Senior Court Staff Attorney (316C)

SENIOR COURT STAFF ATTORNEY

(Bilingual)

ACCESS Legal Self-Help Center

(Class Code 316C)

Eligible San Francisco Superior Court Employees Only

The Senior Court Staff Attorney position is only open to current employees of the San Francisco Superior Court who (1) are under a permanent appointment with the Court, or (2) previously held a permanent appointment and accepted a temporary appointment without a break in service. Individuals who are not current employees of the Court, or current temporary Court employees who did not previously hold a permanent appointment with the Court without a break in service may not apply. 

The Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, is seeking qualified applicants to serve as a full-time bilingual Senior Court Staff Attorney in the ACCESS Legal Self-Help Center. The position performs lead attorney responsibilities in various areas of law; coordinates, schedules, and organizes staff legal services for the ACCESS Legal Self-Help Center; provides coordination, scheduling, and guidance for self-help staff and volunteers, other professional legal staff and/or Court Legal Research Fellows and Attorneys; performs a variety of complex professional legal work, legal research, and legal consultation for Court judicial officers and staff; performs special projects as assigned; reviews court documents and filings for compliance with legal mandates; and performs other job-related duties as required. This position requires the regular and routine ability to communicate verbally and/or in writing with limited English proficient speaking court customers. Therefore, the position requires bilingual skills preferably in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Arabic, and/or Russian.

At the ACCESS Legal Self-Help Center, you will work with an energetic team dedicated to fostering teamwork and providing efficient and meaningful services to self-represented litigants as they navigate the judicial system. The Senior Court Staff Attorney position provides a unique opportunity to further develop professional skills such as customer service, interpersonal/communication, and problem-solving, while gaining experience in leadership and team dynamics, enhancing program development skills and exposure to and training in various areas of law.

This selection process is being conducted in accordance with San Francisco Superior Court Personnel Rule 4. An eligibility list will not be established.

FINAL FILING DATE:    12:00 PM, July 18, 2025

COMPENSATION:        $5,670.75 to $6,892.95 biweekly ($147,440 to $179,217 annually)*

*Plus Bilingual Pay: $150 biweekly for 40+ hours of use of bilingual skills biweekly, $100 biweekly for 10 to less than 40 hours of use of bilingual skills biweekly

The Court offers a generous benefits package including a variety of health and dental insurance plans, a contributory retirement plan, a deferred compensation savings program, paid vacation, sick leave, floating holidays, and holiday pay.

POSITION OVERVIEW

• Organizes and coordinates legal services for the ACCESS Legal Self-Help Center.
• Provides coordination and scheduling for other professional legal staff.
• Performs a variety of the more complex professional legal assignments and research.
• Reviews and summarizes legal evidence, procedural history, and legal contentions in matters related to a variety of legal cases and Court calendars.
• Researches legal authorities, including statutory and case law, appellate court decisions, and legislative history, using both traditional and computerized legal research methods.
• Prepares memoranda for matters researched, summarizing background, identifying and analyzing factual and legal issues, and recommending disposition of legal issues for use by judicial officers.
• Meets with judicial officers and provides oral briefings on the results of research as requested.
• Drafts rulings for Court cases, including minute orders, formal orders, tentative decisions, statements of decision, and judgments for review and use by judicial officers.
• Drafts correspondence to counsel and other concerned parties regarding matters pending before the Court.
• Responds to judicial officer inquiries on procedural and substantive issues during trials and pre-trial hearings, including motions, evidentiary objections, jury instructions, status of case authorities cited by counsel, and points of substantive law.
• Researches, analyzes, and formulates recommended policies, procedures, and forms related to court proceedings and recurring issues at the request of judicial officers, judicial committees, and court management.
• May develop and conduct special training and legal orientation and court familiarization programs for Court customers and other stakeholders.
• May work with the local community and legal professionals in the development of special programs.
• May develop special grant funding and have responsibility for grant reporting.
• May conduct ex parte hearings and make recommendations regarding their disposition to the appropriate judicial officer.
• May serve as legal advisor to assigned judicial committees.
• May serve as hearing officer, when duly appointed, for certification review hearings under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act.
• May provide legal and court orientation consultation and advice for persons filing “small claims” or Family Court stakeholders.
• May perform special assignments related to legislative mandates for timely disposition of Court caseload.
• May collect data and compile reports and summaries as needed.
• Performs a wide scope of legal assignments as needed.

