SALARY: $5,432-$6,573/mo.

FILING DEADLINE: September 17, 2024

 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Come and join the City of Fresno in achieving our mission of Building a Better Fresno!

Are you ready to take your legal career to the next level? Join the City of Fresno’s dynamic legal team as a Paralegal and play a pivotal role in shaping justice and policy in our vibrant community. As a vital member of the City Attorney's Office, you'll dive into a diverse range of responsibilities—from preparing crucial legal documents and managing high-stakes litigation to conducting impactful investigative work and representing the City before administrative bodies. If you’re passionate about the law, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and have a keen eye for detail, this is your opportunity to make a significant impact while advancing your professional skills. Apply today and be a cornerstone of legal excellence in Fresno!

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Draft and prepare legal documents and pleadings for civil and criminal litigation, including proposed interrogatories and summaries of trial transcripts.

- Prepare and respond to Public Records Act requests.

- Respond to inquiries regarding case management status and data using computer systems.

- Organize trial and administrative hearing documents and exhibits.

- Brief witnesses for trial and administrative hearings.

- Conduct investigative work, including interviewing potential witnesses and inspecting property related to claims or complaints.

- Represent the City in small claims court and/or administrative hearings.

- Perform legal research and draft comprehensive legal memoranda.

- Prepares routine contracts, deeds of trust and leases, and performs routine title searches.

- Perform other related duties as assigned.

Duties may vary by assignment, please inquire about specific duties if called upon for an interview.

Full job specification may be viewed at:

https://www.fresno.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Paralegal_01_17.pdf

View “We Work For You” video to get an inside look at how rewarding it is to work for the City of Fresno: https://youtu.be/RjOUf52KPrk?si=NmkwtgYbTxdKcKOz

One (1) vacancy exists in the City Attorney's Office. Immediate and future vacancies will be filled from this eligible list for a period of three (3) months from the date the eligible list is created, with the option of extending that period at the City's discretion. If the examination process is suspended for this recruitment, the eligible list may be limited to three (3) months.

 

PAY, BENEFITS & WORK SCHEDULE

BENEFITS: UNIT 13 Classification – City of Fresno Professional Employees Association (CFPEA)

HEALTH INSURANCE: The City contributes toward monthly premiums for PPO medical, dental and vision for employee and dependents.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT: IRS 125 Plan for health and dependent care expenses.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary 457 plan with Fidelity Investments to increase your retirement savings.

MANAGEMENT LEAVE: 60 hours per fiscal year for exempt employees.

ANNUAL LEAVE: Accrue 15.5 hours per month with cash out provisions.

SUPPLEMENTAL SICK- 40 hours per fiscal year. 80 hours lifetime maximum

HOLIDAYS: Ten (10) City-observed annual holidays plus birthday and two (2) personal days.

LIFE INSURANCE: Benefit equal to annual salary; premium paid by the City.

LONG-TERM DISABILITY: Benefit equal to 66.66% of monthly salary up to $7,500 per month after 30 days of disability; premium paid by the City.

BILINGUAL PREMIUM: PAY: $100 per month

HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ARRANGEMENT: Eligible retirees can use remaining Sick Leave balance at 80% of hourly rate and other leave balances, if applicable, to reimburse medical insurance and qualified medical expenses, tax free.

RETIREMENT: City of Fresno Retirement Systems, one of the best funded public systems in the state.  Reciprocity with other CA public agencies. Vested in Retirement benefits after 5 years of service. City employees do not participate in Social Security.

DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Program): an optional, voluntary program that allows an employee to deposit retirement benefits in a special savings account within the Retirement System while continuing to work for the City of Fresno for up to 10 years.  Participation minimum is age 50 and vested.  Benefits includes ownership of accumulated funds, compound interest earnings, and alternative distribution options.

 Additional information regarding the City of Fresno benefits is available at

https://www.fresno.gov/personnel/human-resources-support/#tab-1

 

THE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications on or before the posted filing deadline in order to qualify for the examination and do not assure placement on the eligible list:

OPTION 1:

Completion of a paralegal training program from an accredited school

AND

One (1) year of paralegal experience in a law office.

OPTION 2:

Completion of one (1) year of juris doctorate course work from a school of law, which included course work in writing and research, contracts, and civil procedure.

APPLICANTS MUST ATTACH A COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS (instructions below on how to attach documents). Applications lacking the attachment may be rejected.

