What are the responsibilities and job description for the Managing Attorney - Bakersfield - 036 position at Superior Court of California, County of Kern?
Managing Attorney
Metro - Bakersfield - 036
This recruitment will remain open until filled. This recruitment is subject to close at any time.
$6,215.74 - $7,588.15 bi-weekly, plus an additional 10% KernFlex.
DEFINITION:
Under the limited direction of the Presiding Judge and the Court Executive Officer, this professional level position conducts comprehensive research and analysis, provides legal advice on various issues, represents the court in employment relations, and provides general supervision to legal research attorneys, Family Court Services Manager, Family Law Facilitator, and Kern County Law Librarian. The incumbent will perform difficult and complex legal work, provide technical legal research assistance; acts as a liaison with the Judicial Officers, participate in strategic planning and advising on organizational matters.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
The Managing Attorney is distinguished from the Senior Attorney class in that the incumbent in the preceding class has administrative and supervisory responsibilities.
Under the limited direction of the Presiding Judge and the Court Executive Officer, this professional level position conducts comprehensive research and analysis, provides legal advice on various issues, represents the court in employment relations, and provides general supervision to legal research attorneys, Family Court Services Manager, Family Law Facilitator, and Kern County Law Librarian. The incumbent will perform difficult and complex legal work, provide technical legal research assistance; acts as a liaison with the Judicial Officers, participate in strategic planning and advising on organizational matters.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
The Managing Attorney is distinguished from the Senior Attorney class in that the incumbent in the preceding class has administrative and supervisory responsibilities.
- Assist the Presiding Judge and Court Executive Officer in the development of Court Policies and Procedures, standing orders and local rules of the Court.
- Provide legal advice to the Presiding Judge and Executive Leadership on a wide range of legal issues including new legislation, employment law and government tort liability, and conducts research and analysis on duties, powers and obligations of the Court.
- Reviews and provides advice and prepares responses to California Rules of the Court, 10.500 requests.
- Provides legal guidance and support to Judicial Officers as directed by the Presiding Judge.
- Serves as staff to judicial committees in the development and review of court goals, strategy, and policy.
- Confers with the Court Executive Officer, Executive Leadership, and Judicial Officers on fiscal, personnel, court technology, and operational issues relating to strategic planning to ensure that the Court is provided timely, effective, and efficient support; takes necessary action to anticipate, research and evaluate operational and fiscal concerns.
- Confers with and advises Executive Leadership on organizational matters, policies, budgets, and administrative procedures.
- Reviews legal claims against the Court. Coordinates legal representation for Judicial Officers, court staff and the Court with the Litigation Management Unit of the Judicial Council of California.
- Directs research and writes or reviews opinions regarding duties, powers and obligations of the Court; oversees court compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
- Reviews, analyzes, and drafts contracts and "Memorandum of Understanding" for the Court.
- Negotiates with union leadership for union contracts, side letter agreements, and grievances.
- Represents the Court before California Public Employment Relations Board for unfair practice charges and arbitrations.
- Provides general supervision to Family Court Services Manager, Family Law Facilitator, and Librarian of Kern County Law Library.
- Provide general supervision to Attorneys providing legal research.
- Oversees and directs all legal services, including legal research, alternative dispute resolution, family law facilitator, and the self-help division of the Court, through subordinate management, and advises in the resolution of issues to comply with judicial policy and conform to applicable laws.
- Plan, organize, assign, monitor, review and evaluate the work of subordinate attorneys performing legal research assignments to ensure completeness, accuracy and adherence to professional standards.
- Perform advanced legal research and conducts research on special projects.
- Supervise the training of newly assigned staff regarding sources and methods of legal research on law and motion, appellate cases, and on policies.
- Confer with Judicial Officers to gain information regarding work unit performance and operational problems; develops practices and procedures that effectively serve the bench.
- Receive instructions and makes recommendations regarding unusual factors, problems, research needs and work priorities related to current and pending cases.
- Answer questions from Judicial Officers regarding research.
