Self-Help Legal Assistant

DEFINITION

Under general supervision, performs advanced specialized clerical and legal services for self-represented litigants regarding Court processes pertaining to case types assisted by the Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator’s Office, assists the Family Law Facilitator with a variety of paraprofessional legal duties, and performs other duties as required.

The Self-Help Legal Assistant classification is differentiated from a Self-Help Legal Clerk in that the former possesses advanced knowledge and understanding of the Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator’s legal practice areas and performs the more difficult or complex assignments which includes working independently with minimal supervision.

• Assist self-represented litigants from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds with routine completion of legal forms, procedural assistance, and providing legal information materials and court forms in case types served by the Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator’sOffice
• At the direction of the Family Law Facilitator, provide self-represented litigants with information about all appropriate legaloptions
• Collect information from self-represented litigants and review legal documents and forms for completeness and procedural compliance with coderequirements
• Identify non-routine cases and ask for specific direction from supervising attorney and prepare legal documents and/or explain legal options to self-represented litigants in accordance with thosedirections
• Explain legal procedure and process to self-represented litigants one-on-one and in group/workshop settings on a variety of legal topics appropriate to the Self- HelpCenter
• Prepare child support and spousal support calculations based upon statutory guidelines
• Assist self-represented litigants to prepare orders after hearings, Judgments and other legal documents conforming to clerk’s case summary notes and/or the judicial officer’sruling
• Provide self-represented litigants with appropriate referrals to legal and social serviceagencies
• Make phone calls, gather materials and prepare forms andflyers
• Assist the Family Law Facilitator with a variety of paraprofessional legalduties
• May lead the work of interns and the Self-Help Legal Clerk, including training and instruction in workprocedures
• Work independently in our walk-in clinics providing check-in, triage and substantive legalassistance

• Answer legal and procedural questions received by telephone from self- representedlitigants
• Assist the Family Law Facilitator in reviewing changes in legislation and case law
• Examine, review and analyze local rules and forms for compliance with statutes, codes, rules andpolicies
• Prepare reports, memoranda and performs specialstudies
• Maintain statistics and prepares periodicreports
• As assigned and under direction, perform community outreach activities to inform the public and other community agencies of the self-help services offered by the Court
• Assist with interviewing for new staffpositions
• Maximize delivery of self-help legal services through the use of email, remote video conferencing, online document preparation programs and other technology
• Conduct legal research using legal databases and books
• Draft instructions using plain English for self-represented litigants
• Handle routine correspondence and related clerical tasks independently

Knowledge of:

• Rules, statues and case authority applicable to areas of law served by the Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator’sOffice
• California Court procedures, rules of evidence and burden of proofissues
• Legalterminology
• Methods and techniques of effective interviewing, often when relations may be strained
• Legal forms and the content required for filing cases in the area of work
• Proper telephoneetiquette
• Effective customer service practices andtechniques
• Correct English usage including spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Standard office equipment and personalcomputers
• Computer applications related to the work
• Record keeping, report preparation and filingmethods
• Editing and proofreadingtechniques
• Business arithmetic, including percentages anddecimals
• Principles of publicspeaking

• Effectively communicate in writing, in person, by telephone and remote video conferencing with self-represented litigants and otheragencies
• Prioritize, maintain and coordinate a heavy workload
• Understand specialized legal information and procedures and communicate them to self-represented litigants in an impartial and straightforwardmanner
• Perform actions that require high attention to detail both in review of legal documents and application of code, rule and specific proceduralrequirements
• Operate a computer and use standard business software and a variety of computer software programs and databases related to area ofassignment
• Work and adapt to an environment that includes frequent interruptions, simultaneous attention to multiple tasks and meeting legally establisheddeadlines
• Use tact, diplomacy and compassion when dealing with sensitive situations and upsetcustomers
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work
• Follow oral and writtendirections
• Assist the most difficult self-represented litigants with complex legalissue(s)
• Use interviewing skills and effective mediation techniques to obtain accurate, useful information from Court customers to identify their problems/needs and develop appropriate next steps
• Support the Family Law Facilitator in the administration of avariety of tasks
• Analyze factual and legal claims andissues
• Maintain and ensure the integrity of sensitive and confidentialinformation

Strength, dexterity, coordination and vision to use a keyboard and video displayterminal on a daily basis. Hearing sufficient to communicate effectively. Dexterity and coordination to handle files and single pieces of paper. Occasional lifting of objects weighing up to 15 lbs. by reaching overhead, pushing, pulling, kneeling or stooping. Moving from place to place within an office. Remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods of time.

EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION

1. Graduation from college with an Associate’s Degree in any field AND two years of general clerical or legal secretarial experience. Experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis up to two years. OR
2. Paralegal Certificate from an approved program AND two years of general clerical or legal secretarial experience. Experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis up to two years.  OR
3. Three years of Court clerical experience involving document processing.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Possession of a valid Class “C” California driver's license.
• Travel within the county is required.