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Paralegal/Senior Paralegal
- Ventura County (Ventura, CA)
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Paralegal/Senior Paralegal
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Paralegal/Senior Paralegal
Salary
$55,099.20 - $84,656.00 Annually
Location
Ventura, CA
Job Type
Full-Time Regular
Job Number
1967DAO-25AB (JAL)
Department
District Attorney
Opening Date
11/05/2025
Closing Date
11/12/2025 5:00 PM Pacific
+ Description
+ Benefits
+ Questions
Description
WHAT WE OFFER
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package. In addition to the base salary of approximately $55,107.78 to $84,650.40 annually an employee within this position will also be eligible for the following:
+ Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate's degree (if educational attainments are not specifically required by the position).
+ Bilingual Incentive - Proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level (II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
+ Sick Leave - Full-time regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.
+ Vacation Accrual - New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the first 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.
+ Annual Leave Redemption - After 14,560 hours of continuous County service (equivalent to seven (7) years) an employee may elect to "cash in" or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.
+ Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
+ Health Plans - Full-time employees are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans.
+ Flexible Spending Accounts - Choice of participation in the Flexible Spending Accounts which increase spending power through reimbursement of pre-tax dollars for IRS approved dependent care and health care expenses.
+ Pension Plan - Both the County and employees contribute to the County's Retirement Plan and to Social Security. If eligible, reciprocity may be established with other public retirement systems, such as PERS.
+ Holidays - 12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
+ Textbook and Tuition - Up to a maximum of $2,000 per fiscal year in accordance with the memorandum of agreement.
The County
Ventura County is a “general law” county, governed by a five-member, elected-by-district Board of Supervisors. The Supervisors appoint a County Executive Officer (CEO) to oversee the County budget, day-to-day operations, and to advise, assist, and act as an agent for the Board of Supervisors in all matters under the Board’s jurisdiction. It focuses on serving its residents by promoting engagement, strategy, execution and accountability to include diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to ensure that all employees are treated with respect and without discrimination, and to improve culturally appropriate outcomes for community members.
The District Attorney's Office
The Ventura County District Attorney's Office is the public prosecutor for the county's 850,000 residents. Our office employs approximately 310 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and other professional staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims to ensure we fulfill the mission of the District Attorney's Office to promote justice and protect the citizens of Ventura County.
Our duties directly involve the investigation and prosecution of felony and misdemeanor crimes, including homicides, serious and violent felonies, sexual assaults, narcotics offenses, gang crimes, domestic violence, juvenile crimes, and misdemeanors. Our office is charged with investigating and prosecuting complex civil and criminal financial fraud, environmental crimes, and other specialized cases, including code compliance and asset forfeiture - check restitution program.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office recognizes the importance of diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusion in the office’s culture and climate, hiring, training, opportunities for advancement, and its relationship with the communities it serves.
The Position
Under general supervision, Paralegals and Senior Paralegals assist attorneys in the preparation of cases for trial and hearing matters; prepare exhibits and witnesses for trial; analyze existing information regarding cases and research pertinent case laws; and research and develop the contents of legal documents.
The Paralegal classification provides paraprofessional legal assistance and differs from the Legal Processing Assistant series in that the latter provides less technical clerical and administrative duties.
The Senior Paralegal classification is the full journey level and may lead in this series. The Senior Paralegal provides paraprofessional legal assistance for major or complex cases and differs from the Paralegal in that the latter performs less complex paralegal duties and does not serve as a team leader.
The ideal candidate will have experience working in a prosecutorial legal environment, helping to collect and organize large amounts of data for statistical analysis of programs; interviewing victims, analyzing and organizing evidence, and preparing exhibits and witness materials in preparation for preliminary hearings and trials; additionally, the ideal candidate will be able to manage and maintain a large database of historical information and retrieve information for attorneys as requested.
If assigned to a grant-funded position, hours worked will need to be tracked through a work study.
