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Job Description
Under direct supervision of the Family Law Facilitator, Senior Attorney/Self-help Coordinator or other staff attorney, the Court Self Help Assistant classification assists self-represented litigants with a variety of legal issues; assesses legal problems and presents options and the correct legal procedure for the situation; uses the Court's computerized file management system to identify the customer's file history; assists the Family Law Facilitator Senior Attorney/Self-help and other staff attorneys with a variety of paraprofessional legal duties; and performs other duties as required. The Court Self Help Assistant I is the entry position and is the trainee classification of the Court Self Help Assistant series. Incumbents perform a variety of legal administrative duties associated with the operations of the self help centers of the court, while learning to apply specialized court/legal practices and procedures applicable to the functions of the self-help centers. The Court Self Help Assistant II is the working level of the Court Self Help Assistant series. Incumbents are expected to perform the full range of administrative duties in support of the court's self help centers. Incumbents must demonstrate understanding of court's policies and procedures, the court's different operational units (e.g., Records, Civil, and Family Law); knowledge of legal resources including community partners and agencies that may be available to self-represented-litigants. The Court Self Help Assistant III is the full journey level and provides technical expertise in support of the court's self help centers. Incumbents regularly perform the full range of the court's self help administrative duties, lead duties and have full understanding on the court's operational units, policies and procedures, and the resources available to self-represented litigants. Assist self-represented litigants from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds with completion of legal forms and providing legal information; Interview and triage self-represented litigants, assessing their legal problems and determine the appropriate next steps; Identify non-routine cases and ask for specific direction from supervising attorney; provide assistance to self-represented litigants in accordance with those directions; Explain legal procedures and provide legal information to self-represented litigants one-on-one and in group/workshop settings; Assist the Family Law Facilitator, Senior Attorney/Self-help Coordinator and other staff attorneys with a variety of para-professional legal duties; Make phone calls, gather materials, conduct internet research; prepare and/or update forms and flyers.
Education:
High School diploma or its equivalent.
Level I Experience:
Two (2) years of legal administrative experience which substantially demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this job, WITH minimum of one (1) year experience of providing legal information and completing and/or updating legal forms or documents or any combination of training and/or experience that could likely provide the desired knowledge and abilities, or its equivalent court experience; OR Completion of a certified paralegal program AND one (1) year experience of providing legal information and completing and/or updating legal forms or documents or any combination of training and/or experience that could likely provide the desired knowledge and abilities, or its equivalent court experience;
Level II:
Minimum three (3) years' experience of providing legal information and completing and/or updating legal forms or documents or any combination of training and/or experience that could likely provide the desired knowledge and abilities, or its equivalent court experience. OR Completion of an accredited and certified paralegal program AND two (2) years' experience of providing legal information and completing and/or updating legal forms or documents or any combination of training and/or experience that could likely provide the desired knowledge and abilities, or its equivalent court experience; OR One (1) year as a Court Self Help Assistant I.
Level III:
Minimum five (5) years' experience of providing legal information and completing and/or updating legal forms or documents or any combination of training and/or experience that could likely provide the desired knowledge and abilities, or its equivalent court experience; OR Completion of an accredited and certified paralegal program AND three (3) years' experience of providing legal information and completing and/or updating legal forms or documents or any combination of training and/or experience that could likely provide the desired knowledge and abilities, or its equivalent court experience.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Working knowledge of: Court policies and procedures; Legal principles; Legal terminology; Basic communication skills including questioning and investigative interviewing techniques.
Skill and ability to:
Effectively communicate in writing, in person and on the telephone with self-represented litigants, court personnel and community partners and agencies; Provide exceptional customer service Operate proficiently in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel; Learn and develop skills prioritizing, maintaining and coordinating a heavy workload; Research statutory laws and rules of court and apply them as they pertain to the completion and/or processing of legal documents; Remain abreast of new laws, amendments and local rules related to assigned duties and responsibilities; Develop and maintain effective working relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures; Maintain confidential information according to legal standards and/or Court Regulations as required; Operate standard office equipment including computers, copy machine, etc; Complete and/or update legal forms for a supervising attorney's review. The interviews may be consolidated into one process or expanded into multiple interviews contingent upon the size and quantity of the candidate pool. This recruitment may be used to establish an eligibility list for full time, part time, regular, extra-help or fixed term positions.
APPLICATION EVALUATION
: All applications received will be evaluated based on the requirements of the position. A comparative screening will be conducted to determine which of the applicants will be selected for invitation to the next step of the screening and selection process. Those individuals who are invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process will be contacted via the email address they provided in their application.
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE
: If applicable, all applicants are required to complete the Supplemental Questionnaire for this examination. The Supplemental Questionnaire shall be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and eligibility for this position.
WRITTEN ASSESSEMENT
: A job-related assessment may be administered.
Tentative Date:
TBD SELECTION INTERVIEW
: Following the evaluation of applications, the most qualified candidates may be invited to participate in a selection interview with the hiring executive and/or members of the Court Executive Management Team. The selection interview is a structured assessment process used to evaluate candidates' qualifications, experience, competencies, and overall suitability for the position. Interview questions will be based on job-related criteria and may focus on technical knowledge, leadership abilities, communication skills, and past work experience relevant to the duties of the position. Candidates may also have an opportunity to ask questions regarding the role, the Court, and workplace expectations.
Tentative Date:
TBD PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS
: All applicants must possess the personal qualifications generally recognized as essential to being an outstanding public employee, including integrity, initiative, dependability, courtesy, good judgment and ability to work with others as a team and follow instructions.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
: Working in any of the Ventura Superior Court facilities requires employees to be subject to security screening by security personnel who use a combination of walk-through and handheld screening devices. Because the Court operates in multiple branches, the employee may be required to travel to other court locations.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
Applicants may be subjected to a thorough background investigation, which may include personal and professional character references, inquiry into past employment, education, credit, criminal background and depending on the position, may include driving records. Please note that the pre-employment background process will include any interaction you may have from the application process through the time that you are provided a final offer of employment. Offer of employment may be rescinded at any time during the pre-employment background check process if the process determines that the applicant is not a good fit for the position.
