Closing Date: 10th May, 2024

Description:

The Department
Our agency's mission is to "Transform Lives Through the True Power of Child Support." The A Government Entity Department of Child Support Services Program (VCDCSS) was established in 1975 to provide children with the financial, medical, and emotional support they need to help ensure a bright future. Child support payments help provide children with food, shelter, clothing, and other necessities. By providing the means for many families to meet their most basic financial needs, the program is a critical part of efforts to fight poverty in California. In addition, public assistance recipients are required to open a child support case, with collections being used to recoup the government's cost of providing that assistance. California's program is administered by 49 local child support agencies (called LCSAs) and operates under the oversight of the California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS). DCSS is committed to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce in all departments.

The Position:
The Attorney's goal is to work with parents to resolve matters prior to court and represent the County in matters at court. The Attorney's role is to provide support to all activities in the Department including, but not limited to, providing legal analysis on policies and making recommendations. Additionally, attorneys are required to meet with parents, review motions to establish, modify and enforce reasonable child support orders, prepare responses, appear in court in a fast-paced and high-volume environment, draft and review stipulations and provide case follow-up.

The ideal candidate will have:

Excellent written and communication skills
Flexibility and ability to embrace change.
A vision of how an Attorney can contribute to an organization success.
Ability to think strategically.
Ability to prepare legal documentation such as pleadings, briefs and opinions.
Ability to present statements of fact, law and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form.

Payroll Titles and Approximate Salaries
Attorney II - $126,439.12 - $145,998.48 annually
Attorney III - $153,247.95 - $186,283.27 annually

Educational/Bilingual Incentive:
Incumbents may be eligible for an educational incentive of 5% based on completion of a master's degree that is not required for the classification. Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive pay depending upon operational needs and certification of skill.

Attorney II/III are represented by the Criminal Justice Attorney's Association of A Government Entity (CJAAVC) are not eligible for overtime compensation.

Tentative Schedule:
Opening Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Closing Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Application Review Complete: May 17, 2024
Tentative Oral Examination Date: Week of May 27th, 2024

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

Represents the County in Superior Court on various issues related to paternity and child support in civil and family court.
Interprets and applies laws, court decisions, State and Federal regulations, and other legal authorities for use in the preparation of child support cases.
Prepares legal pleadings, including complaints, answers, discovery, and motions required for hearings, trials, and varied legal proceedings.
Enters stipulated agreements by phone, virtually, or in person.
Receives and reviews all motions served on the County
Negotiates with custodial and non-custodial parents regarding legal issues involved in civil paternity and/or support actions.
May direct the work of support staff.
Reviews, approves, and signs dismissal requests.
Provides legal analysis on cases, policies and legislation.
Meets with and presents to the community, groups, and associations.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications:

Typical Qualifications
These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

Education, Training, and Experience
Attorney II: Applicants must be law school graduates who have been licensed by the California Bar Association. The Attorney II level requires a minimum of two (2) years of legal work experience. Experience may include related internships, law clerk positions and professional work as an attorney. Advancement within the series is dependent upon sustained meritorious performance.

Attorney III: Applicants must be law school graduates who have been licensed by the California Bar Association. Attorney III requires a minimum of four (4) years of legal experience.

Necessary Special Requirements:

Must be an active member of the California Bar Association.
Possession of and the ability to maintain a valid California driver's license.

Desired:

Experience with family law or Child Support experience.
Experience in conducting hearings in court.
Experience serving the public (non-profit, government, volunteer, internships, etc.) in a legal or non-legal setting.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Considerable (Attorney II) to Comprehensive (Attorney III) knowledge of:

legal principles and their application
legal research methods
negotiation and general mediation techniques
the rules of the courts, procedures, and policies
current technology and trends in the profession
ethical responsibilities enunciated by the American Bar Association and California Bar Association.

Considerable (Attorney II) to Comprehensive (Attorney III) ability to:

offer exceptional customer service objectives and strategies.
negotiate settlements.
present statements of fact, law and argument clearly and logically.
solve problems under limited time constraints.
operate personal computers and use of applications.
effectively communicate in oral and written form.
effectively communicate legal principles and policies to a diverse clientele.
communicate effectively and diplomatically in dealing with clients, professionals from other agencies, and the public.
establish effective working relationships with management, employees, employee representatives, and the public representing diverse cultures and backgrounds.
communicate effectively with a variety of individuals representing diverse cultures and backgrounds, and function calmly in situations which require a high degree of sensitivity, tact and diplomacy.