THIS IS AN IN OFFICE POSITION WITH NO REMOTE OPTION

CAL FIRE Local 2881 is a non-profit labor union representing the professional firefighters and forestry employees of California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The Junior Paralegal will play an integral role, assisting the legal team (Staff Counsel and Senior Paralegal) and the State Rank and File Director.

The ideal candidate will possess strong written and verbal communication skills, exceptional organizational skills, and excellent attention to detail and accuracy. They should be capable of working independently and as part of a team, and adept at interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Critically, they must also meet one of the categories for education and/or experience described below.

Job Duties

Provide comprehensive administrative support to the legal staff and State Rank and File Director, including drafting and handling correspondence, calendaring, scheduling, and filing.
Handle incoming phone calls, including routing calls to proper legal staff members, taking detailed messages, and assisting callers with common requests.
Manage and organize incoming and outgoing correspondence, including routing it to the appropriate personnel, saving it to the correct file (electronic or paper), preparing it for electronic signature, completing templates with the appropriate information, and following up with recipients as necessary.
Organize and maintain all case files from start to finish, including creating a new file, issuing a case number, and tracking deadlines, case activity, and case status.
Assist the State Rank and File Director by managing their Outlook calendar, taking notes at meetings, and handling other miscellaneous tasks, as needed.
Communicate with union members and representatives, including scheduling conference calls and meetings and following up on outstanding items required for representation.
Collect, enter, manipulate and reconcile data in Excel spreadsheets.
Assist with various legal and administrative projects as needed.
Assist with State Personnel Board appeals, contract grievances and complaints.

Required Education or Experience

At minimum, applicants must possess at least one of the following:

A certificate of completion of a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association.
A certificate of completion of a paralegal program at, or a degree from, a postsecondary institution that requires the successful completion of a minimum of 24 semester, or equivalent, units in law-related courses and that has been accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization or approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education.
A baccalaureate degree or an advanced degree in any subject, a minimum of one year of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegal tasks.
A high school diploma or general equivalency diploma, a minimum of three years of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who has been an active member of the State Bar of California for at least the preceding three years or who has practiced in the federal courts of this state for at least the preceding three years, and a written declaration from this attorney stating that the person is qualified to perform paralegaltasks. This experience and training shall be completed no later than December 31, 2003.

Minimum Skills and Abilities

Ability to type a minimum of 55 WPM with accuracy.
Highly proficient in all Microsoft Office programs (especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint), cloud-storage software, and Adobe.
Strong word processing, formatting, and proofreading skills.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and a high degree of initiative.
Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and discretion.

Physical Requirements:

Requires prolonged periods sitting or standing at a desk and working on a computer.
Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds.

Desired Qualifications

Knowledge of good grammar and punctuation and business English usage.
High level of attention to detail.
Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds.
Experience working with one or more case management systems.
Experience preparing correspondence, completing forms, and filling out templates.

Applications

All applications will be screened, and only the most qualified candidates will be selected to move forward in the selection process.
All applicants are required to submit a resume.
All applicants must submit a cover letter of 1 page or less detailing how they meet the education or experience requirements and explaining why they are the ideal candidate for the Junior Paralegal position.

CAL FIRE Local 2881

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Junior Paralegal