Salary: $142,998.86 – $161,790.08 Annually
Location : Woodland, CA
Job Type: Full -Time
Job Number: 23-08
Department: Legal Research
Opening Date: 08/22/2023
Closing Date: 9/6/2023 12:00 PM Pacific
Position Information
POSITION SUMMARY
Under the direction of the Court Executive Officer, or designee the incumbent provides legal analysis and advice to the judicial officers, and to the executive office (as requested). The incumbent provides legal analysis and advice and assists the court in planning, developing and implementing the court’s legal programs. This position is characterized by the responsibility of participating in and overseeing the performance of legal research assistance to the court in pre-trial and trial matters including Criminal, Habeas Corpus, Civil Law and Motion, Probate, Juvenile, Family Law, Appellate and other research duties as required. The incumbent has primary responsibility for the Legal Research Unit.
Supervision includes workflow/load analysis of the unit, assignment of work, and work production and quality. This is an at-will appointment and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the court.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The incumbent is responsible for supervising professional and/or support staff in addition to performing the most complex and/or sensitive legal analysis, integrating experience, legal principles and research skills to evaluate a wide range of projects and assignments. Incumbent will plan, conduct and direct a broad variety of assignments and address the most complex legal questions by applying technical expertise within a field of law and/or comprehensive knowledge of legal principles, practices and procedures.
Essential Duties include but are not necessarily limited to:
- Requires a strong knowledge and expertise in criminal law and habeas corpus matters.
- Research and analysis of pleadings, memoranda of points and authorities, and briefs as applied to specific issues before the court.
- Prepare summaries and make recommendations to the Court on issues as assigned.
- Prepare and maintain the court’s tentative civil law and motion rulings published on the Court’s automated system.
- Collect and analyze data.
- Supervise, assign and oversee the work of other professional and/or clerical staff.
- Confer with judges on legal issues • Incumbent reports to the CEO or designee for administrative responsibilities which include discipline, performance, unit workflow, attendance and dismissal of supervised employees.
- Direct law students in the externship program 2.
- Perform other related duties as required by business needs. (Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the Court to be appropriate under applicable law.)
Employment Standards
Education: Requires achievement of Juris Doctor Degree.
Experience: Requires seven (7) or more years of professional experience and active membership in the State Bar of California.
AND
At least two (2) years’ experience in supervising subordinate employees.
Computer Literacy: Experience with Microsoft Office, Westlaw/Lexis-Nexis
Driver’s License: Possession of a valid California driver’s license may be required.
Required KSAs, Physical Requirements, Work Environment, Recruitment Process
Incumbent must be able to apply technical expertise within a field of law and/or comprehensive knowledge of legal principles, practices and procedures. Incumbent must also possess the knowledge of general personnel practices and principles as they relate to selecting and supervising employees and must possess the ability to effectively supervise professional and/or support staff.
Knowledge of:
- Legal principles and their application
- Strong knowledge of criminal law and procedure, habeas corpus
- Civil, constitutional, and administrative law and procedure
- Trial procedure
- Research methods
Ability to:
- Work unsupervised
- Accept guidance by technical standards and policies
- Analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence, and arguments clearly and logically in written and oral form
- Communicate clear expectations and directions for work
- Deal effectively and tactfully with the general public and others contacted in the course of work
- Conduct court proceedings as a Pro Tem Judge
- Function effectively in a challenging and fast-paced environment
- Coordinate the work of attorneys, serving as a technical expert and resource
- Confer with judges on legal issues
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical requirements 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 3 individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use dexterity and coordination utilizing hands to finger, handle or feel objects, use a computer keyboard, view a computer monitor, handle files, single pieces of paper, stacks of papers, and reference and other materials; reach with hands and arms; and stoop and kneel. Hearing and speaking are needed to listen effectively and to talk with individuals in person and by phone. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability of adjust focus. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, and move from place to place within the office.
The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move objects weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds and reach for items above and below desk level. Lifting of objects weighing in excess of twenty-five (25) pounds will require team lifting. The noise and traffic level in the work environment are similar to a busy business office.
Normal business hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This position is FLSA exempt and not eligible for over-time.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
To be considered for this position, job applicants are required to complete the online application, supplemental questions, and submit the following:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
After submitting your application all subsequent communications will be via email. Please provide a valid email address on your application and add and to your email address book to ensure delivery of emails.
Human Resources will review completed applications. Applicants who are successful in the application-screening phase may be contacted for an examination and/or structured oral interview.
Reference checks are required. If offered a position with Yolo Superior Court candidate must adhere to the Courts current vaccination policy. Background checks and a drug screen are required after a job offer has been extended. At the time of appointment to a position, candidates are required to execute an oath of allegiance to the United States and the State of California.
For more information contact a Human Resources representative at 530-406-6881.
The Yolo County Superior Court values its employees and offers the following benefits to Regular and Limited-Term Employees. Benefits may be pro-rated for employees in a part-time status.
Vacation Leave: New employees are granted 40 hours of vacation after 6 months of continuous employment, thereafter, the rate of accrual is 80 hours per year (additional accrual increases with years of service.) The vacation cap is 320 hours.
Sick Leave: 96 hours per year (8 hours per month). There is no cap on sick leave accrual. Unused sick leave may be converted to CalPERS service credit upon retirement.
Holidays: Fourteen paid holidays.
Health Insurance: HMO and PPO offerings through CalPERS. Includes generous Court contribution and access to insurance/networks including but not limited to Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Sutter Health, Dignity Health, UC Davis, and Kaiser.
Dental & Vision Insurance: Dental and Vision insurance are available at minimal cost to the employee.
CalPERS Retirement: Specific benefit formula determined per California Public Employees Retirement System regulations.
Life and AD&D Insurance: Basic Life and AD&D insurance is provided at no cost to the employee. Additional Life and AD&D coverage as well as dependent coverage is available for employees to purchase.
Social Security and Medicare: Employer and employee both contribute 7.65% of wages toward Social Security and Medicare.
State Disability and Paid Family Leave: Employees are eligible for the California State Disability and Paid Family Leave programs.
Employee Assistance Program: Among many benefits, the EAP provides up to 6 confidential counseling sessions per issuer per year. It covers any member of your household and is paid for by the Court.
Deferred Compensation Plans: Court employees have access to 457 deferred compensation plans.
Flexible Spending Account: Access to set up tax-advantaged accounts for qualified medical or dependent care expenses.
Parking: Employees have access to a gated employee-only parking lot, provided at no cost to employees.
01
Instructions for completion:Carefully read and complete the supplemental questions below. Referrals to a resume or the employment history section of your application will be considered a non-response and your application will be subject to rejection.Do you understand these instructions?
- Yes
- No
02
Certification Statement: By completing the following questionnaire, I hereby attest that all information I have provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I acknowledge that Human Resources staff may contact my current or former employers to verify the information that I have provided. I understand that any misrepresentations, falsifications, or omissions of material facts may subject me to actions including removal from this recruitment and/or dismissal from Yolo Superior Court. Do you agree to this certification statement?
- Yes
- No
03
I have attached a cover letter and resume, I understand that applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered.
- Yes
- No
04
Have you ever applied for this or any other position with Yolo Superior Court?
- Yes
- No
05
Please describe why you decided to apply for this position with the Yolo Superior Court.
Required Question