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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.116 PARA-LEGAL ASSISTANT II 20211216PART I DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES COUNTY OF KAUAI 1.116 Class Specifications for the Class: PARA-LEGAL ASSISTANT II SR-20, BU-03 Duties Summary: Performs difficult and complex para-legal work in support of professional staff attorneys involving legal research, drafting, and checking documents and forms, and assisting in various other areas as assigned; and performs other related duties as required. Distinguishing Characteristics: The Para-Legal Assistant II is characterized by the performance of the more difficult and complex para-professional work to support professional staff attorneys, requiring substantive knowledge of the principles, methodology and techniques pertinent to the legal field. Examples of Duties: (The following are examples of duties and are not necessarily descriptive of any one position in this class. The omission of specific duties statements does not preclude management from assigning such duties if such duties are a logical assignment for the position). Reads records and transcripts of cases scheduled for hearing; Researches and checks cited authorities, laws and statutes; Assists in preparing memorandums and pleadings; Assists in checking and preparing, subject to review by a deputy, first drafts and/or outlines of briefs, legal opinions, contracts, conveyances, deeds, etc.; Checks and shephardizes citations; Analyzes legal decisions, opinions, rulings, memorandums, and other legal material; Selects principles of law, and prepares digests of points of law; Selects, assembles, summarizes, and compiles substantive information on statutes and specific legal subjects; Indexes, groups, and classifies legal opinions rendered by the office; PART I PARA-LEGAL ASSISTANT II 2 1.116 Assists in keeping legal reference books and files; May draft correspondence; May assist in interviewing witness and parties to actions; and Performs other related duties as required. Knowledge of: Common legal terms and forms; basic constitutional, property, tort, family administrative law; the commercial code and law of real and personal property and contacts; types of court actions and the various court rules and procedures; methods and techniques of legal research and sources of legal information; legal writing; interviewing techniques. Ability to: Read, write, analyze, and apply the law; understand the legal process; prepare, process, and maintain legal records, forms, and documents; conduct research, compile, summarize, and digest materials, draft documents, and prepare reports; follow oral and written instructions; initiate solutions to routine legal problems; work independently; deal tactfully and effectively with other employees and the general public; keeps matters confidential; operate common office equipment. This is an amendment to the specification for the class PARA-LEGAL ASSISTANT II, which was approved on May 27, 1993, amended on March 28, 2017, effective October 16, 2016, and is to be substituted for that specification. Approved:December 16, 2021 (date)ANNETTE L. ANDERSON Director of Human Resources PART II DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES COUNTY OF KAUAI 1.116 Minimum Qualification Specifications for the Class: PARA-LEGAL ASSISTANT II SR-20; BU-03 Training and Experience: A combination of education and experience substantially equivalent to graduation from high school; and five and one half (5 ½) years of specialized work experience. Qualifying Specialized Work Experience: Work experience in legal stenography, legal secretarial, court clerical or other related work involving the research, application, interpretation or explanation of laws, rules, and regulations which demonstrated a thorough working knowledge of legal procedures and terminology and the drafting, review and processing of legal papers and documents in a law office. Substitutions Allowed: The following may be substituted for education: A. Four (4) years of full-time general work experience may be substituted for a high school diploma. B. Successful completion of semester credits leading towards a degree or diploma from an accredited community college, college or university, trades school, etc., may be substituted up to four (4) years of the education requirement (15 semester credits = 6 months). C. An Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree from an accredited community college, college or university, trades school, etc., may be substituted for the education requirement. The following may be substituted for experience: A. Successful completion of semester credits in legal secretary studies, paralegal studies, legal studies, law, or a related field leading towards a degree or diploma from an accredited community college, trades school, may be substituted up to two (2) years of the specialized work experience (15 semester credits = 6 months). PART II PARA-LEGAL ASSISTANT II 2 1.116 B. An Associate’s degree in legal secretary studies, paralegal studies, legal studies, law or a related field from an accredited community college, business, or technical school, may be substituted for two (2) years of specialized work experience. C. A Bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, legal studies, law or a related field from an accredited college or university may be substituted for up four (4) years of work specialized experience. D. A Master’s or PhD degree in paralegal studies, legal studies, law or a related field from an accredited college or university may be substituted for up to one (1) year of specialized work experience. E. A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited college or university may be substituted for up to four (4) years of specialized work experience. If a degree is used to substitute for the education requirement, it may not be used again towards the experience requirement. If work experience is used to substitute for education, it may not be used again to meet the experience requirement. If the applicant holds more than one degree, transcripts must be provided, and a thorough review will be conducted by the DHR staff in order for more than one degree to be credited towards the minimum qualification requirements. Additional degrees can be considered if obtained independently through mutually exclusive classes from another degree being considered. Substitutions will be used to the advantage of the applicant. Quality of Experience: Possession of the required number of years of experience will not in itself be accepted as proof of qualification for a position. The applicant's overall experience must have been of such scope and level of responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate that he/she has the ability to perform the duties of the position for which he/she is being considered. License Requirement: Possession of the appropriate licenses or certificates as required of the position. Selective Certification: Specialized knowledge, skills and abilities may be required to perform the duties of some positions. For such positions, Selective Certification Requirements may be established, and certification may be restricted to eligibles who possess the pertinent experience and/or training required to perform the duties of the position. Agencies requesting Selective Certification must show the connection between the kind of training and/or experience on which they wish to base selective certification and the duties of the position to be filled. PART II PARA-LEGAL ASSISTANT II 3 1.116 Tests: Applicants may be required to qualify on an appropriate examination. Health and Physical Condition Requirements: Persons seeking appointment to positions in this class must meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. Physical Effort Grouping: Light This is an amendment to the specification for the class PARA-LEGAL ASSISTANT II, which was approved on May 27, 1993, amended on March 28, 2017, effective October 16, 2016, and is to be substituted for that specification. Approved: December 16, 2021 (date)ANNETTE L. ANDERSON Director of Human Resources