Law Office Supervisor

CAREER DESCRIPTION

LAW OFFICE SUPERVISOR

(Agency Promotional Only)

This position is scheduled for salary increases as follows:

Effective June 28, 2024 - 4.25%

Effective June 27, 2025 - 4.00%

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications. Subject to appropriate authorization.

AGENCY PROMOTIONAL

This recruitment is only open to current County Counsel employees. This recruitment will establish a a Agency promotional eligible list and will be used to fill current and future Law Office Supervisor positions.

The eligible list established may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

This recruitment is open to current County Counsel employees only.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

This recruitment will be open for a minimum of five (5) business days and will close Monday, March 18, 2024 at 11:59PM (PST).

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

COUNTY COUNSEL

The Office of County Counsel is charged with providing civil legal services to County government, e.g., defending and prosecuting litigation, advising the Board of Supervisors, and providing opinions to the County and district officers on matters pertaining to their duties. County Counsel acts as in-house counsel. The primary client is the Board of Supervisors, but all County officers and employees receive County Counsel's services. Legal services are also provided to some independent local public entities such as the Grand Jury and the Orange County Flood Control District. Legal services are not provided to individual citizens.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Under general supervision, the Law Office Supervisor provides full-time supervision of Senior Legal Secretaries, Legal Secretaries and support staff providing office and legal office support to attorneys assigned to the Civil Litigation/Advisory, Dependency, Mental Health and Probate Teams. The Law Office Supervisor will also provide assistance to attorneys and perform the more complex technical tasks. The emphasis will be on effective use of communication, motivation and delegation skills. A primary function of supervision is the training and evaluation of staff, which includes preparing performance evaluations; conducting performance review meetings; acknowledging outstanding performance; counseling staff with performance problems; preparing performance memos; and initiating formal discipline as necessary. The Law Office Supervisor will be expected to attend leadership training; and meet the PIP guidelines in preparation of performance action plans; interim evaluations and final performance evaluations in a timely manner.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate will have exceptional leadership skills; demonstrate a capacity to manage complex issues; exhibit excellent verbal and written communication skills; and collaboratively resolve conflict. The ideal candidate will also possess the following competencies:

Technical Knowledge and Expertise

• Experience associated with Civil Litigation and associated forms and documents referred to in office and court procedures, and filing of the same

• Knowledge with court and Judicial Counsel forms

• Proficiency in the legal terminology of forms and documents for Civil Litigation

• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of case and office-related information

• Excellence in use of Microsoft Word, Word templates, Excel spreadsheets and Outlook

• Experience in using automated document assembly software

• Experience working with a case management system database used to track cases, assemble documents, calendar and monitor due dates

• Performing highly confidential projects with members of top management

• Evaluating and responding to department needs by developing new, updated or revised procedures to meet changing legal requirements

• Designing and establishing legal forms and procedures

Leadership | Supervision

• Leading, guiding, and motivating high performance, results oriented team to implement agency goals while balancing competing needs and objectives

• Effectively managing performance issues

• Empowering staff to achieve short and long term goals

• Demonstrated skills adapting to changes in procedures, staffing and environment

• Active knowledge of principles and techniques of selection, placement, supervision and training of staff

• Providing a steady and consistent work place environment for staff to develop skills

• Establishing and ensuring staff expectations are met by providing oversight of staff performance. Training and/or arranging for appropriate staff training to ensure excellent performance of assignments, duties and tasks

• Conducting regular performance interviews and reviews with staff. Documenting and timely address, any issues per Office and County directives

• Assessing and coordinating training to familiarize staff with each team assignment;

• Maintaining balanced assignments of staff by evaluating resources and time needed to accomplish tasks

• Assisting in recruitment for hiring new employees

• Maintaining positive working relationships with staff, attorneys, and managers to provide a united perspective in achieving office goals and mission

Communication | Written and Verbal

• Effectively interacting and maintaining a professional demeanor when interacting with clients and other members of County agencies/departments, in a variety of complex situations

• Working effectively with clients, their representatives, court personnel and other agency contacts in developing professional relationships and procedures

• Meeting regularly with Administrative Managers to formulate plans and processes; discuss sensitive and confidential matters in which decisions may be determined or recommendations forwarded to higher-level management

• Requesting feedback and present ideas with diplomacy and accurately in memos, e-mail, correspondence, reports, policies, and procedures, etc.

• Making decisions through effective negotiation, problem solving, facilitation and collaboration skills

• Positive reinforcement to communicate short and long term goals; assess progress

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including experience in writing procedures

Ethics & Integrity

• Earning others' trust and respect through consistent honesty and professionalism in all interactions

• Respecting and maintaining confidentiality

• Following-through on commitments made to others

• Making decisions and taking actions that adhere to the department's Ethical Guidelines

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Click here to view the minimum qualifications for Law Office Supervisor as well as the physical characteristics and environmental conditions.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After the screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the recruitment.

Application Appraisal Panel | Application Rating (Refer/Non-Refer)

An Appraisal Panel (AAP) of job knowledge experts will thoroughly screen and evaluate the application and supplemental questionnaire for job knowledge, competencies, and related experience described above.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

Eligible List

Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Veterans Employment Preference

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please see below for important information regarding COVID-19 related requirements.

Effective April 3, 2023, it is strongly recommended that County employees working in health care settings and correctional facilities follow vaccination and booster guidelines provided by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please click here to see the latest guidance for more details.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION:

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Katie Koreneff at (714) 834-3306 or Kathryn.Koreneff-Dale@ocgov.com.

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer,

encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.