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Announcement-Paralegal II Bulletin

Paralegal II
Recruitment #1009-RL0102-01

Approximate Salary:     $3,635 - $4,418/month
Opening Date:     10/26/2009 8:00:00 AM
Closing Date:     11/4/2009 11:59:00 PM
Type of Recruitment:      Countywide Promotional
Employment Type:     
Full-Time
Analyst:      Marie Sneed
Tentative Exam Date:     To Be Determined

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INTRODUCTION

This examination is being given to fill one vacancy in San Joaquin County Child Support Services Department and to establish an eligible list to fill future vacancies. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. A completed application must be postmarked or received online by the final filing deadline.

TYPICAL DUTIES

  • Studies, researches, and interprets laws, court decisions and other legal authorities for use in the preparation of cases, opinions, and briefs; assists in case analysis.
  • Locates and interviews clients, witnesses, technical experts and others regarding specific civil or criminal cases.
  • Briefs witnesses for trial, gathers and prepares exhibits and evidence for trial; assists attorney in preparation for court; accompanies attorney to court to assist during court proceedings.
  • Prepares a variety of legal documents including subpoenas, writs, complaints, answers, declarations, responsive pleadings, and points and authorities.
  • Reviews a variety of documents for compliance with statutes, court decisions, and other legal authorities; advises parties on requirements of document completion.
  • Summarizes police reports; depositions, interrogatories, evidence, and other pertinent case files.
  • Confers with investigators regarding evidence and facts; may participate in investigations.
  • Prepares correspondence and reports; conducts special studies and research as directed.
  • May maintain law library; updates legal references; maintains inventory of library materials.
  • MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

    Either Pattern I

    Experience:  One year as a Paralegal I in San JoaquinCounty.

     

    Or Pattern II

    Education:  Completion of an approved paralegal training program or completion of 40 semester units of law school.

     

    And

    Experience:  One year of paid work experience equivalent to Paralegal I in San JoaquinCounty.

     

    Or Pattern III

    Education:  Graduation from an accredited college or university with a major in social or political sciences or related field.  

    And

    Experience:  Two years of paid work experience equivalent to a Paralegal I in San JoaquinCounty.

     

    Substitution:  Additional-qualifying experience may be substituted for the education on a year for year basis for Pattern III only. 

    KNOWLEDGE

    Basic legal principles; legal documents and their uses; legal office procedures and practices; legal terminology; legal research methods; legal reference material; general County government functions and legal responsibilities; basic rules of evidence; general court proceedings; investigative techniques and procedures; interviewing techniques; computer terminology and forms; public relations principles and practices.

    ABILITY

    Understand, interpret and apply basic legal principles and practices; research laws, cases, and other legal authorities; work independently; exercise good judgment; express self clearly and concisely orally and in writing; follow oral and written instructions; effectively interview others; and establish and maintain effective working relationships. 

    BENEFITS

    Health Insurance:  San Joaquin County provides employees with a choice of three health plans:  a Kaiser Plan, a Select Plan, and a Premier Plan.  There is no cost for employee only coverage in the Kaiser and Select Plans.  Dependent coverage is available for all plans, with the employee paying a portion of the premiums.

    Dental Insurance:  The County provides employees with a choice of two dental plans:  Delta Dental and Pacific Union Dental.  There is no cost for employee only coverage in either plan; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

    Vision Insurance:  The County provides vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP).  There is no cost for employee only coverage; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

    For more detailed information on the County’s benefits program, visit our website at www.sjgov.org under Human Resources/Benefits. 

    Life Insurance:  The County provides eligible employees with life insurance coverage as follows: 

     1 but less than 3 years of continuous service:                   $1,000
     3 but less than 5 years of continuous service:                   $3,000
     5 but less than 10 years of continuous service:                 $5,000
    10 years of continuous service or more:                           $10,000
     

    Employee may purchase additional term life insurance at the group rate.

    125 Flexible Benefits Plan:  This is a voluntary program that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses that are not paid by a medical, dental or vision plan (Health Flexible Spending Account $2080 annual limit); and dependent care costs (Dependent Care Assistance Plan $5000 annual limit).

    Retirement Plan:  Employees of the County are covered by the County Retirement Law of 1937.  Please visit the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA) at www.sjcera.org for more information.  NOTE:  If you are receiving a retirement allowance from another California county covered by the County Employees’ Retirement Act of 1937 or from any governmental agency covered by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), you are advised to contact the Retirement Officer of the Retirement Plan from which you retired to determine what effect employment in San Joaquin County would have on your retirement allowance.

    Deferred Compensation:  The County maintains a deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the IRS code.  You may annually contribute $16,500 or 100% of your includible compensation, whichever is less.  Individuals age 50 or older may contribute to their plan, up to $22,000.

