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The County of San Mateo District Attorney's Office is accepting applications for the position of Paralegal.

About the Agency
The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office mission is to prosecute adult and juvenile offenders, provide services to support victims, enforce consumer and environmental laws, provide legal and investigative support to public safety partners and to remain committed to the principles of equity and transparency in seeking justice and greater public safety. To that end, we are committed to ensuring that no member of our office will seek or obtain a criminal conviction or seek or obtain a sentence of any individual based on race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability. To learn more about the District’s Attorney’s Office please visit: https://www.smcgov.org/da.
 
The Position
Paralegals perform a wide range of complex legal support work, such as conducting legal research, preparing legal memoranda, motions and other documents, responding to discovery requests, corresponding with attorneys, and assisting attorneys in all aspects of case preparation. Incumbents may receive general direction regarding the scope and approach to projects or assignments, but procedures and techniques are discretionary, and incumbents are expected to possess the initiative to operate with a significant degree of independence.
  
The ideal candidate for this position will be able to handle several projects and assignments simultaneously, have experience with complex legal support work, strong oral and written communication skills, well developed computer skills, as well as proficiency with the full range of Microsoft products (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) in addition to legal case management software. The ideal candidate will work collaboratively with office management, attorneys, support staff, and other County departments, and will be able to accept assignments outside of their prior work experience. The abilities to independently conduct legal research, use initiative, exercise sound judgment, set priorities and meet critical deadlines are also strongly desired. In addition, the ideal candidate will have experience in processes and procedures related to the field of criminal law.
 
There is currently one vacancy to be filled.
  
NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Examples Of Duties

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

• Perform legal research under the direction of an attorney; gather information regarding statutes, rules, regulations, court decisions, local resolutions and ordinances, and similar materials related to assigned responsibilities.
• Draft and prepare responses to motions, including points and authorities, discovery requests and other legal actions.
• Format and edit briefs written by attorneys.        
• Prepare and send subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum to witnesses, agencies, medical professionals, and businesses.
• Organize, index, and summarize research results and assist in preparation for litigation.
• Prepare, file, and serve a variety of legal documents such as motions, petitions, and orders, while utilizing a computerized case management system.
• Work with law enforcement and other government agencies in obtaining reports and records.
• Prepare and organize digital files, exhibits and other documents for court hearings and trials.
• Prepare a variety of correspondence and written materials.
• May direct the work of others on a project basis; train others in work procedures as needed.
• Compile and review confidential and sensitive materials/records.
• Review reports, transcripts, criminal history documents and prepare summaries.
• Review audio and video evidence and prepare summaries.
• Use LexisNexis, Evidence.com and other legal software platforms, and have familiarity with E-Filing (superior court and appellate levels).
• Perform related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Completion of coursework leading to paralegal certification or completion of the first year of law school, or two years of increasingly responsible legal office experience including legal research and policies and procedures related to the specified field of law.

Knowledge of:

• Legal research techniques and standard legal reference materials.
• Processes and procedures related to criminal law.
• Legal office terminology, processes, procedures, and the format for legal documents.
• Record keeping, report preparation and filing methods.
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including filing, business letter writing and the operation of common office equipment, including a computer, scanner, and printer/copier.

Skill/Ability to:

• Perform legal research from varied sources.
• Communicate with individuals of various backgrounds.
• Prepare a variety of legal documents.
• Use initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Organize and maintain accurate records and files.
• Organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow up on assignments.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.

APPLICATION / EXAMINATION

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply.  Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score  
 
Responses to supplemental questions are required and must be submitted in addition to the standard County of San Mateo employment application. A resume or reference to a resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses to these questions or the employment application. 
  
The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidate's application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. 

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in the County of San Mateo, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.
  

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
  
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date:  June 12, 2025, at 11:59 PM
Application Screening:  June 17-18, 2025
Panel Interviews:  June 25-26, 2025

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
  
The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
  
The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.

Analyst: Chet Overstreet (05292025) Paralegal (E008)

The Civil Rights Analyst reports to the Manager, Civil Rights Programs and is responsible for supporting the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and labor compliance programs with data entry, contract compliance, outreach, monitoring, and reporting. The position will primarily work for Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain) and the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans).

The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of local, state, and federal civil rights laws and regulations.

