Legal Secretary

Under direction, performs a variety of difficult and complex clerical and administrative support work in connection with the preparation, processing, coordinating and/or filing of criminal and/or civil cases; performs related duties as required.

This class is the journey level in the Legal Secretary series and is characterized by the responsibility to provide advanced clerical and administrative support in the preparation, processing, coordination, tracking and filing of cases. This class is distinguished from the Legal Secretary, Senior position in that the latter has responsibility for a technical segment of clerical operations that may include providing lead worker guidance to incumbents of this class.

Depending on assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to the following: 

1. Prepares a variety of legal documents, such as legal briefs and memorandums, opinions, subpoenas, court orders, complex writs, appeals, motions and jury instructions, from verbal instructions, handwritten, typed or voice recorded draft; receives direction regarding or independently determines document format, distribution and preparation priority; proofreads and/or corrects copy for grammar, spelling, punctuation and conformance to established procedure or other guidelines; assists in developing forms and standardized correspondence language; takes routine dictation or instruction in order to compose routine correspondence. 

2. Processes legal documents, records and reports through the office to which assigned, as well as through the Courts or other judicial system and/or administrative agencies based on established procedures or special instructions in case files; prepares case files; receives, processes and files a variety of reports, documents and fees resulting from legal actions; collects and maintains statistical data. 

3. Provides the public, employees and others general procedural and/or case information which requires distinguishing between and consideration of sensitive or protected and public information; answers the telephone; takes messages and forwards to appropriate staff.

4. Coordinates the preparation of files for attorneys; pulls files for cases scheduled for court and ensures that all needed documents are included; maintains correct status of court calendars; may accompany attorneys to meetings; assists with routine legal research.

5. Maintains files and record-keeping systems; sorts and stores information based on alpha, numeric, content or other classification method; searches for and retrieves information stored in manual and/or automated systems; purges files in accordance with established procedure.

6. Maintains records and workload statistics; prepares work unit reports; may participate and assist in review and implementation of new office procedures.

7. Handles evidence, such as photos, video tapes, and audio tapes, properly and by procedure; processes rejected cases; photocopies documents; files and shreds rejected reports.

8. Screens phone and office callers; takes and relays inquiries and messages; evaluates informational needs of callers; answers questions; directs people or transfers calls to appropriate parties or offices; calls people and other County departments to request, update or verify information.

High school diploma or GED; supplemented by one (1) year of full-time work experience in preparing and processing legal documents, preferably for a governmental agency, including six (6) months experience in a legal secretary capacity that demonstrates possession of and competency in the requisite knowledge and abilities.

Applicants are required to demonstrate a net typing speed of fifty (50) words per minute. Demonstration of these skills will be done during the online typing examination.

Selection Process 
This recruitment is open continuous. Applications will be reviewed every 2 weeks.

TBD - Typing and Written Exam

Based on the information provided in the application documents, the qualified applicants may be invited for further examination and will either be pre-scheduled by the Department of Human Resources or be invited to self-schedule. All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of an initial application screening, a mandatory information meeting, a supplemental questionnaire assessment, a written and/or practical exam, an oral board exam, or any combination listed. Responses to supplemental questions may be used as screening and testing mechanisms and will be used to assess an applicant’s ability to advance in the process; as such, responses to supplemental questions should be treated as test examination responses. Information contained herein does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

A minimum score of 70% is required to continue in the selection process, unless otherwise announced.

All potential new hires and employees considered for promotion to management, confidential positions or unrepresented positions will be subject to a background and reference check after contingent job offer is accepted.  These provisions are subject to change.

RETIREES - Solano County invites all qualified candidates to apply for positions; however pursuant to Government Code Section 21221(h) and 21224, hiring restrictions may apply to California Public Sector Pension Plan Retirees.How To Submit Your Documents
In addition to uploading attachments when applying online, candidates may submit documents by fax to (707) 784-3424, or by email to recruitment@solanocounty.com.  Be sure to include the recruitment title and the recruitment. 

Veteran’s Preference Points
To be eligible, applicant must have served at least 181 consecutive days of active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and have received either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions.  A COPY OF THE DD 214, SHOWING DISCHARGE TYPE (GENERALLY COPY 4), MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT BY THE FINAL FILING DATE (or APPLICATION REVIEW DEADLINE).  Applicants who have a service connected disability must also submit a recent award letter from the VA stating they are receiving disability benefits for service connected reasons.  
Veteran applicants for initial County employment with an honorable or general under conditions discharge shall receive five (5) points added to their combined score.  Disabled veterans rated at not less than 30% disability shall have ten (10) points added to their combined score.  Veteran’s preference points will only be added to passing scores in competitive open examinations.
 
Americans with Disabilities Act
It is the policy of Solano County that all employment decisions and personnel policies will be applied equally to all County employees and applicants and be based upon the needs of County service, job related merit, and ability to perform the job.
APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES:  Qualified individuals with a disability, who are able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, and need an accommodation during any phase of the recruitment/testing/examination process (as detailed in the “Selection Process”), must complete the following Request for Testing Accommodation by Applicants with Disabilities Form: http://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=23215.

This form must be received in the Human Resources Department by the final filing date of the recruitment (or APPLICATION REVIEW DEADLINE).  Applicants will be contacted to discuss the specifics of the request number in your email or fax.