Staff Attorney

Company: SUPERIOR COURT OF KINGS
Location: Hanford
Posted on: September 15, 2020

Job Description:

STAFF ATTORNEY I/IIStaff Attorney I $80,000 - $95,000 D.O.Q.Staff Attorney II $90,000 - $105,000 D.O.Q.JOB OPPORTUNITYThe Court is seeking to fill one Staff Attorney I/II position. The level of classification upon hire is withinthe discretion of the Court based on the candidate s qualifications.ABOUT THE POSITION:Under direction, this professional level position performs a wide range of complex legal research andanalysis duties in assistance to judicial officers hearing all case types. This professional level positionmay also be asked to perform research and drafting duties in assistance to the administration of thecourt.The Court provides a Telecommuting Program as an alternative work schedule option. The purposeof this program is to attract and retain qualified Staff Attorneys. This is only feasible for thosepositions or tasks that are amenable to being performed away from the Courthouse. Eligible StaffAttorneys must complete a period of one-year with a satisfactory performance rating. Telecommuterschedules and agreements will be periodically reviewed for efficiency. Participation in the program willbe allowed only when it is consistent with the business needs of the Court.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICSThe Staff Attorney I is the entry level of the Staff Attorney classification series, reporting to the StaffAttorney II. The Staff Attorney I is distinguished from the Staff Attorney II in that the latter performsthe more difficult and complex legal duties and/or may serve as a lead worker, mentoring andcoordinating the duties of attorneys and other legal staff. Staff Attorney I and Staff Attorney II areestablished as Exempt positions.EMPLOYMENT AT-WILLThe Staff Attorney I and Staff Attorney II classifications are established as At-Will positions and, assuch, the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the Judicial Officers. The Court Executive Officer hasthe right to terminate the employment of any incumbent in the position of Staff Attorney I or StaffAttorney II at any time, with or without advance notice and with or without cause.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSExamples of duties performed by the Staff Attorney I include, but are not limited to, the following:Researches, analyzes and formulates recommended policies, procedures and forms related tospecified Court proceedings and recurring issues at the request of Judges, Judicial Committees andCourt Administration; reviews and summarizes evidence, procedural history and legal contentions inmatters on Civil, Criminal and Presiding Judge's law and motion calendars, appellate calendar andmandate calendar in civil and criminal trial and post-trial motions, in coordinated proceedings, injuvenile court and family law proceedings, in habeas corpus petitions and in time credits andsentencing matters; reviews and summarizes evidence, procedural history and legal contentions inmatters on decedent estate, trust, conservatorship, guardianship, Lanterman Petris and Short (LPS)proceedings and other protected proceedings; researches legal authorities, including statutory andcase law of California, other states, federal and foreign jurisdictions, treaties, and other internationallaws and legislative history using traditional and computerized legal research methods; confers withcourt investigators in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings when necessary; attends courthearings upon request of assigned judicial officer, prepares summary for each calendared matteridentifying and analyzing factual and legal issues, and recommending disposition; preparesmemorandum for each matter, summarizing background, identifying and analyzing factual and legalissues and recommending disposition; orally briefs judges on research and analysis pertaining tomatters in Superior Court cases; responds to Judges' queries on procedural and substantive issuesduring trials and pre-trial hearings, including in limine motions, evidentiary objections, juryinstructions, status of case authorities cited by counsel and points of substantive law; and,communicates orally and in writing with attorneys, other agencies, unrepresented parties and inmatesregarding matters pending before the Court; drafts rulings in Superior Court cases, including minuteorders, formal orders, tentative decisions, statements of decision and judgments. (Essential dutiesmay vary from position to position within classifications. Reasonable accommodation will be madewhen requested and determined by the Court to be appropriate under applicable law. This positionmay be assigned any other duties as determined and assigned by the Court Executive Officer or hisdesignee).In addition, both the Staff Attorney I and Staff Attorney II positions will be expected to participate inthe court s temporary judge program. The conditions for appointment are set forth in Rule 2.812(b) ofthe California Rules of Court, and the education and training requirements are found in Rule 2.812(c).MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Education: Graduation from an accredited School of Law.Experience: Active, valid membership in the California State Bar. Applicants for the Staff Attorney Iposition must have at least two (2) years experience in public law, civil and criminal legal practice,including performing legal research and developing legal opinions. Applicants for the Staff Attorney IIposition must have at least three (3) years of similar experience.Knowledge of: Legal principles, practices, methods and materials of legal research and analysis;Government Code and other California statutes related to Superior Court processes and Rules ofCourt; principles of civil, criminal, constitutional