• Job Description

  Req#: 4924246
  Salary: See Position Description
  Location : Orange County Superior Court, CA
  Job Type: Full-Time Regular
  Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
  Job Number: 6002AX-0525-PROB
  Department: General Counsel
  Division: Legal Research Services
  Opening Date: 05/01/2025
  
  Position Information
  RESEARCH ATTORNEY - PROBATE
  DEADLINE TO APPLY
  
  This recruitment will be open on a continuous basis until the needs of the Court have been met and may close at any time.
  This recruitment is open to external candidates, internal OCSC employees, internal OCSC promotions, and internal OCSC lateral transfers. The eligible list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future positions.
  
  ANNUAL SALARY
  
  $126,776.00 - $161,553.60
  
  (Note: Research Attorneys may be able to promote to Senior Research Attorney upon meeting established criteria.
  
  The salary for Senior Research Attorney is up to $183,830.40 annually.)
  BENEFIT HIGHLIGHTS
  
  Choice of five medical plans
  
  Vacation and sick leave packages
  
  $3,500 Optional Benefit Plan (OBP)
  
  Defined Benefit Retirement Plan (2.50% at 67 formula)
  
  Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
  14 paid holidays per year
  
  Tuition reimbursement
  
  Dental and vision plans
  
  Optional deferred compensation program (457 plan)
  TELEWORK/ON-SITE OPPORTUNITY
  This position is eligible for a combination of telework and on-site work assignments. Telework must be completed from a pre-designated home-based location within the State of California and employees may be required to report on-site to address business needs.
  
  Telework is at the sole discretion of the Court and may be rescinded with 48 hours' notice, based on needs of the Orange County Superior Court.
  
  Opportunity Details
  ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
  
  The Orange County Superior Court is the third largest court of general jurisdiction in California. We have courthouses throughout the county, including locations in Orange, Westminster, Fullerton, Newport Beach, and Santa Ana. We have a staff of about 1,500 and an operating budget of nearly $250 million. The Court's Judges, Commissioners and employees are recognized for their high standards of achievement, integrity, and diversity. The Court is committed to ensuring equal access to court services and enhancing public confidence in the court system.
  To learn more about the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, visit our homepage at
  ABOUT THE POSITION
  Research Attorneys work under the direction of the Judges and the General Counsel. They are required to research legal issues in specialized areas of probate law, including decedents' estates, wills, trusts, conservatorships and guardianships; analyze legal issues; review case files, including motions and other pleadings; prepare memoranda and make recommendations for disposition of matters before the Court. Additional duties include conferring with judicial officers regarding questions resulting from the memorandum, general legal issues regarding matters pending before the Court, and changes in the law or emerging issues impacting a pending case. These positions are responsible for a high-volume of work with short deadlines for the completion of assignments.
  
  Most positions are assigned to our Civil Department. However, on some occasions, Attorneys may be assigned to Criminal, Family Law, Juvenile, Probate or Appellate Departments, depending on the needs of the Court. Our current vacancy is in Probate.
  
  To learn more about the duties of this position, click to view the job description.
  Minimum Qualifications
  
  Bar Membership: Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar.
  
  Experience: At least three (3) years post California Bar probate law experience and a solid grasp of California civil procedure and law and motion are required.
  
  Writing Sample: A self-edited writing sample must be submitted with the application.
  
  Desirable Skills, Abilities and Experience:
  At least five (5) years experience practicing in one or more of the following areas:
  • Probate practice with an emphasis in conservatorships, guardianships, decedents' estates, trust litigation, and/or probate accountings
  • Legal research in one or more of the above-listed areas
  • Excellent writing skills
  Ability to: Be proficient in online, web and windows based legal research applications and proficient in using MS Word and Adobe. Excellent research and writing skills are essential, along with the ability to work independently on a wide variety of legal issues of varied complexity, effectively manage one's time in order to meet stringent time constraints and interact, daily and professionally, with Judicial Officers, colleagues and Court staff. The Research Attorney position in Probate also requires a significant ability to work well with others in a team environment and to adapt flexibly to scheduling changes on short notice.
  Additional Information
  
  Application Process
  All applicants are required to submit a completed online application and supplemental questionnaire. To learn more about how to create an account/application, clickHERE.
  
  Résumés will not be accepted in lieu of the required application and supplemental questionnaire.
  
  Human Resources will review applications to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications; therefore, it is to your benefit to include all current and previous related work experience.
  
  Selection Process
  • Step 1: Applications will be reviewed to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and/or desirables; those candidates will be referred to step 2 in the selection process.
  • Step 2: Candidates' supplemental question responses may be evaluated and ranked. Depending on the number of applications, assessments and/or screening interviews may be conducted. If any part of the assessment process consists of proctored, in-person tests, candidates will be required to appear in person regardless of where they reside. Note: Though candidates may live outside of the State of California while participating in a recruitment process, individuals must reside within the State to be eligible for Court employment.
  • Step 3: Those candidates who are successful in the review/assessment may be placed on the eligible list. Placement on the eligible list is not a guarantee of interview or employment.
  All candidates will be notified via email of their status at each step of the process. Additional steps for the selection process will include a local background and reference check.
  
