Family Law Facilitator

Under general direction, the Family Law Facilitator is responsible for providing services mandated by Family Code sections 10000-10015, and CA Rule of Court 10.960, which include the development, planning, implementation, and administration of a family law program to provide services to litigants not represented by counsel.
 
This position facilitates and expedites the direction of the customer family law proceedings related to child support, spousal support and health insurance matters; provides educational materials to parents regarding the process of establishing parentage; distributes necessary court forms and voluntary declarations of paternity; provides assistance in completing forms; prepares support schedules based upon statutory guidelines; mediates and drafts stipulations agreed to by all parties; prepares orders after hearings and judgments; prepares tentative rulings; and provides other services related to Family Law proceedings, without representing any party or creating an attorney-client relationship.
 
The Family Law Facilitator has responsibility for the direct supervision of para-professional staff and volunteers.

The Family Law Facilitator is a single incumbent classification that performs all related functions in the overall management and operations of the Family Law Facilitator (may be delegated and overseen), and/or other programs and/or services offering assistance to litigants. The classification is a member of the court’s management team and provides leadership and supervision to attorneys, paralegals, and clerical support staff.

This class may perform any or all of the below listed duties. These should be interpreted as examples of the work, and are not necessarily all-inclusive or exclusive.
 

• Plans, implements, and administers Family Law Facilitator program. May assist or be assigned to oversee the Civil Self-Help programs and services.
• Develops and implements operational policies and procedures.

• Recruits, trains and supervises attorneys, legal assistants or other clerical staff, interns, and/or volunteers.

• Designs content of and conduct clinics and workshops for self-represented litigants in a variety of family law matters.
• Provides educational materials to parents concerning the process of establishing parentage and establishing, modifying, and enforcing child and spousal support in the courts.
• Provides mediation for family matters such as property division in marital dissolution, separation and nullity cases; parentage matters.
• Assists in the preparation of domestic violence restraining order applications.
• Distributes necessary court forms and voluntary declarations of paternity; provides assistance in completing the forms and orders after hearing.
• Identifies community resources related to family law program services and community based organizations.
• Provides referrals to the Department of Child Support Services, and other community agencies and resources that provide services for parents and children.
• Prepares and maintains records of the court, monthly statistical reports, and scheduling.
• Meets with litigants to mediate issues of child support, spousal support, and maintenance of health insurance.
• Prepares support schedules based on statutory guidelines.
• Drafts stipulations to include all issues agreed to by the parties.
• Reviews paperwork and examines documents, including Judgment packets, prior to submission to the judge for consideration.
• Prepares Petitions, Responses, Request for Orders and Responsive declarations in Dissolution, Nullity, Legal Separation and Paternity cases.
• Perform related duties as assigned. 

The minimum qualifications for the Family Law Facilitator position are mandated by the California Rule of Court, Rule 5.430, as follows:
 
Education: Active membership in the State Bar of California.
 
Experience: Five years admission to the practice of law before the Supreme Court of the State of California; AND a minimum of three (3) years of experience as a lawyer with emphasis in family law matters; proficiency in family law support and forms software programs; AND basic understanding of law and psychological issues related to domestic violence.
 
Extensive knowledge of: Family Law principles and court procedures, program and policy development and implementation, family law related resources and referral services; case management practices; laws, regulation and professional practice relating to family law issues, disputes, and resolutions; legal terminology, court operations and courtroom procedure; and governmental and private community resources and referral agencies.

Ability to: Exercise judgment to choose among possible options often without clear precedents; develop organizational expectations; train staff in applying professional principles within the court system; establish rapport with litigants; effectively assist litigants under stressful circumstances; identify and utilize support services and community resources; prepare concise reports and records, develop and conduct independent research projects; review literature, codes, laws, records as related to family law, understand and interpret the effect of legislative changes on Family Law Facilitator Program; effectively communicate with people of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and temperaments.

Judgment and Responsibility: Incumbents receive limited direction within a broad framework of policies and procedures and may supervise other staff, including volunteers. Assigned duties require the exercise of judgment to choose among possible actions, often without clear precedents.

Additional Qualifications:

• Minimum of 40 hours' training in mediation techniques and approaches.

 
Highly desirable candidates will possess the following:

• Experience in family law litigation.
• Experience as a Certified Family Law Specialist.
• Spanish language fluency.

General Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for this position include:

• Family law principles and court procedures.
• Program and policy development and implementation.
• Family law-related resources and community-based organizations and referral services.
• Federal, state and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to area of assigned responsibility.
• General functions and organization of the judicial system, including areas of litigation and the roles and functions of other legal and law enforcement agencies.
• Principles and practices of case and calendar management.
• Research methods and statistical analysis techniques.
• Analyze, interpret and explain legal principles and issues.
• Understand, interpret, explain and apply local, state and federal policy, laws and regulations applicable to family law programs.
• Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive studies, reports, correspondence and other written materials.
• Communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing to different audiences and facilitate understanding/agreement.
• Present proposals and recommendations clearly, logically and persuasively.
• Operate a computer and use standard business and case management software.
• Use tact and diplomacy dealing with sensitive and complex issues, situations and concerned people.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work, including judicial officers and staff, members of the bar, other governmental and community agencies, and program customers.
• Work with people of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

PROCESS TO APPLY: Please apply online at: http://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/info/jobs 
 
ONLY APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED WITH THE REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE WILL BE CONSIDERED.

The selection procedure will consist of an application with supplemental questionnaire screening and panel interviews. Please fill out the application completely and list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of the application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.  You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position. 

Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, and knowledge and abilities; which relate to the position.  Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be invited to an interview.