Supervising Legal Secretary

The Public Defender's Office provides legal representation to indigent persons charged with crimes in Monterey County, ranging from the simplest misdemeanor to complex capital cases. The guiding principle of the Office is that each client is entitled to the best legally attainable outcome. Our attorneys, investigators, and support staff take great pride in providing a consistently high level of service. The Office employs individuals of high ethical standards, character, and professional courage. 
 
The Eligible List established by this recruitment process may be used County-wide to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis.

This is a Promotional Only recruitment; open only to current regular County of Monterey employees whose names currently appear on a Recall List. 

• Supervises, organizes, coordinates, assigns and monitors the day-to-day activities of a clerical support staff in a large section or geographical location.
• Conducts formal employee counseling and performance appraisals; documents work performance and recommends disciplinary action and merit increases; processes grievances at the first line supervisory levels; participates in personnel selection interviews; provides for the training and development of employees.
• Develops and implements clerical procedures and assists in the development and implementation of policies.
• Resolves difficult, technical problems or complex, sensitive issues and serves as a resource for assigned clerical staff; interprets clerical policy and procedures.

To view the complete classification description, please visit the County of Monterey website: Supervising Legal Secretary
 
THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills and abilities:
 
Thorough knowledge of:

• The services, functions and procedures used in legal office work pertaining to criminal court procedure, English grammar, spelling, sentence structure, written format and punctuation.
• English grammar, spelling, sentence structure, written format and punctuation.
• The methods and practices used in modern offices procedures including filing systems.

Working Knowledge of:

• The principles and practices of supervision, including work planning, organization and prioritizing; planning and adjusting staffing; monitoring and evaluating effectiveness; documenting work performance.

Skill and Ability to:

• Plan, train, prioritize, assign, review and evaluate the work of others.
• Plan, coordinate and implement overall work plans to achieve a designated objective.
• Research, gather, analyze and evaluate data and draw logical conclusions and recommendations.
• Develop new procedures, methods or approaches as-needed; exercise initiative, ingenuity and sound judgment in identifying and solving difficult clerical or procedural problems.
• Orally communicate in English in order to receive and give directions.
• Communicate effectively, in writing, in order to compose routine correspondence for signature by others.
• Interpret and independently apply laws, rules, policy and procedures to specific situations.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted through the course of work.
• Exercise tact and good judgment in dealing with people from a variety of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.
• Maintain confidentiality of information.
• Operate a variety of office equipment including typewriters, personal computers, adding machines, dictaphones, telephones, etc.

Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

Experience: Three years of progressively responsible clerical experience in a legal office which included lead worker responsibilities.


Two years of experience in the class of Senior Legal Secretary in the County of Monterey.CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The required conditions of employment include, but are not limited to the following:

• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver’s license or the ability to provide suitable transportation that is approved by the appointing authority. 
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency. 

 
BENEFITS:
The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the F-Unit Benefit Summary Sheet. This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.
  
NOTES:
As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of any criminal convictions. Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9. If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary.  
The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants' possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials. A complete application package will include:
 

• A completed County of Monterey Employment Application
• Responses to the Supplemental Questions

Applicants who fail to provide all required materials by the final filing deadline will not be considered. Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest, and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.
  
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Stephanie Ahumada, Human Resources Analyst, at (831) 755-5238, or ahumadas@co.monterey.ca.us.