- Advises Judicial Officers on possible conflicts of interest arising from staff members as parties, witnesses or victims in pending cases.
- Evaluate the performance of subordinates and provides guidance and counseling on research methods and development.
- Works closely with the Court’s Human Resources staff on issues relating to personnel matters; provides analysis and advice on complying with employment laws and regulations. Participates as hearing officer in formal discipline review process.
- Prepares written responses to complaints about court personnel, facilities and operations.
- Upon request establishes extern programs for individual Judicial Officers and the Kern County Law Library.
- Prepares and coordinates a variety of work reports and records; attends meetings, and schedules and maintains mandatory training records for legal research staff.
- Other duties as assigned.
The incumbent in this classification will receive limited direction within a broad framework of policies and procedures. Assigned duties require the exercise of judgment to choose among possible actions, often without clear precedents. Erroneous recommendations and decisions, or failure to achieve objectives may result in substantial delays and considerable expenditure of resources.
QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES:
Education & Experience:
Active member in good standing with the State Bar of California required at the time of appointment and at all times thereafter. Graduation from an accredited school of law, and eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law in California.
Miscellaneous:
Possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver License and the ability to maintain insurability under the Court's vehicle insurance program.
QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES:
Education & Experience:
Active member in good standing with the State Bar of California required at the time of appointment and at all times thereafter. Graduation from an accredited school of law, and eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law in California.
Miscellaneous:
Possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver License and the ability to maintain insurability under the Court's vehicle insurance program.
Knowledge of: Principles and practices of California and Federal law and procedure with special emphasis on California civil law, family law, juvenile law, probate law, employment law and their procedures; California judicial system and local court operations and procedures; advanced principles, methods and techniques of legal research and investigation, including methods and procedures for conducting efficient online legal research; Judicial ethics, responsibilities and the context in which they are carried out; principles and practices of sound business and legal communication; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation; principles and practices of sound business communications; Court practices and procedures for budgeting, purchasing and maintaining public records; principles and practices of effective supervision; court human resources policies and labor contract provisions.
Ability to: Plan, manage, assign, review and evaluate the work of employees engaged in legal research and analysis; perform advanced legal research, analyze problems, evaluate alternatives and develop sound expert conclusions and recommendations; present statements of fact, law and argument clearly, logically and persuasively orally and in writing; define issues, analyze problems, evaluate alternatives and develop sound, independent conclusions and recommendations in accordance with laws, regulations, rules and policies; organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility; understand, interpret, explain and apply applicable laws, codes and ordinances; represent the Court effectively in dealings with other employees, state and county agencies, court appointees and the public; present proposals and recommendations clearly, logically and persuasively; operate a computer and use standard business software and a variety of complex computer software programs and databases related to area of assignment; use tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues, situations and concerned people; establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work.
Ability to: Plan, manage, assign, review and evaluate the work of employees engaged in legal research and analysis; perform advanced legal research, analyze problems, evaluate alternatives and develop sound expert conclusions and recommendations; present statements of fact, law and argument clearly, logically and persuasively orally and in writing; define issues, analyze problems, evaluate alternatives and develop sound, independent conclusions and recommendations in accordance with laws, regulations, rules and policies; organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility; understand, interpret, explain and apply applicable laws, codes and ordinances; represent the Court effectively in dealings with other employees, state and county agencies, court appointees and the public; present proposals and recommendations clearly, logically and persuasively; operate a computer and use standard business software and a variety of complex computer software programs and databases related to area of assignment; use tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues, situations and concerned people; establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work.
All applicants are required to submit an online application. Résumés will not be accepted in lieu of the required application.
Status Notifications: You will be notified by email through the governmentjobs.com site during the process of this recruitment. Some email accounts have been known to place these emails in the spam/junk folder. Please check your email folders and/or accept emails ending with governmentjobs.com and kern.courts.ca.gov. If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.
We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and closed during Court holidays.
To learn more about how to create an application click here.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Salary : $161,609 - $197,292
