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PARALEGAL

Recruitment #15-JC2-01

Definition

THE JOB: Under general supervision, provide paralegal services; assist attorneys preparing civil or criminal cases; perform legal research and assignments requiring a professional understanding of law and legal procedure; and perform other duties as required. The current vacancy is in the District Attorney’s Office Consumer Affairs unit.

Employment Standards

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying, unless otherwise specified. A typical way to obtain these would be:                         

Successful completion of a paralegal curriculum approved by the American Bar Association.                                                                                   

OR                        

Successful completion of the first year of law school training in an accredited law school.  

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License.  

Background Investigation: Positions in the District Attorney’s Office must have the ability to pass a full background investigation, including a fingerprint check.  

Other Special Conditions:  Incumbents may be Certified Law Students while in this job classification as allowed by the California State Bar Association provisions. Sworn attorneys may not act in this capacity and must be in an attorney class to act in court.  

Knowledge: Working knowledge of legal procedure, terminology, and documents; and methods of legal research.  Some knowledge of automated legal research systems.  

Ability to: Research, analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence and precedents to legal problems; present statements of law and fact clearly, accurately and logically in written and oral form; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; conduct investigative research; develop and maintain effective relationships with staff members, departmental representatives and the public; learn to input, access and analyze data using a computer; and conduct legal research utilizing automated research systems.

Benefits

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
ANNUAL LEAVE
– 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years.  Available after six months for vacation and/or sick leave.
HOLIDAYS – 12.5 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE – 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN – The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans.  For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
DENTAL PLAN – County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN – County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT  – Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013(PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years.  County pays a portion of retirement contribution and participates in Social Security. 
LIFE INSURANCE – County paid $20,000 term policy.  Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
SDI – Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.
DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN – Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
H-CARE PLAN – Employees who pay a County medical premium share of cost may elect this pre-tax program.
HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) – Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION – A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.
OTHER – Other pay and benefit items apply to certain positions or assignments, such as Bilingual Pay and Night Shift Differential.

Selection Plan

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental application will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental application. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental application. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.  

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now!  Click on the link below; or print out an application and supplemental questionnaire and mail/bring them to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 310, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060.  For information, call (831) 454-2600.  Hearing Impaired TDD# (831) 454-2123.  Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways:  1) In the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date.  Following a review for minimum qualifications, applicants who are selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be notified that they must submit a completed conviction history questionnaire in order to continue to the examination phase of the process.

Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  If you have a disability that requires test accommodation, please call (831) 454-2600.  

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

An Equal Opportunity Employer