           

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

The work experience section MUST be completed with detailed duties, dates and weekly hours worked for each title held. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed employment application and will not be used to evaluate minimum requirements. Applications lacking a completed work experience section may be rejected.

Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required at time of appointment. Candidates considered for hire may be asked to provide proof of a valid driver's license and a current copy of their driving record.

The selected eligible candidates certified will be required to successfully pass a department interview and a Department of Justice fingerprint prior to employment with the City of Fresno and sign a confidentiality agreement.

 

THE SELECTION PROCESS

The examination process may consist of the following:

Application Review - Qualifying Only: Applications submitted will be reviewed and a limited number of the most qualified candidates will be invited to the panel interview. Selection of the most qualified candidates will be based upon those applications demonstrating the greatest breadth and depth of applicable training, experience, and education. Therefore, applicants are urged to submit sufficiently detailed information in their application materials for a proper evaluation.

Oral Examination - (100%): A panel of subject matter experts will conduct a job related oral examination to assess a candidate's knowledge of legal terminology and procedures related to the court systems and civil process; ability to conduct research, prepare legal documents and make clear and persuasive oral presentations; exercise sound, independent judgment and establish effective working relationships or other topics related to a candidate's training, experience and qualifications for the position of Paralegal.

Candidates must achieve a passing score to qualify for the eligible list.

The oral examination is tentatively scheduled for the week of October 7th, 2024.

           

HOW TO APPLY

APPLICANTS MUST COMPLETE AN ON-LINE APPLICATION.  PLEASE VISIT WWW.FRESNO.GOV/JOBS TO APPLY.  For information on how to complete an on-line application, please view "Instruction Guide" on the City's website, Personnel Services Career Opportunities page, or call (559) 621-6950 for assistance.  Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed employment application.

ALL CORRESPONDENCE regarding this recruitment and exam process will be sent via e-mail.  All applicants will acknowledge such understanding when they complete their on-line application.  Verify we have your correct e-mail address before you submit your application. It is an applicant's responsibility to check their email frequently to ensure they receive all pertinent communication from the Personnel Services Department on a timely basis.  Applicants will receive an automatically generated confirmation e-mail upon a successful application submittal. The e-mail is the only proof of submittal.

It is an applicant's responsibility to check their email account and to ensure it is set up to accept emails from the City of Fresno.  Dependent upon your settings, notices from the City of Fresno may be directed to the junk mail or spam folders.  It is the applicant's responsibility to check these folders.

Applications must be submitted by midnight on the filing deadline, or they will not be accepted for any reason. FOR THIS RECRUITMENT, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PERMANENT FRESNO CITY EMPLOYEES APPLY THROUGH PEOPLESOFT SELF SERVICE.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

HOW TO ATTACH DOCUMENTS TO OUR ONLINE APPLICATION:

1. Your document must first be scanned and saved to a computer or thumb drive (save as the “document name.”)
2. Then go to www.fresno.gov/jobs > City of Fresno Jobs > Apply On-Line.
3. Enter the same Login Information (Username & Password) that is going to be used for the job you are applying to.
4. Under the section “My Career Tools” (located towards the top of the page), Select “Cover Letters & Attachments”, and then “Add Attachments” towards the bottom.
5. For Attachment Type, choose the most appropriate option (i.e. “DIPLOMA/TRANSCRIPTS or DD214.”)

*If you do not see an appropriate choice, you may use “Reference Attachments.” Under Attachment Purpose, you can TYPE a description.

1. Then Select “Add Attachment” and hit the “Browse” button to locate your attachment.
2. Once you have selected your attachment, select “Open”, hit “Upload” and then “Save & Return.”
3. After you confirm your attachment has been uploaded, then proceed to fill out your online application.

           

VETERAN’S PREFERENCE       

Qualified veterans who pass the examination may obtain five (5) additional points. Candidates applying for veteran's preference are required to submit a copy of their DD214 with their application

during the specified filing period. Evidence must be presented to indicate that the candidate was discharged honorably from the military service. Veterans, including City employees, must resubmit proof of honorable service for every examination for which veteran's preference credit is requested.

           

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER   

The City of Fresno is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Should you need a special accommodation due to a qualifying disability, please contact the Personnel Service Department at (559) 621-6950 in advance of the examination.