Paralegal (Open and Promotional)

Paralegal (Open and Promotional)

Salary

$86,403.20 - $107,952.00 Annually

Location

Redwood City, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

E008L

Department

District Attorneys Office

Opening Date

05/28/2026

Closing Date

6/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

37

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

The County of San Mateo District Attorneys Office is accepting applications for the position of Paralegal.

About the Agency

The San Mateo County District Attorney's Offices mission is to prosecute adult and juvenile offenders, provide services to support victims, enforce consumer and environmental laws, provide legal and investigative support to public safety partners, and to remain committed to the principles of equity and transparency in seeking justice and greater public safety. To that end, we are committed to ensuring that no member of our office will seek or obtain a criminal conviction or seek or obtain a sentence of any individual based on race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability. To learn more about the District's Attorney's Office, please visit: https://www.smcgov.org/da.

The Position

Paralegals perform a wide range of complex legal support work, such as conducting legal research, preparing legal memoranda, motions, and other documents, responding to discovery requests, corresponding with attorneys, and assisting attorneys in all aspects of case preparation. Incumbents may receive general direction regarding the scope and approach to projects or assignments, but procedures and techniques are discretionary, and incumbents are expected to possess the initiative to operate with a significant degree of independence.

The ideal candidate for this position will be able to handle several projects and assignments simultaneously, have experience with complex legal support work, strong oral and written communication skills, well-developed computer skills, as well as proficiency with the full range of Microsoft products (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) in addition to legal case management software. The ideal candidate will work collaboratively with office management, attorneys, support staff, and other County departments and will be able to accept assignments outside of their prior work experience. The ability to independently conduct legal research, use initiative, exercise sound judgment, set priorities, and meet critical deadlines is also strongly desired. In addition, the ideal candidate will have experience in processes and procedures related to the field of criminal law.

There are currently two vacancies to be filled.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform legal research under the direction of an attorney; gather information regarding statutes, rules, regulations, court decisions, local resolutions and ordinances, and similar materials related to assigned responsibilities.
• Draft and prepare responses to motions, including points and authorities, discovery requests, and other legal actions.
• Format and edit briefs written by attorneys.
• Prepare and send subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum to witnesses, agencies, medical professionals, and businesses.
• Organize, index, and summarize research results and assist in preparation for litigation.
• Prepare, file, and serve a variety of legal documents such as motions, petitions, and orders while utilizing a computerized case management system.
• Work with law enforcement and other government agencies in obtaining reports and records.
• Prepare and organize digital files, exhibits, and other documents for court hearings and trials.
• Prepare a variety of correspondence and written materials.
• May direct the work of others on a project basis; train others in work procedures as needed.
• Compile and review confidential and sensitive materials/records.
• Review reports, transcripts, and criminal history documents, and prepare summaries.
• Review audio and video evidence and prepare summaries.
• Use LexisNexis, Evidence.com, and other legal software platforms, and have familiarity with E-Filing (superior court and appellate levels).
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Completion of coursework leading to paralegal certification or completion of the first year of law school, or two years of increasingly responsible legal office experience, including legal research and policies and procedures related to the specified field of law.

Knowledge of:

• Legal research techniques and standard legal reference materials.
• Processes and procedures related to criminal law.
• Legal office terminology, processes, procedures, and the format for legal documents.
• Record-keeping, report preparation, and filing methods.
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including filing, business letter writing, and the operation of common office equipment, including a computer, scanner, and printer/copier.

Skill/Ability to:

• Perform legal research from varied sources.
• Communicate with individuals of various backgrounds.
• Prepare a variety of legal documents.
• Use initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Organize and maintain accurate records and files.
• Organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow up on assignments.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Application/Examination

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score

Responses to supplemental questions are required and must be submitted in addition to the standard County of San Mateo employment application. A resume or reference to a resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses to these questions or the employment application.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations, or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification.

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in the County of San Mateo, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the Countys website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the Countys website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

Tentative Recruitment Schedule:

Final Filing Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026, by 11:59 PM PST

Application Screening: Week of June 15, 2026

Panel Interviews: Week of June 29, 2026

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.

Analyst: Lealoa Numera (05282026) Paralegal (E008)

We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.

01

IMPORTANT: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the supplemental questions below. Your responses will provide detailed information about your background and experience related to this position. This information will weigh heavily in the application screening by the subject matter experts and will also be used in the selection process. Answer the questions completely, paying attention to the multi-parts of the questions. While being thorough and detailed, also be concise. Your strategic use of language as well as neatness, clarity of expression, attention to detail, proper use of grammar and the ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses. I have read and understand this important information. Proceed to supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02

Describe any paralegal courses and/or related training you have completed which would prepare you for this position. Be specific about when and where the course/training was completed and why it is relevant to this position.

03

Give an example of a paralegal support function you provided on a specific project involving a complex litigation or legal matter. Be specific in your response and include information regarding the jurisdiction of the court, number of attorneys and other support staff involved in the matter, and the complexity or uniqueness of the matter.

04

Give an example of a situation when you worked through personality or work style differences to complete a project accurately and on time.

05

How did you learn about this position?

• County of San Mateo Website
• County of San Mateo Job Interest Card Notification
• County Hosted Virtual Event
• County Hosted Job Fair
• CalOpps.org
• College/University Career Center
• Community-based Organization Posting
• Facebook/Instagram
• Friend or Relative
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Professional Publication/Website (Please specify in next question)
• X (formerly called Twitter)
• Zip Recruiter
• Other (Please specify in next question)

06

If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.

Required Question

Employer County of San Mateo

Address County of San Mateo Human Resources Department

500 County Center, 4th Floor

Redwood City, California, 94063-1663

Phone (650) 363-4343

Website https://jobs.smcgov.org