Placer County

Legal Secretary - Entry (#12305)

$22.16-$27.67 Hourly / $3,841.07-$4,796.13 Monthly / $46,092.80-$57,553.60 Yearly

Apply as a Inter-Agency Transfer/Public Agency Eligible List applicant

Legal Secretary - Journey (#12306)

$24.43-$30.51 Hourly / $4,234.53-$5,288.40 Monthly / $50,814.40-$63,460.80 Yearly

Apply as a Inter-Agency Transfer/Public Agency Eligible List applicant

DEFINITION

To perform specialized, confidential, and diversified legal secretarial work; to assist in the scheduling and handling of office details; and to relieve legal staff of administrative detail.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Legal Secretary - Entry
This is the entry-level class in the Legal Secretary series.  Positions in this class typically have little directly related work experience and work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.  The Legal Secretary - Entry class is distinguished from the journey- level by the performance of less than the full range of duties assigned to the journey-level.  Incumbents work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks, progressing to general supervision as procedures and processes of assigned area of responsibility are learned.

Legal Secretary - Journey
This is the full journey-level class in the Legal Secretary series and is distinguished from the entry-level by the ability to perform the full range of duties assigned with only occasional instruction or assistance as unusual or unique situations arise.  Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the entry-level.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Legal Secretary - Entry
Receives immediate supervision from management or supervisory staff, and may receive technical and functional supervision from professional staff.

Legal Secretary - Journey
Receives general supervision from management or supervisory staff, and may receive technical and functional supervision from professional staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Perform general and legal secretarial duties related to assigned unit.
  • Type, edit and format legal documents including pleadings, briefs, opinions, correspondence, and other legal matters.
  • Process routine departmental correspondence independently, and maintain files of correspondence, pleadings, discovery, legal opinions and other records and documents.
  • Assist staff by performing duties related to unit assignments or projects including researching and compiling information.
  • Provide information in person or over the telephone relative to departmental procedures, policies records, court rules and case files.
  • Collect information from a variety of sources pertinent to assigned unit; compile data as necessary. 
  • Schedule a variety of court events.
  • Maintain and monitor records and files; follow-up on due dates; perform other monitoring functions to ensure timely completion of work.
  • Operate standard office equipment including word processing applications as assigned; operate computer software program(s) as related to assigned area.
  • Enter and retrieve data into and from local, state and national computer systems; conduct record searches in a centralized database.
  • Provide information to law enforcement agencies, courts, attorneys, parties related to cases, and the public in accordance with legal requirements.
  • Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
  • Perform related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment with controlled temperature conditions. Positions may require travel to and from locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Legal Secretary - Entry

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

Experience: Two (2) years of responsible clerical and/or secretarial experience.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. 

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.

Legal Secretary - Journey

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

Experience: Two (2) years of experience performing legal secretarial duties equivalent to the Legal Secretary - Entry in Placer County.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. 

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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Legal Secretary - Entry

Knowledge of:

  • Principles and practices of court legal processes and timelines.
  • English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
  • Office practices, methods, procedures, and equipment including filing and computer systems.
  • Principles of customer service.
  • Organization procedures and operating details of an office.
  • Basic record keeping principles and procedures.
Ability to:
  • Intermittently review documents related to department operations; understand, identify, interpret, explain, and problem solve department policies, procedures, and operations; recall and utilize a variety of information; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of tasks with frequent interruptions; focus on a single task for long periods of time.
  • On a continuous basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, bend, climb, squat, kneel, twist, and reach while retrieving or returning files and while accessing office equipment; speak, use telephone, and write or use keyboard to communicate; perform simple and power grasping and fine manipulation; see and hear with sufficient visual acuity to perform essential job functions; lift light weight.
  • Perform routine legal clerical work including maintenance of records, files, verifying files and data.
  • Learn to perform legal secretarial duties.
  • Use computer word processing, spread sheet, database and customized applications.
  • Analyze situations carefully and adopt an effective course of action.
  • Work with accuracy and thoroughness under stress.
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
  • 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.
  • Prioritize and coordinate tasks to meet deadlines.

Legal Secretary - Journey

In addition to the qualifications of the Legal Secretary - Entry:

Knowledge of:

  • Legal terminology, forms, documents.
  • Court procedures and requirements.
  • Operating procedures of a legal environment.

Ability to:

  • Independently perform legal secretarial duties.
  • Research and analyze background information.
  • Organize tasks and determine priorities in order to meet assigned deadlines.
  • Draft simple legal documents.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Length of Probation:
All permanent appointments to this classification shall serve a probationary period of twelve (12) calendar months or two thousand (2,080) hours, whichever is more.

Bargaining Unit:
General

FSLA Status:
Non-Exempt


CLASS: 12305; EST: 9/2/1995; REV: 8/8/2022; REVWD: 8/8/2022;
CLASS: 12306; EST: 9/2/1995; REV: 7/1/2007;