APPROXIMATE SALARIES
Paralegal: $26.49 - $37.16 per hour
Senior Paralegal: $33.54 - $40.70 per hour
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OPENING DATE: November 5, 2025
CLOSING DATE: November 12, 2025
FIRST APPLICATION REVIEW: Week of November 17, 2025
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
+ Assists attorneys in pre-trial case preparation; organizes, controls and prepares exhibits based on statistical, documentary and other types of research; handles documentary evidence and reports relating to cases.
+ Conducts legal research and locates statutes and relevant case citations; reviews documents to determine compliance with statutes, court decisions, and other applicable laws.
+ Prepares and organizes preliminary correspondence and legal documents such as affidavits, petitions, trial briefs and other similar documents for the review and approval of an attorney.
+ Gathers factual information and performs legal research that is not available through routine sources and requires deviation from established procedures.
+ Conducts and reviews client and witness interviews; reviews information to ensure sufficiency and accuracy and identifies additional information required.
+ Performs other related duties as required.
In addition to the duties listed above, the Senior Paralegal may:
+ Have responsibility for highly specialized and complex assignments requiring a high level of independence including the organization of documents used in the prosecution or defense of major crimes.
+ Assist in training employees.
Typical Qualifications
These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.
EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE
Paralegal - An education and experience background which demonstrates possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job. The required knowledge, skills, and abilities can be obtained by:
+ Completion of a paralegal/legal assistant certificate program, OR
+ Two (2) years of law school.
Senior Paralegal - An education and experience background which demonstrates possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job. The required knowledge, skills, and abilities can be obtained by either:
+ Completion of a paralegal/legal assistant certificate program and three (3) years of experience as a Paralegal, OR
+ Two (2) years of law school and three (3) years of experience as a Paralegal, OR
+ Completion of a Juris Doctor.
DESIRED
+ Experience working in a legal prosecutorial environment such as a City Attorney's Office, District Attorney's Office, Attorney General's Office, or Department of Justice.
+ Experience interviewing victims, analyzing and organizing evidence, and preparing exhibits and witness materials in preparation for preliminary hearings and trials.
+ Experience assisting in the enforcement of victim restitution orders in civil or criminal consumer protection cases.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS :
+ Must be able to pass a thorough background check.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Working knowledge of:
+ the principles, concepts and methodology of legal research, discovery and fact investigation;
+ legal principles and their applications;
+ rules of evidence and the conduct of court proceedings;
+ investigative interviewing techniques;
+ legal terminology.
Working ability to:
+ prepare a variety of complex documents, reports, proposals, and recommendations;
+ identify, evaluate and extract pertinent information from a wide variety of sources in the preparation of cases and legal documents;
+ apply legal principles and practices;
+ perform legal research and investigate incidents;
+ establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of the legal profession, public officials, and the general public;
+ communicate effectively both verbally and in writing;
+ train employees (Senior Paralegals Only).
Recruitment Process
FINAL FILING DATE: Applications must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 PM on November 12, 2025.
To apply online, refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/jobs (http://www.ventura.org/hr) . If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.
Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.
NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil services" style examination, then appointment by "lateral transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here (http://vcportal.ventura.org/CEO/HR/docs/Lateral\_Transfer.pdf) for additional information.
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from further consideration.
APPLICATION EVALUATION – qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the examination process.
TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EVALUATION: A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate, including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire. The T&E is NOT a determination of whether the candidate meets the stated requirements; rather, the T&E is one method for determining who are the better qualified among those who have shown that they meet the stated requirements. In a T&E, applications are either scored or rank ordered according to criteria that most closely meet the business needs of the department. Candidates are typically scored/ranked in relation to one another; consequently, when the pool of candidates is exceptionally strong, many qualified candidates may receive a score or rank which is moderate or even low resulting in them not being advanced in the process.
