Legal Staff Supervisor

Position Information

The Human Services Department's Family, Youth, & Children Division seeks an experienced legal processor looking for a rewarding career opportunity!

Starting salary up to $ 42.38 /hour* ( $ 88,452 /year) plus a competitive total compensation package!*

This Legal Staff Supervisor plans, directs, and supervises the work of a team of Senior Legal Processors and Senior Office Assistants in the Family, Youth, & Children Division (FYC) of the Human Services Department (HSD). Although the primary focus of this position is the supervision and coordination of day-to-day staff activities, the Legal Staff Supervisor also works closely with the Juvenile Court as a liaison, collaboratively planning, coordinating, and implementing best practices aimed at enhancing FYC and Juvenile Court efficiencies. Additional responsibilities include:

• Ensuring coverage for court and adoptions services
• Updating and reviewing processes and implementing mandatory changes to ensure work is done correctly, efficiently, and on time
• Coordinating with clients regarding redaction requests and other FYC administrative processes
• Collaborating with the FYC Court Officer, County Counsel, and other court partners
• Meeting with other units to work through processes and conflicts to ensure resolution
• Collaborating with supervisors and staff to come to impactful decisions and overseeing their implementation

The ideal candidate will possess many of the following:

• A practical approach to formulating procedures and policies affecting support staff operations
• Considerable discretion and judgment when resolving workflow problems
• The ability to deal with sensitive materials and subject matter, including images of children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach staff one-on-one and as a group
• The ability to support staff needs with compassion and empathy while maintaining strong boundaries
• Experience coordinating the day-to-day activities of legal and office support staff
• Knowledge of juvenile court procedures, local rules, and the Welfare and Institutions Code
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and Child Welfare System software
• The ability to recognize, challenge, and adapt legal and adoptions work through an anti-racist lens
• Experience working with other supervisors and managers to implement new processes based on law changes
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• An aptitude for working well with a diverse client base
• The demonstrated ability to be poised under pressure, meet deadlines, and shift gears quickly

About the Human Services Department (HSD)

As the largest agency in Sonoma County government, the Human Services Department’s mission is to build upon strengths, as we bridge clients to opportunities through responsive safety-net services. We work to protect vulnerable children and adults, to help people rise above poverty and thrive in our community, and to promote maximum independence and well-being for individuals and families. HSD is responsible for child and adult protective services, veteran services, and administration of state and federal programs, including CalFRESH, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and In-Home Supportive Services. The department is dedicated to providing responsive, client-focused services so that all in our community can live freely chosen lives up to their full potential throughout their lifespan. The core values that drive our work are dignity, humility, integrity, responsiveness, partnership, and belonging.

HSD fosters a positive work environment, where our commitment to providing opportunities for advancement is strengthened by a robust staff development program. We believe in the merits of work/life balance and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that our work contributes to the betterment of our community.

The Department works collaboratively at the federal, state, and local levels to find creative solutions to support the well-being of individuals, families, and the community. To meet that goal, the department has fostered strong relationships with other public and private sector partners, including other government agencies, community-based organizations, and business leaders. For more information regarding HSD's services please visit http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services .

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing your contributions work to better our shared community. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $650 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

* Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

This recruitment is currently being conducted to fill a Legal Staff Supervisor position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified candidates who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Any combination of education and work experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, three years of work experience in a law office, law enforcement office, or court environment processing legal documents at least one year of which has been in a supervisory or lead worker capacity would provide this opportunity.

Education: Any combination of education and training which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, some coursework in the areas of paralegal studies, legal secretarial such as legal documents, office practices and procedure, or other law related courses. A certificate of completion of paralegal studies from an accredited program or college is highly desirable for some assignments.

Special Skill Requirement: The ability to type at a corrected speed of 45 words per minute may be required for some assignments.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Background Requirements: Applicants for some assignments must successfully complete a thorough background investigation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of: court related government or department codes, ordinances, laws, regulations, procedures and policy decisions necessary to accomplish objectives of the assigned division; the operations, procedures, timetables and jurisdictions of the court or department of assignment.

Considerable knowledge of: the organization, functions, and procedures of the California court system; the principles and practices of effective supervision, training and the basic procedures of sound personnel management; the computer and record systems of the court or the department of assignment; basic arithmetic, English grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and composition; the technical resource materials and information sources applicable to the area of assignment.

Working knowledge of: legal terminology, documents and responsibilities; functions and procedures of the county law offices and other law enforcement agencies as they pertain to the filing and processing of documents, complaints; the issuance and service of warrants and the recording of dispositions.

Ability to: plan and coordinate the work in the assigned unit; communicate in an appropriate manner with supervisors, peers, subordinates, judges, attorneys and the general public; evaluate and assess employee behavior and performance; communicate behavior and performance standards to subordinates; review and analyze problems; choose an effective solution and implement necessary changes to correct the problem; train new employees; understand, explain and apply specific statutes, codes, laws, regulations and procedures; develop, evaluate, research and implement policies and procedures related to the work of the assigned unit; maintain complex legal records, assemble materials and prepare reports; locate, identify and correct technical inaccuracies; establish and maintain cooperative and harmonious relationships with judges, attorneys, litigants, other employees and the general public; use independent initiative and discretion in organizing work and supervising the work of others.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the application, examination, and department selection processes.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: EP
HR Tech: EV

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan : Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan : Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical :County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 1/6/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

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