Work is performed in an office environment; occasionally works outside; continuous contact with other staff.

Typical Physical Requirements: Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; lift and move objects weighing up to 25 lbs.; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment, including computer, telephone, calculator, copiers, and FAX.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Current membership in the State Bar of California. 

Six or more years of full-time professional legal work experience as a member of the State Bar of California.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Principles of Family, Criminal, Constitutional, Civil, and Administrative Law.
• California codes and statutes applicable to criminal, and civil law, including the Small Claims Act and the Family Law Facilitator Act.
• Judicial procedures and the rules of evidence.
• Legal research methods.
• Interviewing techniques.
• Computers and software used in professional legal work.
• Principles of legal service development, work coordination, and training.

Ability to:

• Organize and coordinate legal services for an assigned department/unit.
• Provide work coordination, scheduling, and guidance for other professional legal staff.
• Supervise non-attorney staff and volunteers as required.
• Develop staff legal services, special training, and/or court orientation programs for Court clients.
• Perform a wide scope of professional legal and legal research work.
• Analyze facts and apply legal precedents and principles to assigned legal review and research work.
• Provide sound legal advice/information/assistance and referrals regarding the Court system to small claims filers and others with matters before the Court as assigned.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Prepare and present a variety of special reports.
• Operate a computer and use appropriate software in the performance of professional legal work.
• Effectively represent the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, with the public, divisions of the Judicial Council, community-based organizations, legal services agencies, law enforcement agencies, and other government jurisdictions.
• Maintain confidential information when required by legal or ethical standards. 
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

HOW TO APPLY

Selection is only open to current employees of the San Francisco Superior Court who (1) are under a permanent appointment with the Court, or (2) previously held a permanent appointment and accepted a temporary appointment without a break in service. Individuals who are not current employees of the Court, or current temporary Court employees who did not previously hold a permanent appointment with the Court without a break in service may not apply. 

Interested individuals must apply online and include a valid email address where the applicant can receive future correspondence regarding the position. Applicants must submit ALL the following items:

•       Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, online employment application (fully completed). 

•       Resume.

•       One-page cover letter explaining why the applicant is interested in and qualified to perform the duties of the position (should briefly describe the experience and education applicable to the position).

•       Writing sample not to exceed 10 pages.

The online application, resume, cover letter, and writing sample are very important to the selection process. It is recommended that applicants review the information in this announcement and on the application very carefully. Once the application has been submitted, it cannot be corrected, changed or resubmitted. All applications must be submitted by the final filing date and time indicated in this announcement.

SELECTION PROCESS

Initial Screening:

Complete application packages received by the final filing date and time will be evaluated to determine if applicants meet the minimum qualifications. The Court will further evaluate these documents and may interview only those applicants it deems may best meet the needs of the Court. Not all applicants will receive an interview.

Oral Interview & Skills Exercise:

If necessary, selected applicants may be interviewed to determine their relative knowledge, abilities, and skill levels in job-related areas. Applicants may also be required to participate in a skills exercise related to job factors. If interviews and the skills exercise are scheduled, it is anticipated that they will be conducted in July/August 2025.

Qualified applicants with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection process should complete the relevant section on the employment application.

OTHER APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Employment is subject to security clearance. Any false statement or omission of material fact may cause forfeiture of employment. Information presented on employment applications, resumes, and attachments, and during the selection process is subject to verification. Employees are prohibited from engaging in activities which conflict with the interests of the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. 

THE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. APPLICANTS SHALL NOT BE FAVORED OR DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, GENDER, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, CITIZENSHIP, AGE, MARITAL STATUS, PHYSICAL DISABILITY, MENTAL DISABILITY, MEDICAL CONDITION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENETIC INFORMATION, UNION ACTIVITY, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, OR OTHER NON-MERIT FACTOR.

For questions on the above information, contact the Human Resources Office of the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, (415) 551-0381.