Paralegal

Under general direction, this professional assists attorneys in the preparation or review of legal documents, prepares standard documents, may interview court users, or prepare summaries of identified case issues. This classification supports the work of the Solano Legal Access Center (SLAC). Incumbents assigned to SLAC work directly with self-represented litigants in answering questions and preparing documents related to guardianship cases, dissolution judgments, or other forms for submission to Court. This classification is represented and is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act.

• Answering questions from court users.
• Carefully examining documents presented for review.
• Interviewing court users to glean information needed to complete probate guardianship forms, dissolution judgment forms, or other forms.
• Preparing Family Code 6320 searches regarding domestic violence orders.
• Explaining legal terms and court processes in lay terms to court users, including court users who are unfamiliar with court processes.
• Reviewing case files, when necessary to determine the next step in the case and advising court users.
• Determining the appropriate forms and completing the forms.
• Preparing pleadings and forms as directed by the Family Law Facilitator, the Assistant Family Law Facilitator, or any other attorney supervising the work of SLAC employees.
• Performing other related work as required by business needs or as assigned.

The ideal job applicant will possess all of the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) listed below, and meet all minimum requirements.

Knowledge of:

• Provisions of the Family Code, Probate Code, Civil Code, Code of Civil Procedure; Rules of Court; and the local Rules of Court.
• Legal terminology and documents pertaining to family law and guardianship matters.
• Legal procedures pertaining to the filing of documents in guardianship cases, judgments in dissolution cases, domestic violence, and other cases processed in SLAC.
• Legal and general recordkeeping systems and file maintenance methods.
• Legal and medical terminology and documents.
• Word processing and spreadsheet software applications

Ability to:

• Understand and accurately complete legal forms.
• Explain court forms, procedures, and processes to lay persons so that they understand the forms, procedures, and processes.
• Perform research in case management systems and in related software systems.
• Follow verbal and written instructions.
• Work independently to plan, prioritize, organize and schedule own work to meet deadlines.
• Understand and apply relevant California code sections as well as court rules and procedures. 
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with people of diverse socio-economic backgrounds and temperaments.
• Deal courteously and tactfully with the public, attorneys, court officials and other staff.
• Explain defects in filings clearly and concisely.
• Maintain confidentiality of information

Educational and Work Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

AND

• Two (2) years of experience with:
  • A court;
  • A public or private law office, in a probate-related capacity; or
  • A public guardian or conservator or a private professional fiduciary

OR

• Have a paralegal certificate or juris doctor degree from an accredited educational institution.

Desirable Experience:

• Prior experience in a court as a probate examiner or working in the family law facilitator’s office in a trial court.
• Trust or accounting experience.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, pinch, pull objects or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear. The employee must frequently lift up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee must have speech and hearing sufficient for communicating in person or by telephone and for courtroom presentations.
• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level and traffic level in the work environment are similar to a busy office.

Normal business hours for this position: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.