Paralegal

ABOUT THE POSITION

NOTE: This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and may close without prior notice. 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.
Effective the start of the pay period that includes April 1, 2025, employees will receive a four percent (4.0%) across the board pay range increase.

This position is a "Confidential" position. The position is non-represented and serves in an "at will" capacity with no rights to employment. Salary and benefits are established by City Council Resolution for classifications designated as Executive, Mid-Management, Confidential/Exempt.

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 on various legal issues, statutes, rules, precedents, facts, evidence, codes, public records, contracts, ordinances and resolutions for 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, depositions and courtroom logistics; prepares deposition summaries, trial exhibits, evidence, notebooks and other related materials;

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; reviews contracts for compliance with legal requirements; selects, assembles, summarizes and compiles substantive information on case status, opinions, and specific legal subjects;

Meets with members of the public to discuss and resolve disputes related to municipal code enforcement;

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 and their staff, 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:

The candidate must possess at least one of the following:

(1) A certificate of completion of a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association.

(2) A certificate of completion of a paralegal program at, or a degree from, a postsecondary institution that requires the successful completion of a minimum of 24 semester, or equivalent, units in law-related courses and that has been accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization or approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

(3) A baccalaureate degree or an advanced degree in any subject, a minimum of one year of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegal tasks.

(4) A high school diploma or general equivalency diploma, a minimum of three years of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegal tasks. This experience and training shall be completed no later than December 31, 2003.

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; 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 case management and calendaring 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:

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