and administrative law and their application; legalterms, procedures, forms and documents used in court cases.Ability to: Use traditional and computerized legal research methods (Lexis Advance); research,analyze and apply legal principles, facts and precedents to specific legal problems; analyze andappraise a variety of legal documents; research legal issues and present clear and logical argumentsand statements of fact and law; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with thosecontacted during the course of work; communicate effectively orally and in writing.SPECIAL REQUIREMENTSMust possess a valid California Class C driver s license. Ability to qualify for a security clearancethrough fingerprinting, traffic and criminal record background investigation, random drug testing andregular TB testing. Ability to sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; normal manualdexterity; eye-hand coordination; lift and move objects weighing up to twenty (20) pounds; verbalcommunication; use of office equipment, including computer, telephone, calculator, copier and faxmachine. Travel may be required outside of Kings County for outlying court work site visits, attendmeetings, conferences, and trainings.BENEFITS:The Court offers a benefit package to its regular full-time employees (pro-rated if not hired at thebeginning of the plan year) which include 13 Court approved holidays; accrued sick/vacation (accrualbased on hours worked, minimum 2 weeks/year); a Flexible Benefit Plan to purchase a variety ofhealth insurance plans and related benefits such as Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, VisionInsurance, Deferred Compensation, Administrative Leave, Medical Reimbursement, Dependent CareReimbursement, Life Insurance, Cancer Policy, and Short-term/Long-term Disability. A RetirementPlan is provided [2% at age 62] through California Public Employees Retirement System [P.E.R.S.].A Classic P.E.R.S. Member Retirement Plan is offered [2% at age 55] only if the employee does nothave a six-month break in service as a previous CalPERS member or retirement plan member that isreciprocal with P.E.R.S. An Employee Assistance Program is also provided.HOW TO APPLYInterested persons must apply by completing the Court s application and providing the supplementalmaterials required along with a current email address and phone number. Interested applicants mustsubmit all of the following items: Superior Court of California, County of Kings, employment application (fully completed). Resume Statement of qualifications, limited to one (1) page, explaining only why the applicant isinterested in the position and why the applicant is qualified to perform the duties describedherein. This one-page statement should succinctly describe the relative education andexperience that is applicable to this position. Provide a writing sample not to exceed twenty (20) pages. The preparation of the application, including the resume, statement of qualifications, and writingsample is very important to the selection process. It is recommended that applicants review thematerial in this announcement and on the application very carefully. Once the application has beensubmitted, it cannot be corrected, changed, or resubmitted. All applications must be submitted to theCourt by the filing deadline date.SELECTION PROCESSInitial Screening:Complete application packages received by the final filing date and time will be evaluated todetermine if the candidate meets the minimum qualifications. The Court will further evaluate thesedocuments and may interview only those candidates it deems may best meet the needs of the Court.Not all applicants will receive an interview.Oral Interview:Selected candidates will be interviewed to determine their relative knowledge, abilities, and skill levelsin job related areas. When interviews are conducted, candidates will be contacted and scheduled foran oral interview.Qualified candidates with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodation to participate in theselection process should follow the relevant section on the employment application.OTHER APPOINTMENT INFORMATIONEmployment is subject to security clearance. Any false statement or omission of material fact may cause forfeiture of employment. Information presented on employment applications, resumes, and attachments and during the selection process is subject to verification. Employees are prohibited from engaging in activities which conflict with the interest of the Superior Court of California, County of Kings. At the time of appointment to a position, all persons must possess a valid Social Security number. Immigration laws require that all employees hired after November 6, 1986, must provide proof of work eligibility. At the time of employment, applicants will be required to submit originals of documents which verify citizenship status or legal alien status as well as identity, such as a social security card and driver s license, or a green card and a driver s license, or a valid passport.THE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF KINGS, IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.APPLICANTS SHALL NOT BE FAVORED OR DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION,GENDER, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, CITIZENSHIP, AGE, MARITAL STATUS, PHYSICAL DISABILITY,MENTAL DISABILITY, MEDICAL CONDITION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENETIC INFORMATION, UNION ACTIVITY,POLICTICAL AFFILIATION, OR OTHER NON-MERIT FACTOR.CLOSING DATE:Open until filledrecblid uypl00dayneas42cyhydxjwi6nw9jq Associated topics: attorney corporate, compliance, court, courtroom, internal, legal, legal affairs, legal department, llp, market

Keywords: SUPERIOR COURT OF KINGS, Hanford , Staff Attorney, Legal , Hanford, California