Paralegal

ABOUT THE POSITION

NOTE: This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and may close without prior notice. First review of the applications will occur on February 29, 2024. Please thoroughly review the entire job flyer including the application instructions. Failure to submit a completed application and provide required documentation may result in an application being removed from further consideration.

Under general supervision, assists the Downey City Attorney in the preparation and coordination of all stages of litigation, advisory, and transactional work; and performs other related duties as assigned.
TEMPORARY/PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT:

Part-Time employment status does not qualify for City paid benefits, except for those required by law. The City does not belong to the Social Security system. However, enrollment in an alternative retirement program is mandatory which requires an employee contribution of 7.5% of base earnings. The City contributes 2.5% and the employee contributes 5% of base earnings.

Work hours are flexible up to twenty-four (24) hours per week. Part-time shifts may not exceed 999 hours on a fiscal year basis (July 1 through June 30). Working hours require irregular hours and weekends.

Certain City operational budgets may not include funding for mandated CalPERS employer contributions; therefore, a qualified candidate who is a current member of CalPERS may be restricted from temporary/part-time employment with the City of Downey.

There are no rights to employment and employment may end with or without cause or advance notice.

An Eligible List of qualified applicants will be established from this recruitment. Eligible List may be utilized to fill other full and part-time vacancies as needed. Generally, a valid Eligible List is in effect for up to one year.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following examples are intended to describe the general nature and type of work performed at a journey level by an incumbent. Depending on assignment, duties may include but are not limited to the following:

Researches, gathers and compiles data/ information on various legal issues, statutes, rules, precedents, facts, evidence, codes, public records, contracts, ordinances and resolutions for transactional matters or the preparation of cases, legal documents and legal citation references to assist the City Attorney;

Drafts and reviews agreements, resolutions, ordinances and other legal documents for accuracy;

Act as liaison between City Attorney, Risk Management and outside legal counsel for tort claims processing, discovery, trial preparation including witnesses;

Independently answers inquiries or makes inquiries of City staff to interpret applicable legal requirements and provisions, relative to the City's municipal codes, regulations, precedence, status of cases, and City procedures;

Assists in case management issues; selects, assembles, summarizes and compiles substantive information on case status, opinions, and specific legal subjects;

Assists with civil litigation, including legal research, preparing memos, fact investigation, researching and preparing discovery requests and responses, and filing and serving court-documents.

Communicates with elected public officials, law firms, companies and organizations doing business with the City; contacts City staff and other persons; and

Perform related duties as assigned.

The preceding duties have been provided as examples of the essential types of work performed by positions within this job classification. The City, at its discretion, may add, modify, change or rescind work assignments as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education, training, and work experience to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position is qualifying. A typical combination includes:

Education: High school graduate or equivalent and satisfactory completion of a program in paralegal or legal assistant studies from an American Bar Association accredited institution with a Paralegal Certificate. Successful completion of at least two years of education at an ABA accredited law school may be substituted for the completion of a paralegal or legal assistant program.

Completion of a juris doctor degree is preferred.

Candidates with two (2) or more years of completed college or university education shall be considered highly desirable.

Experience: Two years of responsible journey-level paralegal experience or law clerk experience.

Candidates with three (3) or more years of responsible journey-level paralegal experience or law clerk experience shall be considered highly desirable.

Knowledge of: Applicable state and federal legal principles and procedures; Legal terminology and procedures; Legal research procedures and form; Applicable court rules, time deadlines and other related requirements; Principles and methods of legal writing and documents preparation; Advanced English language usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation; and modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment and software, including word processing, document management, case management and calendaring software.

Ability to: Coordinate and implement case discovery tasks; Effectively research and extract pertinent data from a variety of sources in the preparation of legal cases and documents or transactional work; Read, interpret and apply pertinent codes, laws, ordinances and statutes; Draft and review a variety of legal documents; Initiate and compose correspondence; Respond accurately to requests and inquiries; Provide effective assistance with trial preparation and at trial; Conduct effective interviews; Work independently, using judgment in making decisions within scope of authority; Analyze problems, evaluate alternatives and make appropriate legal recommendations; Organize and schedule work to meet deadlines; Operate a personal computer and use associated software including word processing, document management, and legal research software [Lexis, Westlaw, etc.] Establish and maintain effective working relationships with city officials, staff, court personnel, outside counsel and the public. Communicate clearly, concisely and effectively, both orally and in writing; Appear for work on time; Follow directions from a supervisor; Understand and follow posted work rules and procedures; Accept constructive criticism; and Establish and maintain cooperative working relationship with those contacted in the course of work.

Ability to speak Spanish is highly desirable.

License: Due to the performance of field duties which requires operation of a City vehicle, a valid California Class C Driver's License to carry out the essential functions of the position and an acceptable driving record are required at the time of appointment and throughout employment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PHYSICAL TASKS/ABILITIES: Work is performed in an office environment with moderate noise levels; duties require the ability to speak, hear, touch and see. Also required is the ability to exert a small amount of physical effort in sedentary to light work involving moving from one area to another; occasionally bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing and pulling (drawers opened and closed to retrieve and file information); occasionally lifting and carrying materials that weigh less than 20 pounds. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, typewriter, or calculator; requires sufficient hand/eye coordination to perform semi-skilled repetitive movements, such as typing on a keyboard, filing, data entry and/or use of a personal computer or other office equipment and supplies; may involve sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time.

Application, Selection, and Testing Process:
All application materials received on-line by the final filing date will be reviewed. For consideration, a completed employment application and supplemental questionnaire submitted on-line is required. A resume will not be accepted in lieu of the required application materials. Incomplete information may be removed from consideration. All information submitted is subject to verification.

Those applicants who are assessed as meeting the desired qualifications for the position will be invited to participate in the examination process which will consist of:

An appraisal (oral interview) examination weighted 100% to assess the applicant's knowledge, education, experience, and general ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Candidate(s) who complete the appraisal with acceptable results will be placed on an Eligible List to be considered by the Department's hiring authority.

Prior to a conditional offer of employment, a background check is conducted including verification of education and employment history, reference checks, and fingerprinting. Upon issuance of a conditional offer of employment, a job-related pre-placement medical exam is required to determine a candidate's physical ability to perform the essential functions of the position. This examination will include a drug screen.

Any applicant requiring reasonable accommodation during the selection process due to a qualified disability must inform the Human Resources Office at (562) 904-7292 at least 72 hours in advance.Closing Date/Time:

Downey, California United States View Map