First cut off: 6/29/2025 | Final Deadline: 7/13/2025

Essential Functions & Duties:

• Create and prepare compliance reports for submission to Federal Transit Administration, project teams, Board of Directors, and other stakeholders.
• Manage the District’s prompt payment database (B2Gnow).
• Provide analysis for metrics, budgeting, and contract compliance.
• Assist OCR program staff with outreach, events and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate communications, community involvement, and vendor outreach events. Attend project meetings and outreach events as the District’s representative.

Examples of Essential Duties:

• Communicate with Agency staff, primes, subcontractors, and other stakeholders regarding contract compliance requirements. Develop training materials as needed.
• Maintain prompt payment and utilization data in B2Gnow through:
  • Acting as the District’s contact person for B2Gnow related inquiries. 
  • Data entry and maintenance of contract and payment information gathered from multiple sources.
  • Tracking payments, resolving payment discrepancies, and assisting contractors with payment-related questions.
  • Closing contracts and ensuring timely audits. 
  • Create and prepare reports that include both narrative and data analyses.
• Assist OCR staff with research, data entry, and ad-hoc projects to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Assist contractors with the certification or recertification process by working with the DBE Administrator to gather and review required information and documentation.
• Visit active jobsites to interview construction workers and perform commercially useful function verifications.
• Perform all job duties and responsibilities in a safe manner to protect oneself, fellow employees and the public from injury or harm. Promote safety awareness and follow safety procedures to reduce or eliminate accidents.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Sufficient experience, training and/or education to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. In lieu of a degree, work-related experience that demonstrates the skills and experience necessary to perform this role will be accepted. Development of the required knowledge and abilities is typically obtained through but not limited to:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, social work, human services, data analytics, economics, political science, or other closely related field. 
• Two (2) years of professional experience with federal and state civil rights laws, programs, and reporting requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a public or transit agency.
• Intermediate to advanced experience using Excel (pivot tables). 
• Professional experience using statistical databases or other data reporting tools. 
• Experience with minority, government, or small business programs (SBE, DBE, MBE, etc).
• Professional experience with B2Gnow, Peoplesoft, and LCPtracker.

Deputy City Attorney I/II

$145,632 - $177,024 - Level I

$160,572 - $195,180 - Level II

Plus excellent benefits!

Apply by July 11, 2025. You may be invited interview prior to the close of the recruitment closing.

THE CITY

San Rafael is the economic and cultural heart of Marin County, and its high quality of life is centered on its commercial districts, engaged neighborhoods, active lifestyle, and natural environment.

With a population of approximately 60,000, San Rafael is a full-service city with a City Council/City Manager form of government with 12 departments, more than 400 employees, and an annual budget in fiscal year 2024-2025 of approximately $180 million. The City’s vision is to be a vibrant economic and cultural center reflective of its diversity.

San Rafael’s Organizational culture framework is an initiative called “Together San Rafael.” City employees are our greatest asses, and we seek talented individuals with diverse backgrounds who are creative, curious, and excited about a challenge. We are a results-driven team focused on the needs of community members. The Together San Rafael initiative is focused on modernizing City services and increasing the engagement of employees. This initiative recognizes the interconnectedness of the customer and employee experience.

THE DEPARTMENT

At the helm of the City’s legal leadership is a part-time elected City Attorney, Rob Epstein, who has served for seventeen years as San Rafael’s City Attorney with dedication and expertise. An elected City Attorney is fairly rare (a total of 10 statewide) and the part-time position is even more unique. For many years, this distinctive structure has delivered an effective combination of elected political leadership with professional legal support for the City. In this model, the elected City Attorney sits as a trusted counterpart to the elected City Council, providing both legal advice and political leadership.

In addition to the elected part-time City Attorney, the City’s legal office is comprised of two full-time attorneys and one legal assistant. The legal team has been known for its collegial, respectful, and inclusive environment. The City Attorney’s Office also oversees and collaborates with various outside legal counsel. 

Due to the part-time nature of the position, the elected City Attorney does not manage or oversee the daily operations of the City’s legal affairs. Instead, this responsibility falls to the Chief Assistant City Attorney, who provides operational leadership and management. While the elected City Attorney offers high-level legal oversight and representation, the Chief Assistant City Attorney and support staff handle the bulk of the legal work, ensuring the City’s legal needs are met efficiently and effectively.  This structure balances the benefits of elected accountability and experience with the necessity of onsite professional legal expertise in managing the City’s legal affairs.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will bring relevant expertise, a passion for public service, and a commitment to advancing the best interests of our community. This individual will play a pivotal role in providing sound legal counsel to City officials, ensuring compliance with municipal laws, and contributing to the overall success of  City’s operations.  Top contenders will also be skillful at analyzing and preparing a wide variety of complex legal documents. 