    Vacation:  Maximum earned vacation is 10 days each year up to 3 years; 15 days after 3 years; 20 days after 10 years; and 23 days after 20 years.

    Holiday:  14 paid holidays per year.

    Sick Leave:  12 working days of sick leave annually with unlimited accumulation.  Sick leave incentive:  An employee is eligible to receive eight hours administrative leave if the leave balance equals at least one- half of the cumulative amount that the employee is eligible to accrue.  The employee must also be on payroll during the entire calendar year.

    Bereavement Leave3 days of paid leave for the death of an immediate family member, 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.

    Merit Salary Increase:  New employees will receive the starting salary, which is the first step of the salary range.  After employees serve 52 weeks (2080 hours) on each step of the range, they are eligible for a merit increase to the next step.

    Job Sharing:  Employees may agree to job-share a position, subject to approval by a Department Head and the Director of Human Resources.

    Educational Reimbursement Program:  Eligible employees may be reimbursed for career-related course work up to a maximum of $850 per fiscal year.  Eligible employees enrolled in an approved four (4) year College or University academic program may be reimbursed up to $800 per semester for a maximum of $1600 per fiscal year.

    Parking Supplemental Downtown Stockton:  The County contributes up to $17 per pay period for employees who pay for parking and are assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area.

    School Activities:  Employees may take up to 40 hours per year, but not more than eight (8) hours per month, to participate in their children’s school activities.

    SELECTION PLAN

     

    SELECTION PROCEDURES

    Civil Service Rule 10 – Section 3 – Eligibility for Promotional Examinations

    To compete in a promotional examination, an employee must:

    A. Meet the minimum qualifications of the class on or before the final filing date for filing applications.

    B. Meet one of the following qualifying service requirements:

    1. Have permanent status in the Classified Service.

    2. If a probationary employee in Classified Service, must have served twelve (12) continuous and consecutive months immediately prior to the final filing date. Qualifying service under this rule may have been in either the Classified service or in any combination of Classified Service and service under a public employment program.

    3. Public employment program employees who have served at least twelve (12) continuous and consecutive months immediately prior to the final filing date are eligible to compete in promotional examinations for entry level classes or a class equivalent to their current public employment class. For the purpose if this rule, an entry level class is defined as the lowest class in each class series excluding classes designated as trainee classes in the class title.

    4. Employees in the Classified Service who have six (6) continuous months’ service in trainee classes or entry level classes, as defined above, shall be eligible for promotional examinations to the next higher class in that same series.

    5. Temporary, contract, or exempt employees who have at least six (6) months of full-time service with the County within the last twenty-four (24) months and are currently employed with the County immediately prior to the final filing date are eligible to compete in promotional exams for entry level or trainee classes.

    6. Contract or exempt incumbents of positions which are converted to classified service are eligible to compete in promotional exams for the classes of positions which they occupy if they have served 2080 continuous and consecutive payroll hours (equivalent to one (1) year) in the same or related classes of positions as the promotional class immediately prior to the final filing date.

    7. A Part-time employee who is actively employed (on payroll) and who has worked 2080 continuous and consecutive hours in a class that is above entry level may compete in promotional recruitment for that classification.

    C. Have a rating of satisfactory or better on the last performance evaluation, if applicable.

    D. If a person whose name is on a promotional list is separated (except for layoff) the name shall be removed from the promotional list of the action.

    The Examination:

    1.   Either a written examination weighted 100% or an appraisal examination weighted 100% may be given based on appropriate recruiting and selection factors. If both a written and an appraisal exam are given, the respective weights will be determined.

    2.   If an appraisal examination is given, it will evaluate education, experience, training, and personal fitness for the job by either rating of application or interview (oral exam).

    HOW TO APPLY

    Apply Online:       

    www.sjgov.org/hr

    By mail or in person:  

    San Joaquin County Human Resources

    44 N. San Joaquin Street Suite 330

    Stockton, Ca 95202                                  

     

    Office hours:               
    Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; excluding holidays.

    Phone:  (209) 468-3370 

     

    Job Line:

    For current about employment opportunities please call our 24-hour job line at (209) 468-3377. 

    When a final filing date is indicated, applications must be filed with the Human Resources Division before 5:00 p.m. or postmarked by the final filing date. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. Applications sent through county inter-office mail, which are not received by the final filing date, will not be accepted. (The County assumes no responsibility for mailed applications which are not received by the Human Resources Division).  

    San Joaquin County Substance Abuse Policy: San Joaquin County has adopted a Substance Abuse Policy in compliance with the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. This policy is enforced by all San Joaquin County Departments and applies to all San Joaquin County employees.

    Equal Opportunity Employer:  San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.  For more information go to
    www.sjgov.org/eeo.



    For more info contact us via e-mail at humanresources@sjgov.org or call (209) 468-3370.