist self-represented litigants complete legal forms; and provide information to the public regarding community organizations and agencies that provide relevant legal services for self-represented litigants. Paralegals also provide paraprofessional legal assistance to one or more assigned attorneys. Such work includes: researching and analyzing statutes and case law, and other legal authority under attorney guidance; gathering, proofreading and editing legal drafts; preparing declarations and other legal documents; and determining causes of action and preparing documents accordingly. Paralegals perform substantive legal work at the direction, and with the supervision of, an assigned attorney.

This is a journey level paraprofessional position that works closely with judicial officers, attorneys, county agencies, court staff, and unrepresented litigants and is fully competent to perform a wide range of complex legal support work for the Court. Although this is not a supervisory classification, an incumbent may direct the work or training of others in legal/Court procedures and techniques.

Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the Court to be appropriate under applicable law.)

Prepares a variety of correspondence and general written materials;

Provides plain language information and educational materials to the public regarding Court rules and procedures, including preparation for hearings and trials; conducts self-help workshops; reviews court documents with self-represented parties and explains legal requirements and options, including the preparation of legal documents for litigants and/or guidance to self-represented litigants to help them complete all or portions of their legal forms and documents themselves, under attorney guidance and referring to outside agencies if necessary; and creates and distributes hard copy and electronic sample legal documents and templates to self-represented parties.

Provides administrative support and paralegal assistance by drafting and preparing legal documents such as petitions, answers, motions, and judgments for self-represented parties.

Under the direction of an assigned attorney, reviews legal documents and forms for completeness and procedural compliance with applicable legal requirements.

Assists self-represented parties prepare documents; uses specialized legal document preparation software, support calculators, and other technology tools.

Prepares child support and/or spousal support documents and calculations based upon statutory guidelines under the direction of an assigned attorney.

Refers parties to various governmental and non-profit community agencies for further information and assistance with legal issues and cases.

Maintains ongoing statistics and prepares periodic reports, including regarding number of individuals served and documents completed for self-represented parties.

Provides assistance in completing legal forms and performs related Court clerical duties as assigned.

May direct the work of others on a project basis;

Interacts and communicates with the public, judicial officers, and court staff in the processing of documents;

answers inquiries and explains legal filing processes; Refers individuals to location of court material and documents;

Reviews files to ensure that documentation is procedurally correct in compliance with appropriate laws and local rules and notes deficiencies; Performs legal research of statutes in applicable area of law under attorney guidance, and briefs judicial officers and staff regarding unusual cases prior to hearing;

Prepares summary documentation, sets forth the facts of each matter before the Court, and summarizes legal factors and issues;

Provides assistance to clients in completing forms and explaining terms and procedures relating to parentage, marital dissolution, agency support services, domestic violence and probate guardianship matters;

Provides assistance to self-represented litigants/clients in completing forms and explaining terms and procedures relating to civil matters;

Responds to inquiries from clients via telephone or correspondence including forms needed for completion;

Performs a variety of administrative activities, including coordination and participation of the day-to-day administration within the Court;

Assists in workshops and seminars or to educate the public and self-represented litigants on legal procedures;

Performs legal research and writing on a wide variety of legal matters;

Reviews a variety of legal documents for compliance with applicable statutes and procedures; Drafts, analyzes or assists in preparing reports, correspondence, memoranda, and other legal documents.

Assists self-represented parties referred by the Court or other parties reach agreement on child support, spousal support, or on payments in arrears.

Provides peer review of documents and forms prepared by other unit staff to ensure conformance with applicable legal procedures.

Attends staff meetings, departmental training sessions, and various in-service training programs.

Performs community outreach activities to inform the public of the services offered, as assigned.

Maintains inventory of office supplies.

Legal research techniques and standard legal reference materials;

Legal office terminology, processes, procedures, and the format for legal documents;

Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation and vocabulary;

Office administrative practices and procedures, including filing, business letter writing and the operation of common office equipment.

Court procedures, laws and rules.

Legal research techniques.

Performing basic legal research from varied sources;

Preparing a variety of legal documents;

Use legal supportive software programs.

Communicate the technical aspects of legal procedures and legal matters orally and in writing to attorneys, paralegals, and self-represented litigants with whom they interact.

Demonstrate a customer service orientation and positive attitude when dealing with upset and confused litigants.

Demonstrate patience in working with and explaining law and procedure to litigants of all levels of education and experience.

Communicate clearly and effectively in English.

Carry out duties in accordance with policies, procedures, and scope of responsibilities.

Maintain confidentiality of Court documents and records.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with judicial officers, Court and Humboldt County employees and/or volunteers, members of the public, community partner/legal aid staff/volunteers, and others encountered in the course of work.

Any combination of experience and education or training that is likely to provide the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills outlined above is EITHER two years of journey level experience as a legal secretary, providing responsible legal office assistance at a level equivalent to the classification of Judicial Secretary II OR completion of a certified paralegal studies program or equivalent college-level specialized education.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Sit at a desk and/or in front of a computer terminal

Repetitive hand movement while performing computer data entry as well as writing

Kneel, crouch and stoop while retrieving materials from shelves and cabinets

Crawl and/or climb while retrieving materials

Travel to various court divisions, if/when needed

#