NOTE: The selection process will likely consist of an Oral Exam, which may be preceded or replaced with the score from a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool. In a typical T&E, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis. For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence. Responses such as "See Resume" or "Refer to Resume" are not acceptable and may disqualify an applicant from further evaluation.
ORAL EXAMINATION – 100%: A job-related oral examination will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating examinees' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Examinees must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.
NOTE: If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an examination may not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.
Candidates successfully completing the exam process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Candidates under consideration for appointment will be required to successfully pass a thorough post-offer, pre-employment background investigation which will include inquiry into past employment, education, credit history, criminal background information, and driving record.
For further information about this recruitment, please contact Jayna Landeros by email at [email protected].
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
Service Employees International Union (LOCAL 721)
(SEIU)
To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.
+ Benefits website (https://hr.ventura.org/benefits) or you may call (805) 654-2570.
+ Retirement FAQ's (https://vcportal.ventura.org/CEO/benefits/docs/RETIREMENT%20-%20FAQs.pdf)
+ Memorandum of Agreement
Union Code: UPP
01
Please check one of the options listed below that best reflects your qualifications for the paralegal or senior paralegal position.
NOTE: Full time is considered 40 hours per week; anything less than that must be prorated.
In order to receive credit for this experience, you MUST include each employer in the Work Experience section of your application, and all details for each employer must be included. Your certificate(s) or degree(s) must also be attached or emailed to [email protected].
+ Completion of a paralegal/legal assistant certificate program
+ Completion of two (2) years of law school
+ Completion of a paralegal/legal assistant certificate program AND three (3) years of experience as a paralegal
+ Completion of two (2) years of law school AND three (3) years of experience as a paralegal
+ Completion of Juris Doctor
+ None of the above
02
Of the legal jurisdictions listed below, please check those in which you have legal prosecutorial related work experience.
+ City Attorney's Office
+ District Attorney's Office
+ Attorney General's Office
+ Department of Justice
+ None of the above
03
Select the option that best describes your months of experience working in any of the following legal settings:
• City Attorney's Office • District Attorney's Office • Attorney General's Office • Department of Justice
NOTE: Full time is considered 40 hours per week; anything less than that must be prorated. In order to receive credit for this experience, you MUST include each employer in the Work Experience section of your application, and all details for each employer must be included.
In order to receive credit for this experience, you MUST include each employer in the Work Experience section of your application, and all details for each employer must be included.
+ 0 to less than 6 months
+ 6 to less than 12 months
+ 12 to less than 18 months
+ 18 to less than 24 months
+ 24 to less than 36 months
+ 36 months or more
+ None of the above
04
Select the options in which you have related work experience.
In order to receive credit for this experience, you MUST include each employer in the Work Experience section of your application, and all details for each employer must be included.
+ Working, or coordinating with prosecutors;
+ Interviewing victims, analyzing and organizing evidence, and preparing exhibits and witness materials in preparation for preliminary hearings and trials;
+ Assisting in the enforcement of victim restitution orders in civil or criminal consumer protection cases.
+ None of the above.
05
Please describe your experience conducting legal research and preparing legal documents, reports, proposals, or recommendations. Include where you received this experience. If you do not possess this experience, type "no experience."
In order to receive credit for this experience, you MUST include each employer in the Work Experience section of your application, and all details for each employer must be included.
06
If you have completed a Paralegal/Legal Assistant certificate program, you must attach a copy of your certificate to your application and list below where you obtained your certificate and the date you earned the certification.
If you have not completed a Paralegal/Legal Assistant program, please type "No Paralegal/Legal Assistant certificate."
07
Please describe your experience with criminal law, whether it be through your education, training, or work experience. Include where you received this experience. If you do not possess this experience, type "no experience." In order to receive credit for this experience, you MUST include each employer in the Work Experience section of your application, and all details for each employer must be included.
Required Question
Employer
Ventura County
Address
800 S. Victoria Avenue LOC. #1970 Ventura, California, 93009
Phone
(805) 654-5129
Website
http://hr.venturacounty.gov
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