CORE COMPETNCIES

• Legal Expertise - Strategic and forward-thinking legal advisor who can operate at a high-level to provide advice and counsel on municipal operations. Strong understanding of or willingness to learn labor and employment, risk management, public safety and other public sector legal issues. Excellent at legal research, analysis, and writing.
   
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex legal concepts clearly and persuasively. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders. Resourceful at building collaborative solutions and negotiating with diverse stakeholders to find positive solutions. Astute political sense, without being politically aligned.
   
• Ethical & Strong Work Ethic - High ethical standards and a commitment to integrity.  Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines and to move matters to resolution. A proactive and results-oriented approach to legal issues.
   
• Commitment to Public Service - A deep commitment to serving the public and enhancing the quality of life in our community.   Dedication to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment.

We invite qualified candidates who are passionate about public service and eager to make a meaningful impact on our community to apply for this rewarding opportunity. The ideal candidate will be energetic, self-motivated, dependable, organized and highly ethical leader with a willingness to become an expert on a range of municipal law topics in both advisory and litigation roles. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including but not limited to - view the full job spec HERE)

This classification is part of the Mid-Management employee group, a team of highly qualified and dedicated individuals who work under general direction and supervision of their department Directors. Essential responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Consults with and provides legal advice to staff in various departments of the City. It is anticipated that that a key responsibility of the deputy city attorney will be to consult and support Human Resources with Labor Relations, Discipline, Investigations, ADA, and EEO issues, while also providing legal advice other client departments.
• Reviews staff reports.
• Drafts and reviews ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases and other legal documents and instruments
• Represents the City at various Brown Act meetings and community meetings.
• Performs legal research and prepares opinions on various legal issues for City departments.
• Represents the City in civil and some criminal matters in both state and federal court and in administrative or mediations proceedings.  Examples of routine matters include representing the Police Department in Pitchess motions and gun violence retraining orders. 
• Manages claims and litigation with support from the other attorneys in the office.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
 

Deputy City Attorney I:

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• No previous municipal legal experience is necessary.
• Active membership in the State Bar of California.
• Possess and maintain a valid California Driver's License.

Deputy City Attorney II:

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Two (2) years of progressively responsible legal practice in municipal law and any combination of education and experience that demonstrates possession of the requisite knowledge, skill and abilities representing a public agency.
• Active membership in the State Bar of California.
• Possess and maintain a valid California Driver's License.

BENEFITS

This position is a regular position of the City’s Unrepresented Mid-Management group and is eligible to receive benefits including but not limited to:

• MEDICAL | City group health coverage, with the City paying a fixed dollar amount toward the cost of the monthly insurance premium. Employee only: $950.00; Employee plus one: $1,900.00; Family: $2,400.00
• DENTAL AND VISION | Premium fully paid for employee plus eligible dependents.
• VACATION LEAVE | 15 days annually, increases after 5 years of service
• SICK LEAVE | 12 days annually
• ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE | 10 days each calendar year, prorated if hired after the first of the year
• HOLIDAYS | 12 paid City holidays plus 1 floating holiday per year
• BEREAVEMENT LEAVE | Up to 5 days paid leave
• END OF LIFE CARE LEAVE | Up to 80 hours paid leave
• PAID PARENTAL LEAVE (if eligible) | Up to 300 hours paid leave. Unrepresented Mid-Management employees also contribute to State Disability Insurance (SDI)
• LIFE INSURANCE & AD&D | $300,000
• LONG TERM DISABILITY | 66.67% of salary, up to $7,500 per month
• RETIREMENT | Enrollment in the Marin County Retirement System (MCERA) pension plan, a defined benefit retirement program
  • Tier 2 - hired on or after 7/1/2011: 2% @ 55, Average of 3 highest years
  • Tier 3 PEPRA - hired on or after 1/1/2013: 2% @ 62, Average of 3 highest years
• DEFERRED COMPENSATION | City will contribute one percent (1.06%) of base pay into a City-provided deferred compensation plan
• GYM MEMBERSHIP REIMBURSEMENT | Up to $198 per year
• BILINGUAL PAY (if eligible) | Up to $250 per month

