Paralegal

GENERAL PURPOSE

Under general supervision of the General Counsel or other office attorney, or Manager, Office of General Counsel Administration, performs paralegal duties and responsibilities referencing diverse legal claims and litigation matters; conducts legal research and drafts documents under the guidance of an attorney; and performs related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

A Paralegal performs difficult and responsible paralegal/legal duties in assisting attorneys in the investigation and analysis of legal claims and the preparation of cases for trial in conformance with stringent court deadlines and complex legal requirements. Incumbents perform basic legal research and draft standard legal and trial forms and documents for review by attorneys. Incumbents serve as paralegal case managers, applying legal and organizational knowledge and skill in managing and controlling exhibits and documents associated with cases.

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

1. Conducts legal research, prepares litigation hold notices as required by applicable law; sets up case files and drafts discovery and pleading documents for litigated claims and court cases; corresponds with opposing counsel with supervising attorney's approval.

2. Provides operational and staff assistance regarding claims filed against the Port; maintains logs and calendars; reviews and investigates factual matters and claims cases; summarizes findings and organizes by issue and claim; arranges for payment to claimants if warranted; handles inquiries from claimants and prepares notices of final disposition of claims; drafts agenda sheets and resolutions for claims to be presented to the Board of Port Commissioners.

3. Assembles and maintains a master document index and master set of all documents for litigation and administrative hearing cases; assigns document control numbers; develops privilege logs; supervises document review and production of documents to opposing counsel; assembles and prepares exhibits.

4. Collects and reviews documents in response to public records requests; coordinates production of documents with departments; redacts documents of any confidential and privileged information.

5. Drafts tender letters to tenants, contractors and other parties in interest demanding indemnification of the District in law suits or claims; reviews leases and agreements for pertinent indemnification and appropriate language; monitors progress of litigation and provides related Port documents.

6. Coordinates the handling and processing of claims filed against the District.

OTHER DUTIES

1. Maintains and updates a database of outside legal expenses, including insurance reimbursement.

2. Provides back-up and assists office manager and other legal secretarial staff; assists staff with methods, practices, techniques and uses of word processing, graphics, database and other software programs.

3. Processes outside counsel billings and other general office billings; prepares summaries of outside counsel billings as requested; assists with insurance recovery as appropriate.

4. Receives, reviews and tracks agenda items, including ordinance and resolutions, as needed.

Knowledge of:

1. Principles and practices of civil and administrative litigation and law applicable to practice as a paralegal.

2. State and federal court procedures, administrative hearing procedures, federal, state and local rules of court, rules of evidence and burden of proof issues, and knowledge of Port Act, San Diego Unified Port District Personnel Rules and Regulations and policies.

3. Interview techniques and methods.

4. Methods, practices, procedures and requirements for drafting a wide variety of motions, pleadings, statements and other legal documents.

5. Litigation discovery techniques and responses.

6. Methods and techniques of legal research and investigation.

7. Principles and practices of effective legal communication.

8. State law governing the maintenance and disclosure of public records.

9. Standard legal forms and documents and their uses and formatting requirements.

Ability to:

1. Conduct legal research, civil discovery, and analyze factual and legal claims and issues.

2. Draft a wide variety of legal documents competently, ensuring that they meet all legal requirements and deadlines.

3. Present statements of fact, law and basic argument clearly, logically and concisely.

4. Analyze public records and discovery requests, identify legal objections, determine documents responsive to requests and prepare responses in accordance with legal requirements.

5. Read, interpret and apply statutory and legal requirements to the investigation and preparation of case exhibits for trial.

6. Work independently, set priorities and organize work to accomplish complex tasks efficiently within stringent deadlines.

7. Organize, coordinate and manage large volumes of exhibits and case documents effectively and without error.

8. Communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

9. Maintain integrity and exercise proper discretion in dealing with confidential or sensitive situations.

10. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with attorneys, litigants and their attorneys, complainants and others encountered in the course of work.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education, Training and Experience:

High School diploma and five (5) years of progressively responsible legal experience.  Completion of a Paralegal training program highly desired.  Time served as a District Intern counts towards the years of experience.

Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:

Successful completion of an American Bar Association accredited Paralegal program or its equivalent in demonstrated expertise and experience gained in working in a law firm or governmental law office.

A current, valid California Class C driver's license at time of appointment and maintained at all times thereafter in order to operate a vehicle on District business.

The application review process will include screening to ensure applications are complete and meet all minimum qualifications.  In addition to the application, the applicant is required to complete the Supplemental Questions to further evaluate their education, training, and experience relative to the required knowledge, skills and abilities for the position. Applicants must submit answers that are as complete as possible.

Only qualified applicants who pass the minimum qualifications review, will be invited to the assessment process which may be administered by a written examination, panel interview, or any combination of qualifications appraisal determined by the Department of People Services to be appropriate. The Department of People Services will make reasonable accommodation in the examination process for disabled applicants. If you have an accommodation request, please indicate such on your application.

Depending upon the number of applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, applicants may be scheduled for one or more of the assessments listed below. Passing score is 70% out of 100% on each assessment section.  

THE INITIAL PANEL ASSESSMENT (70%) IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2024. THE ASSESSMENT (30%) IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2024.

To move forward in the application process, you must complete an online application through our website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/portofsd Please attach a copy of your unofficial transcripts (indicating when degree was awarded) to your application or your application may be considered incomplete. Resumes may be uploaded but cannot be used in place of a completed application.  

Placement on Eligible List: 

The Department of People Services may limit the number of qualified applicants eligible to participate in the assessment process. Candidates who are successful in all phases of the assessment process will be placed on an eligible list. The eligible list established by this recruitment will be active for a minimum of ninety (90) days or up to one (1) year, unless otherwise determined by the Director pursuant to Rule 8, Section 4.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

 

The District firmly believes in, and is committed to, the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination. It is the policy of the District to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to age (40 and above), ancestry, color, disability (mental or physical), gender (including identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's sex at birth), marital status, medical condition, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran status.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this class with reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis and depends, in part, on the specific requirements for the job, the limitations related to disability and the ability of the hiring department to accommodate the limitation.

Resolution #: 2014 - 130
Dated: June 10, 2014