Research Attorney

Salary : $113,046.42 - $146,960.35 Annually

Location : All Ventura County Court Locations, CA

Job Type: Full-Time Regular

Job Number: 2024-0715-Cont-ER

Unit: Various Departments

Opening Date: 07/15/2024

General Information

• Annual Leave Accrual of up to 208 hours, equivalent to 26 workdays, based on full time employment/compensated hours, based on completed years of service.
• Annual Leave Redemption: The option to cash out up to 200 hours of accrued annual leave per year. in accordance with the policy/rules/guidelines.
• Deferred Compensation: Section 457 Plan and/or 401(k) Shared Savings Plan with up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans: You are afforded a flexible credit of up to $20,800 annually for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental, vision and dependent care expenses.
• Pension Plan: Participation in the County's defined benefit plan which has reciprocity with CalPERS.
• Holidays: 14 paid days per calendar year, plus a personal floating holiday.

Under general direction, this professional level position performs legal research activities on behalf of the Court by examining, analyzing, and interpreting available information and submitting recommendations for resolving issues before the Court.
Examples of Duties (With or Without Reasonable Accommodations)

May include, but are not limited to the following:

Reviews and summarizes arguments, evidence, and procedural history on matters submitted to the Court;

Identifies and analyzes legal authorities relevant to the disposition of matters;

Briefs judicial officers on research and analysis pertaining to matters before the Court, identifies and discusses unresolved issues necessary for the disposition of matters, and formulates dispositions;

Responds to judicial officers inquiries on procedural and substantive issues, attends and assists at hearings, as necessary; conducts reviews of documents at the requests of judicial officers, as necessary;

May serve as legal adviser to judicial officers, or judicial committees or to staff, including Court administration on specific matters before the Court, as necessary;

Assists with the drafting of legal documents and memoranda required by the Court, as necessary.

Duties are to be performed with judgment and responsibility;

Incumbents perform their work under general direction. Court Research Attorneys conduct extensive legal research using independent judgment, discretion, and initiative. Erroneous recommendations may result in substantial delays to the parties and considerable expenditure of public resources.
Minimum Requirements & Qualifications (With or Without Reasonable Accommodation)

EDUCATION:
Completion of a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university.

EXPERIENCE:
Performing legal research and developing legal opinions with a trial or appellate court

OR

A minimum of five (5) years experience as a civil litigation attorney with expertise in discovery and law and motion practice.

LICENSE REQUIREMENT:
Current active membership and good standing with the State Bar of California.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of legal principles and ability to apply principles to matters within area of assignment; relevant statutory; constitutional and case law; online legal research methods (i.e. Westlaw or Lexis); rules of evidence and conduct of proceedings in trial, appellate and United States courts; judicial ethics; word processing and other office automation software.

Ability to listen to and interact with judicial officers and others involved in the assigned caseload; identify legal issues and research statutes and case law; apply legal principles to case facts and make decisions; prepare and present verbal and written legal analyses and recommendations; coordinate work with others; work in an environment with conflicting priorities; recognize and respect limits of authority and responsibility; uphold judicial ethics; and work independently and as part of a team.

Physical Requirements With or Without Reasonable Accommodation:

• Independent body mobility to access a standard office environment with shelves and drawers of varying heights.
• Vision sufficient to read a computer screen, manual dexterity, coordination and ability to use a computer keyboard on a daily basis.
• Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds may be required and the need to sit and work at a computer for long periods of time.
• Some bending, stooping and/or squatting may be required;.
• Transport, lift or carry trial materials to and from court (up to approximately 10 pounds).
• Speak and hear sufficiently to communicate clearly in person and over the telephone, in court, and in small groups.

Work Environment

• Shared office environment with varying degrees of hot and cold air.
• Requires occasional exposure to dust.
• May require travel to other court locations, department, other agencies, or counties.
• Must be able to traverse indoors and outdoors, over uneven ground and pavement in all types of weather.
• Frequent interruptions, with high volume of telephone and personal interaction.
• Ability to drive or utilize an alternate mode of transportation to perform the essential functions of the job.

Important Recruitment Information

This recruitment is continuous and may be closed with a day notice upon receipt of sufficient number of qualified applications.

This recruitment will be used to establish a list of eligible candidates to fill current and future vacancies for a regular, part time or fixed term positions.

Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. Response to the supplemental questions may not be used in lieu of your work history in the application portion. Resume and/or other related documents if submitted will not be used in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - Qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam AT THE TIME OF FILING. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the applicant being removed from consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - Qualifying: All applications will be reviewed. A comparative screening will be conducted to determine which of the applicants will be selected for invitation to the oral examination. Those individuals who are invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process will be contacted.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION: A job-related written examination will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating candidates' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. A comparative screening will be conducted to determine which of the applicants from this list will be selected for invitation to the selection interview. Date: TBD.

SELECTION INTERVIEW: A job related selection interview shall be administered to the top qualifying candidates.Date: TBD.

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS: All applicants must possess the personal qualifications generally recognized as essential to being an outstanding public employee, including integrity, initiative, dependability, courtesy, and good judgment and ability to work individually and with others as a team and follow instructions.

What We Offer
The Ventura Superior Court offers benefits package that includes:

• Cost of Living Adjustment of 3.0% effective June 25, 2023.
• Annual leave accrual of up to 208 hours, equivalent to 26 work days, based on full time employment/compensated hours.
• Annual Leave Redemption: The option to cash out up to 200 hours of accrued annual leave per year.
• Deferred Compensation: Section 457 Plan and/or 401(k) Shared Savings Plan with up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans: You are afforded a flexible credit credit of up to $18,200 annually for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental, vision and dependent care expenses.
• Pension Plan: Participation in the County's defined benefit plan which has reciprocity with CalPERS.
• Bilingual Incentive: Proficiency levels by exam are $.65 per hour (Level I), $.90 per hour (Level II), or $1.10 per hour (Level III).
• Holidays: 14 paid days per calendar year, plus a personal floating holiday.

01

To be considered, you must meet the following requirements for this position.
EDUCATION: Completion of a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university.
EXPERIENCE: Performing legal research and developing legal opinions with a trial or appellate court OR A minimum of five (5) years experience as a civil litigation attorney with expertise in discovery and law and motion practice.
LICENSE REQUIREMENT: Current active membership and good standing with the State Bar of California.

• Yes
• No

02

If applicable, identify each trial court or appellate court for which you have been employed as a research attorney. For each court identify the length of employment. If not applicable, indicate N/A.

03

If applicable, explain how you meet the 5-year requirement of practicing as a civil litigation attorney with expertise in discovery and law and motion practice. If not applicable, indicate N/A.

Required Question