  Background Check
  A thorough background check will be conducted, including but not limited to work experience, education, certifications, driving record, criminal record, litigation judgment or verdict, and financial/credit information. Fingerprints of candidates are also taken as part of our background check process.
  
  Reasonable Accommodations
  Orange County Superior Court provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities, upon request. Please contact the Human Resources Department at HRStaffing@occourts.org if you feel that you will need a reasonable accommodation for any aspect of the selection process.
  
  Eligible List
  This recruitment will be used to establish an eligible list for current and future vacancies. The eligible list will remain active until the list is exhausted or a new recruitment opens.
  
  Status Notifications
  You will be notified by email during the process of this recruitment through governmentjobs.com. Please check your email spam/junk folders and accept emails ending with governmentjobs.com and occourts.org. If your information changes, please update your profile at
  
  eVerify
  Superior Court of California, County of Orange participates in the eVerify program.
  
  Questions?
  For questions on this recruitment, please contact Monica Budd at mbudd@occourts.org. For general employment information, please click HERE.
  
  Orange County Superior Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer
  F ollow us on social media!
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  MEDICAL INSURANCE: Employees have an option to enroll in one of five medical plans; three HMO's (Cigna Select, Cigna Choice, and Kaiser Choice) and two PPO's (Wellwise Choice or Sharewell Choice), both administered by Blue Shield. The employee contributions toward the HMO or PPO insurance vary based on plan, coverage level and participation in the annual wellness credit program. To view health plan rates and summaries of benefits and coverage, click
  
  HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ARRANGEMENT: The Court will contribute $61.50 per pay period into individual employee Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) accounts for eligible full-time employees ($30.75 per pay period for eligible part-time). This Court contribution will increase 2.5% annually each first full pay period in July.
  
  DENTAL INSURANCE: The Court pays the premiums for Indemnity dental plan. Co-payments, deductibles, and caps on major dental services apply. Spouse and children less than 26 years old are eligible dependents.
  
  VISION INSURANCE: The Court pays the premiums for employee only vision insurance coverage provided by VSP. Employees may elect to purchase coverage for spouse and dependent children less than 26 years old.
  
  LIFE INSURANCE: The Court pays for employee basic life insurance policy of $100,000. Additional voluntary life insurance can be purchased for employee, spouse, and dependent children.
  
  ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT (AD&D) INSURANCE: The Court pays for employee basic AD&D insurance policy in the same amount as term life insurance. Additional voluntary coverage can be purchased for employee and family.
  
  SHORT-TERM DISABILITY (STD) PLAN: The Court provides STD which provides 60% of regular monthly income (no maximum) for 12 months (reduced by income from other sources). Benefits begin after all sick leave has been used or 7 days, whichever is greater. The Court continues to pay same amount of medical, life, and AD&D insurance premiums while employee is receiving STD benefits.
  
  LONG-TERM DISABILITY (LTD) PLAN: The Court provides LTD which provides 60% of regular monthly income (up to a maximum benefit of $20,000 per month) until age 65 if the employee is not able to return to work similar occupation (reduced by income from other sources). Benefits begin immediately after STD expires.
  
  OTHER VOLUNTARY BENEFITS: Employees may elect to enroll in additional voluntary plans administered by Unum. Available plans include Accident Insurance, Critical Illness/Cancer Insurance and Hospital Confinement Insurance. Coverage may be purchased for employee, spouse, and dependent children.
  
  LONG-TERM CARE: CalPERS Long-Term Care coverage is available to current and former California public employees, retirees, their spouses, parents, parents-in-law, children, siblings (including stepbrothers and stepsisters), grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law between the ages of 18 and 79 when they apply. Eligible family members may apply even if the public employee or retiree who makes them eligible does not apply or is not approved for coverage. NOTICE: CalPERS has temporarily suspended open enrollment for the Long-Term Care Program due to current uncertainty in the long-term care market. Therefore, until further notice, CalPERS will no longer accept new applications for coverage at this time.
  
  OPTIONAL BENEFIT PLAN (OBP): The Court provides employees $3,500 per calendar year (pro-rated for new employees) which can be received as cash (taxable) or allocated to several benefits ranging from health, County 457 Defined Contribution Plan and AD&D premiums (non-taxable).
  
