Paralegal

JOB WILL BE CLOSING MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2025 TO EVALUATE APPLICANTS.

Join the Esteemed Superior Court Team!

Are you seeking an opportunity to contribute to your community through a meaningful and prestigious career? The Superior Court is looking for dedicated professionals to join our team and uphold the values of justice and fairness for all.

Why Choose the Superior Court?

• An Esteemed Profession: Working for the Superior Court is more than just a job—it’s a calling to uphold the Constitution and provide equal protection under the law to everyone.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as robust retirement plans to secure your future.
• Work-Life Balance: Benefit from paid time off, including holidays, vacation, and sick leave, ensuring time for personal and family commitments.
• Professional Development: Expand your career with training programs and opportunities for advancement within the organization.
• Community Impact: Be an integral part of a system that ensures justice, equity, and service to the community with integrity.
• Supportive Work Environment: Join a professional and inclusive workplace where every team member is valued.

Take pride in being part of an organization that plays a vital role in safeguarding the principles of justice and fairness. If you’re ready to embark on a career that truly matters, apply today and become part of the Superior Court’s legacy!

Not only is Humboldt Superior Court a great place to work and make a difference in the community but we have a generous benefits package. Our benefits include:

• CalPERS Public Retirement System (5 years vesting service required)
• Medical
• Retiree Medical Plan available upon retirement (5 years service required)
• Dental
• Vision
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Court Holidays (14 annually)
• 457(b) Pre-tax Savings Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Educational Reimbursement Program
• and more!

Job Title: Paralegal

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY

Under general supervision, performs paraprofessional legal support work including legal research, interviewing clients, preparing standard documents, assisting in case preparation and other technical assistance on matters before the court.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Under the review of a supervising attorney, Paralegals lead workshops as prepared by attorneys or other qualified staff and provide educational information and materials to the public concerning legal matters; assist self-represented litigants complete legal forms; and provide information to the public regarding community organizations and agencies that provide relevant legal services for self-represented litigants. Paralegals also provide paraprofessional legal assistance to one or more assigned attorneys. Such work includes: researching and analyzing statutes and case law, and other legal authority under attorney guidance; gathering, proofreading and editing legal drafts; preparing declarations and other legal documents; and determining causes of action and preparing documents accordingly. Paralegals perform substantive legal work at the direction, and with the supervision of, an assigned attorney.

This is a journey level paraprofessional position that works closely with judicial officers, attorneys, county agencies, court staff, and unrepresented litigants and is fully competent to perform a wide range of complex legal support work for the Court. Although this is not a supervisory classification, an incumbent may direct the work or training of others in legal/Court procedures and techniques.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
(Essential duties may vary from position to position within this classification. Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the Court to be appropriate under applicable law.)

• Prepares a variety of correspondence and general written materials;
• Provides plain language information and educational materials to the public regarding Court rules and procedures, including preparation for hearings and trials; screens cases; conducts self-help workshops; reviews court documents with self-represented parties and explains legal requirements and options, including the preparation of legal documents for litigants and/or guidance to self-represented litigants to help them complete all or portions of their legal forms and documents themselves, under attorney guidance and referring to outside agencies if necessary; and creates and distributes hard copy and electronic sample legal documents and templates to self-represented parties.

• Provides administrative support and paralegal assistance by drafting and preparing legal documents such as petitions, answers, motions, and judgments for self-represented parties.
  
• Under the direction of an assigned attorney, reviews legal documents and forms for completeness and procedural compliance with applicable legal requirements.
• Assists self-represented parties prepare documents; uses specialized legal document preparation software, support calculators, and other technology tools.
• Prepares child support and/or spousal support documents and calculations based upon statutory guidelines under the direction of an assigned attorney.
• Refers parties to various governmental and non-profit community agencies for further information and assistance with legal issues and cases.
  
• Maintains ongoing statistics and prepares periodic reports, including regarding number of individuals served and documents completed for self-represented parties.
  
