Definition and Distinguishing Characteristics
DEFINITION
Legal Secretary I
Under immediate supervision, performs routine legal secretary duties for an assigned County Department or staff attorneys; performs office and administrative support work; and performs related work as required.
Legal Secretary II
Under general supervision, performs legal secretary duties for an assigned County Department or staff attorneys; prepares legal documents; tracks cases; assists in preparing discovery and complaints; prepares court files; responds to public and staff contacts and concerns; and performs related duties as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Legal Secretary I
This is the entry level classification in the Legal Secretary series responsible for performing the more routine tasks and duties assigned to the series. Assignments are generally limited in scope and are performed within a procedural framework. This classification is distinguished from the Legal Secretary II in that the latter is the journey level of the series with responsibility for independently performing the full range of assigned duties.
Legal Secretary II
This is the full journey level classification in the Legal Secretary series. This classification is distinguished from the Legal Secretary I in that incumbents at this level are responsible for independently performing the full range of duties assigned to the series.
REPORTS TO
Higher level management or supervisory staff.
CLASSIFICATIONS SUPERVISED
This classification does not exercise supervision over staff.
Examples of Duties
The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all the duties listed.
Legal Secretary I
- Performs routine legal secretarial duties for an assigned County department or staff attorneys.
- Types a variety of legal documents, including letters and pre-sentencing reports.
- Contacts other agencies to request documentation for department legal cases.
- Maintains calendars.
- Pulls cases for the court calendar.
- Answers and directs incoming telephone calls.
- Provides information in person or over the telephone relative to departmental procedures, policies, records, court rules and case files.
- Compiles information for records and reports.
- Sets up materials for meetings, conferences and events.
- Prepares legal files for court appearances to assist in trial preparation.
- Searches and matches legal files to correspondence.
- Conducts basic research to assist in obtaining case information.
- Maintains and monitors records and files.
- Follows-up on due dates.
- Opens, stamps and distributes incoming mail.
- Operates standard office equipment including word processing applications; and performs other duties as assigned.
Legal Secretary II
- Serves as secretary to administrative staff, professional staff, or staff attorneys, relieving them of a variety of administrative details.
- Performs legal secretarial duties related to assigned functional area and department.
- Types, edits and formats legal documents including pleadings, briefs, opinions, orders, contracts, and similar materials.
- Prepares discovery and subpoenas.
- Receives case referrals from courts and other agencies, passing them on to appropriate attorneys and/or professional staff.
- Prepares affidavits, petitions, complaints, warrants, and abstracts of judgments.
- Calendars court appearances.
- Assists other staff by performing duties related to special assignments or projects including researching and compiling information.
- Collects information from a variety of sources pertinent to area of assignment.
- Compiles data and prepares reports.
- Schedules a variety of appointments.
- Maintains and monitors records and files.
- Pulls court case files.
- Follows-up on due dates.
- Monitors and tracks assigned grants.
- Answers and directs incoming telephone calls.
- Provides information in person or over the telephone relative to departmental procedures, policies records, court rules and case files.
- Performs monitoring functions to ensure timely completion of work.
- Operates standard office equipment including word processing applications.
- Conducts record searches in a centralized database.
- Provides information to law enforcement agencies, courts, attorneys and the public in accordance with legal requirements; and performs related duties as required.
Essential Qualifications
Legal Secretary I
Knowledge of:
- Basic legal terminology, phraseology, documents, and forms.
- Legal and general office clerical practices and procedures.
- Requirements for completing routine legal documents.
- Principles and practices of legal document filing.
- Letter and report writing.
- Receptionist and telephone techniques.
- Office practices, methods, procedures, and equipment.
- Correct English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
- Fiscal and account recordkeeping.
- Principles and practices of customer service.
- Mathematics.
- Office equipment, including computers and software applications related to office and administrative support work.
Ability to:
- Prepare routine legal, secretarial and administrative documents, forms and letters.
- Retrieve and match files for cases.
- Compile information to assist in preparing reports and legal documents.
- Learn to calendar events.
- Make arithmetical calculations quickly and accurately.
- Type at a rate of 45 words per minute from clear, legible copy.
- Take dictation and notes at an appropriate rate for the job assignment and transcribe them accurately.
- Operate a variety of office equipment including computers and assigned software.
- Deal tactfully and courteously with persons seeking information and expressing concerns about programs, legal procedures, policies, and functions.
- Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Legal Secretary II
Knowledge of:
- Comprehensive knowledge of the policies, procedures, and programs of the legal department and work area where assigned.
- Laws, rules, and regulations affecting assigned program functions and services.
- Principles and practices of legal document filing.
- Legal terminology, phraseology, documents, and forms.
- Legal office practices methods and procedures including computers and assigned software.
- Requirements for completing and filing legal documents.
- Legal filing and recordkeeping procedures.
- Principles and practices of customer service.
- Receptionist and telephone techniques.
- Correct English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
- Fiscal and account recordkeeping.
- Mathematics.
Ability to:
- Perform a variety of legal office support, secretarial and administrative duties.
- Identify, prepare, and use a variety of legal documents and forms.
- Interpret and apply policies, rules, and regulations with good judgment in a variety of situations.
- Work with minimum supervision.
- Compile information and prepare accurate reports.
- Prioritize and coordinate tasks to meet deadlines.
- Make arithmetical calculations quickly and accurately.
- Type at a rate of 45 words per minute from clear, legible copy.
- Take dictation and notes at an appropriate rate for the job assignment and transcribe them accurately.
- Operate a variety of office equipment including computers and assigned software.
- Deal tactfully and courteously with persons seeking information and expressing concerns about programs, legal procedures, policies, and functions.
- Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of audio-visual equipment; use of office equipment including computers, telephones, calculators, copiers, and fax machine.
TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in an office and courtroom environment; continuous contact with staff and the public.
Training and Experience
Any combination of training which would likely provide the required knowledge and experience is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:
Legal Secretary I
Education
High School diploma or GED equivalent supplemented by specialized training in the legal secretarial related field is highly desirable.
Experience
At least three (3) years of responsible office and administrative support work experience, including two (2) years of legal secretarial experience in a position requiring extensive public contact.
Legal Secretary II
Education
High School diploma or GED equivalent supplemented by special training in the legal secretarial field is highly desirable.
Experience
At least two (2) years of responsible legal secretarial, office, and administrative support work at a level equivalent to Legal Secretary I with Amador County.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Possession of an appropriate California Driver's License issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
To apply, please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/amadorgov
**Applications will only be accepted through the above website**
Amador County is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Applicants will be considered without regard to their race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status.
***All Amador County Employees are Disaster Service Workers***
EmployerAmador County (CA)
Address810 Court Street
Jackson, California, 95642
Phone209-223-6456
Websitehttp://www.amadorgov.org