The Department:
The responsibilities of the City Attorney's Office broadly consist of representing and advising the City Council, City officials, and employees of all City departments in all matters of law pertaining to their offices and departments. This includes appearing on behalf of the City in legal actions or proceedings, providing the City Council with information and advice on wide range of legal matters including litigation and new legislation, and staffing City Council and City Board and Commission meetings as necessary. The City Attorney's Office provides legal advice and support on matters initiated by the City Council, City Manager's Office, and all City departments. Typical work includes research and opinion on various issues; review and negotiation of contracts, leases, or permits; drafting employee policies; review and drafting of resolutions, ordinances, and agenda reports; and preparation of responses to Public Records Act requests.
 
The Position:
The City is recruiting to fill one (1) Assistant City Attorney position. Ideally, the position will be assigned to act as the primary advisor to the City’s Human Resources Department, with additional general municipal areas of work for other departments including but not limited to finance, governance, conflicts of interest, open meetings, and public records.
 
The position is expected to perform a wide variety of legal services ranging from litigation (or litigation management) of  administrative matters (such as internal disciplinary appeals, PERB UPC charges, and CalPERS determinations) to collective bargaining and MOU review/drafting; legal research and drafting opinions; negotiating contracts; drafting disciplinary documents; drafting resolutions and ordinances; providing on-call legal support to all divisions of the Human Resources Department (records, benefits, testing, classification, labor, workers compensation, recruitment, safety, risk management, etc.); and, staffing commission meetings such as the Civil Service Commission and Salary Setting Commission. This position is also expected to perform other duties as assigned.
 
The ideal candidate will have superior legal analytical ability and excellent research, writing and oral communication skills and the ability to deal effectively with City employees, opposing counsel, elected and appointed officials, and members of the public.
 
The ideal candidate will also have experience defending  allegations of misconduct in personnel matters, significant experience advising on human resource issues, including Fair Labor Standards Act, Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, labor negotiations, California Public Employees’ Retirement Law, state and federal benefits/leave laws, state and federal employment-related tax laws, and experience providing training in laws, regulations, policies and best practices in personnel management and workplace misconduct

This is a professional position in the Unclassified Service, is an “at-will” position, and the incumbent serves at the discretion of the City Manager. This position is responsible for performing a broad range of duties, which deal with more complex issues. An incumbent in this classification must exercise independent judgment and discretion; manage, control, and direct employees; and formulate administrative policies for the effective use of assigned personnel. The position requires a demonstrated ability to work well with management, professional and administrative support employees in the Office; with clients, professionals, managers, City’s executive management team and all City Departments and elected and appointed officials from the City and various boards, commissions, and committees. An incumbent in this classification must demonstrate strong ethical, professional, and service-oriented leadership and interpersonal skills, set a good example; and correctly apply and abide by the tenets of the City’s Code of Ethics and Values.
 
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Additional Information: 
Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write “see resume, NA, or personnel file.”). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Cover Letter 2) Resume, and 3) Writing Sample of maximum 5 pages (appropriate examples would be a staff report, public legal memo, redacted memo).  Incomplete applications will not be considered.
 
Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov. This job posting is open until filled: Applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis. If you are interested in applying you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, before the posting is closed, which may happen at any time.

THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED BELOW.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT. MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS.  ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW. 

 

The annual salary range for this position is $213,185.04 - $275,895.96.  This position will be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range.
 

Minimum Qualifications

EXPERIENCE
• J.D. or L.L.B. from an accredited law school;
• Six (6) years recent experience in the general practice of law.  Four (4) years of the qualifying experience must include dealing with municipal, county or state governmental agencies in the State of California;
• One year of supervisory experience is desirable; and
• Trial experience is highly desirable.

CERTIFICATION
• Active member in good standing of the State Bar of California is required;
• Admission to the Federal District Court and Federal Appeals Court Bar is desirable.

LICENSE:
Possession of an appropriate California driver's license is required.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job.

Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
May be required to work odd and unusual hours.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Incumbents in this position are required to file a Conflict of Interest statement upon assuming office, annually and upon leaving office, in accordance with City Manager Directive 100.

Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.  
The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov.

TO VIEW JOB ANNOUNCEMENT, CLICK JOB PDF OR JOB ANNOUNCEMENT URL BELOW.