• Provides assistance in completing legal forms and performs related Court clerical duties as assigned.
• Interviews various clients to obtain information regarding cases, judgments, and other activities and functions related to Court activity;
• Organizes own work, sets priorities, and meets critical deadlines;
• May direct the work of others on a project basis;
• Interacts and communicates with the public, judicial officers, and court staff in the processing of documents;
• Provides information regarding court procedures; answers inquiries and explains legal filing processes; explains fees;
• Refers individuals to location of court material and documents;
• Maintains records, files, statistics, and reports;
• Reviews files to ensure that documentation is procedurally correct in compliance with appropriate laws and local rules and notes deficiencies; contacts appropriate persons to resolve problems and issues;
• Performs legal research of statutes in applicable area of law under attorney guidance, and briefs judicial officers and staff regarding unusual cases prior to hearing;
• Prepares summary documentation, sets forth the facts of each matter before the Court, and summarizes legal factors and issues;
• Provides assistance to clients in completing forms and explaining terms and procedures relating to parentage, marital dissolution, agency support services, domestic violence and probate guardianship matters;
• Provides assistance to self-represented litigants/clients in completing forms and explaining terms and procedures relating to civil matters;
• Explains to clients the requirements necessary to attain individual goals, which may include defining orders, setting for trial, and other options, the client may take;
• Conducts workshops on preparing forms and educating clients on necessary process steps;
• Reviews court files to determine case status and appropriate actions;
• Prepares orders after hearings, judgments, and stipulations;
• Responds to inquiries from clients via telephone or correspondence including forms needed for completion;
• Provides information on the judicial process and court procedures, assists clients with information about court appearances;
• Maintains the confidentiality of Court records, understands the ethical requirements of the position;
• May perform triage functions for litigants including explanations of due process requirements and other statutes, conduct informal mediations, provide appropriate paperwork to parities;
• Works cooperatively with judicial officers and court staff;
• Performs a variety of administrative activities, including coordination and participation of the day-to-day administration within the Court;
• Assists in workshops and seminars or to educate the public and self-represented litigants on legal procedures;
• Performs legal research and writing on a wide variety of legal matters;
• Communicates and coordinates with other agencies regarding Court services;
• Reviews a variety of legal documents for compliance with applicable statutes and procedures; and
• Drafts, analyzes or assists in preparing reports, correspondence, memoranda, and other legal documents.
• Assists self-represented parties referred by the Court or other parties reach agreement on child support, spousal support, or on payments in arrears.
  
• Provides peer review of documents and forms prepared by other unit staff to ensure conformance with applicable legal procedures.
  
• Attends staff meetings, departmental training sessions, and various in-service training programs.
  
• Performs community outreach activities to inform the public of the services offered, as assigned.
• Maintains inventory of office supplies.
  Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Legal research techniques and standard legal reference materials;
• Legal office terminology, processes, procedures, and the format for legal documents;
• Techniques of interviewing, often when relations may be strained;
• Record keeping, report preparation and filing methods;
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation and vocabulary;
• Business arithmetic, including percentages and decimals; and
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including filing, business letter writing and the operation of common office equipment.
• Court procedures, laws and rules.
  
• Stipulation and agreement techniques and approaches.
  
• Legal research techniques.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Performing basic legal research from varied sources;
• Interviewing individuals of various socioeconomic backgrounds in difficult situations;
• Preparing a variety of legal documents;
• Using initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines;
• Organizing and maintaining accurate records and files;
• Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up on assignments;
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; and
• The ability to work independently as well as closely with others.
• Use legal supportive software programs.
  
• Communicate the technical aspects of legal procedures and legal matters orally and in writing to attorneys, paralegals, and self-represented litigants with whom they interact.
  
• Interview self-represented litigants and others to elicit pertinent information in a timely manner.
  
• Manage multiple tasks, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
  
• Demonstrate a customer service orientation and positive attitude when dealing with upset and confused litigants.
  
• Demonstrate patience in working with and explaining law and procedure to litigants of all levels of education and experience.
  
• Communicate clearly and effectively in English.
  
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
  
• Carry out duties in accordance with policies, procedures, and scope of responsibilities.
  
• Maintain confidentiality of Court documents and records.
  
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with judicial officers, Court and Humboldt County employees and/or volunteers, members of the public, community partner/legal aid staff/volunteers, and others encountered in the course of work.

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS

• Perform related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of experience and education or training that is likely to provide the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills outlined above is EITHER two years of journey level experience as a legal secretary, providing responsible legal office assistance at a level equivalent to the classification of Judicial Secretary II OR completion of a certified paralegal studies program or equivalent college-level specialized education.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Possession of a valid California driver’s license may be required
• Passing a detailed background and/or criminal history check

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met or are encountered by an employee while successfully performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Regularly Required

• Sit at a desk and/or in front of a computer terminal
• Twist and bend neck
• Repetitive hand movement while performing computer data entry as well as writing
• Stand while assisting employees
• Reach above and below shoulder height
• Grasp, lift and move items weighing up to 10 lbs.
• Push and/or pull drawers of desk and/or file cabinets

Frequently Required

• Kneel, crouch and stoop while retrieving materials from shelves and cabinets
• Tolerate mild exposure to dust
• Grasp, lift and move items weighing up to 25 lbs.

Occasionally Required

• Move items weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Crawl and/or climb while retrieving materials
• Drive to various meeting locations
• Travel to various court divisions, if/when needed