  RETIREMENT: Defined Benefit, fully qualified plan based on the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (Government Code Section 31450 et. al.). Employee and Court contributions are based on several variables including age, hire date, and salary. The plan is administered by an independent agency, Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS), and has reciprocity with various California systems. Currently, eligible new employees hired on or after January 1, 2013, will be enrolled in a defined benefit retirement plan referred to as Plan U (2.5% at 67 formula). *If you were employed by an OCERS employer or reciprocal agency prior to January 1, 2013, you have less than a six-month break in service, and reciprocity is established, you may be eligible to select from two other retirement pension formula options (Plan J or Plan P). See website for more information. OCERS members are also subject to specified compensation and benefit limits as outlined
  
  DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Optional deferred compensation 457 & Roth 457 Deferred Contribution Plans are available.
  
  VACATION ACCRUAL: 0-3 years, 120 hours per year; 4-9 years, 160 hours per year; 10 or more years, 200 hours per year. Maximum accrual of hours: 0-9 years, 360 hours; 10 or more years, 480 hours. Part-time employees accrue vacation on a prorated basis.
  
  HOLIDAYS: 14 paid holidays per year.
  
  SICK LEAVE: 0-3 years accrue 72 hours of sick time per year as full-time employees. After 3 years, full-time employees accrue 96 hours per year. Part-time employees accrue sick leave on a prorated basis.
  
  COMP TIME: All employees receive compensatory time every March. Full-time employees receive 4 hours and part-time employees receive 2 hours.
  
  BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: 5 days of paid leave per qualifying instance.
  
  UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE: The Court pays into county administered insurance fund.
  
  WORKERS' COMPENSATION: Administered by the Judicial Council's, third party administrator.
  
  EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT: Court reimburses up to $3,500 per year of tuition for approved, necessary courses, subject to availability of funds.
  
  FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT AND FORGIVENESS PROGRAMS: Employees of the Court may be eligible for Federal Student Loan Repayment and Loan Forgiveness Programs. The Court offers access to GotZoom services at discounted rate; a service provider that identifies, enrolls, and annually re-certifies employees into eligible student loan repayment/forgiveness programs.
  
  BILINGUAL PAY: Available at additional $0.58/hour for selected classes in selected positions.
  
  EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP): Court offers EAP confidential services to assist employees with marital, family, emotional, legal, financial, and chemical dependency problems. This service is offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  
  DISCOUNT PROGRAMS: There are numerous discount programs available to Court employees. These include, but are not limited to discounts on hearing aids, pet insurance, local attractions, technology products, wellness services and gym memberships.
  
  ONLINE PRIVACY BENEFIT: Employees may elect to enroll in a voluntary online privacy protection plan provided by IronWall360. This benefit helps protect employee's online privacy by searching the Internet and locating any personal information and making sure it is removed.
  
  Provisions are subject to terms:
  01
  
  INSTRUCTIONS: The information you provide on this questionnaire will be evaluated and used to determine your eligibility to participate in the next phase of the selection process and may also be used in a competitive evaluation of qualifications. Be as specific as possible and include all information requested. If you do not have experience in an area, please answer "N/A". Statements such as "see application," will not be accepted in lieu of a response. All employers referenced on this questionnaire must be listed on your application.Do you understand these instructions?
  • Yes
  • No
  
  02
  
  Résumés: A résumé MAY NOT be submitted in lieu of the employment application (or completion of the work history section of the application). A résumé may be submitted in addition to the employment application, but applicants are selected for an interview and/or testing based primarily on information supplied by the application and supplemental forms. Do you understand these instructions?
  • Yes
  • No
  
  03
  
  RESIDENCY/WORK ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT: I understand that I may live outside of the State of California while participating in a recruitment process, however if am selected for a position, I must reside within the State to be eligible for Court employment. In addition, work performed while working for the Court, even remote work, must be done within the State of California. I also understand that the Orange County Superior Court does not provide US visa or employment sponsorship.
  • Yes
  • No
  
  04
  
  An active California bar license is required. Enter your California bar number below:
  05
  
  I understand that a self-edited writing sample must be included for my application to be considered complete and I have attached one to my online application.
  • Yes
  • No
  
  06
  
  Describe any experience in State or Federal Court legal research, clerkships or training.
  07
  
  In which of the following case types do you have a minimum of five (5) years of full-time post-bar experience?
  • Probate legal research
  • Probate law and motion
  • Conservatorships - general or limited
  • Guardianships
  • Decedent's estates
  • Trusts and accounts
  • I do not have 5 years' experience in any of the above case types.
  
  08
  
  Describe your experience in the area of probate litigation and/or probate legal research, including your specific experience with law and motion. When describing your experience, please include the name of your employer and the dates (mo/yr - mo/yr) in which you performed the work.
  09
  
  Describe your experience working in a law firm. When describing your experience, indicate the name of the firm, your dates of employment, your job title, the number of attorneys in the firm and your job duties for each employer listed.
  10
  
  How did you hear about this job opportunity?
  Required Question

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