Placer County

To perform professional legal work in Family Law within the Department of Child Support Services; to establish paternity and support orders; to apply enforcement actions and obtain remedies; and to prepare and present difficult cases in court.

This is a multi-level class series in which incumbents may be assigned to any one of four levels, depending upon organizational needs, professional legal experience, individual expertise and skill, proficiency gained, and the complexity and sensitivity of assigned cases. Positions in these classes are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the entry level.  Progression from one level to the next is at the discretion of the appointing authority, provided the minimum qualifications are met.

Child Support Attorney I is the entry level in the Child Support Attorney series assigned to employees with no previous legal experience.  Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgement on matters allocated to the higher levels.  Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience.  Employees work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.

Child Support Attorney II is the first working level assigned to employees with at least one year of experience practicing law.  Under general supervision, employees at this level perform work of average difficulty in all phases of family law.

Child Support Attorney III is the full journey level assigned to employees with at least two years of experience practicing law.  Employees at this level are assigned increasingly difficult and complex cases and receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new situations arise.

Child Support Attorney IV is the full working level assigned to employees with at least three years of experience practicing law.  Employees at this level are generally assigned more difficult and sensitive cases, are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit, and may be required to prepare legal opinions on problems that are complex and have far-reaching implications.  At this level, employees are required to use independent judgement in carrying out assignments and are expected to prosecute the full range of family cases tried before the Court.
These classes are distinguished from the Senior Child Support Attorney in that the latter is responsible for providing lead direction to a functional or geographic area and presents the most complex and sensitive cases in court.
 

Child Support Attorney I
Receives immediate supervision from a Supervising Child Support Attorney or other management staff and receives technical and functional supervision from higher level Child Support Attorneys.

Child Support Attorney II
Receives general supervision from a Supervising Child Support Attorney or other management staff and receives technical and functional supervision from higher level Child Support Attorneys.

Child Support Attorney III
Receives direction from a Supervising Child Support Attorney or other management staff and receives technical and functional supervision from a Senior Child Support Attorney.
May exercise technical and functional supervision over legal staff.

Child Support Attorney IV
Receives direction from a Supervising Child Support Attorney or other management staff and receives technical and functional supervision from a Senior Child Support Attorney.
May exercise technical and functional supervision over legal staff.

• Work within the Department of Child Support Services, performing the full range of legal activities involving establishing, modifying and enforcing child support obligations, including medical support; enforcing support orders already established, and determining paternity of minor children in a civil suit, as needed; prepare and present cases in court.
• Enforce all orders using civil and criminal means; monitor all cases to modify existing support orders; file civil complaints; set cases for trial; negotiate settlements when appropriate; conduct discovery in the case; hold depositions of parties involved; issue subpoenas for necessary witnesses and evidence; participate in both court and jury trials; prepare and pursue any appropriate appeal of Court decisions; file liens against real property; pursue collection through workers compensation benefits, initiate action to seize personal property such as bank accounts, cars, boats and other such property; file actions for revocation of probation.
• Perform a wide variety of advanced legal research.
• Prepare opinions, briefs, pleadings, warrants, and other legal documents; dictate correspondence and reports.
• Work closely with affiliated law enforcement agencies from the County, State or Federal level as required by the assigned case.
• Review cases for any assistance required of investigation staff; assign Investigators to secure evidence or make further investigation; review and incorporate additional information secured by Investigators.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Child Support Attorney I

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: None required.

Training: Demonstrated possession of the eligibility requirements to take the California Bar Examination as established by Section 6060 of the California Business and Professions Code.

Required License or Certificate:

• Active membership in the California State Bar to be obtained by date of appointment.
• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Child Support Attorney II - IV

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Child Support Attorney II

Experience: One year of responsible professional legal experience performing duties similar to a Child Support Attorney I with Placer County or one year of professional legal experience.

Training: Active membership in the California State Bar.

Child Support Attorney III

Experience: One year of responsible professional legal experience performing duties similar to a Child Support Attorney II with Placer County or two years of professional legal experience.

Training: Active membership in the California State Bar.

Child Support Attorney IV

Experience: One year of responsible professional legal experience performing duties similar to a Child Support Attorney III with Placer County or three years of professional legal experience.

Training: Active membership in the California State Bar.

Required License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Child Support Attorney I

Knowledge of:

• Legal principles and practices, including civil, criminal, family law, constitutional law, criminal law and related procedures.
• Rules of Court, Evidence Code, Family Code, Code of Civil Procedure, Labor Code, Bankruptcy Code, United States Code and relevant Child Support laws and regulations.
• Legal research methods.

Ability to:

• Learn to investigate and prosecute criminal, civil and child support complaints.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk for long periods of time or in meetings; intermittently walk, stand and bend while going to/from other offices or court and while taking files to/from meetings or court; twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; hear sufficiently to communicate with clients and to understand actions in public meetings, hearings, or court proceedings; and lift light weight.
• On a continuous basis, analyze a case and determine the law's application; identify and interpret the applicable law or statute; utilize legal research methods; work with juries and witnesses; problem solve situations that arise in cases; understand and apply case law and statutes; and explain case status to the public as required.
• Analyze and apply legal principles, facts and precedents to legal problems.
• Learn to recommend investigative alternatives.
• Learn to prepare and present cases and represent the Department of Child Support Services.
• Present law, facts and arguments clearly and logically in written and oral form.
• Explain legal principles and relate them to both trained legal professionals and the public.
• Perform legal research.
• Work under time constraints and exacting professional and legal standards.
• Learn to obtain information through interview and interrogation and deal fairly and courteously with the public.
• Draft legal pleadings.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and to determine proper course of action.
• Adhere to ethical standards.
• Operate a computer terminal with sufficient proficiency to perform the duties of the job.

Child Support Attorney II - IV

In addition to the qualifications for the Child Support Attorney I:

Knowledge of:

• Legal principles and practices with emphasis on child support law.
• Trial and hearing procedures, rules of evidence, Family Law, Civil Code and the California Code of Civil Procedure.
• Organization and procedures of the Department of Child Support Services.

Ability to:

• Prepare and present legal cases within a wide variety of adversarial proceedings, especially in the presentation of evidence, the examination of witnesses and in arguing an effective case before a judge or jury.
• Evaluate and apply legal principles of family law.
• Investigate and prosecute family law complaints.
• Recommend investigative alternatives.
• Present law, facts and arguments clearly and logically in written and oral form.
• Organize and prioritize work assignments.
• Be alert to, identify, analyze and be sensitive to the subtleties of verbal and nonverbal communication by customers, witnesses and others.
• Assist less experienced attorneys in matters relative to the child support services function.
• Secure cooperation and teamwork among professional and/or support staff.
• Obtain information through interview and interrogation and to deal fairly and courteously with the public.