LEGAL SECRETARY

About the role

The City Attorney's Office is seeking a well-qualified individual to fill a vacant legal secretary position to handle the advisory matters for the City, including: general civil litigation matters, code enforcement matters, and municipal code violations.

Responsibilities

• Performs difficult, complex and/or confidential legal office support work, which may require the exercise of independent judgment, the application of technical skills, or knowledge of detailed or specialized activities related to the Law Department.
• Aids attorneys in the preparation of motions and discovery; intake of new cases; calendaring; scheduling of hearings, trials, and depositions; and copy and service (by mail and otherwise) of pleadings and discovery documents.
• Prepares, indexes, and files legal documents by researching and assembling information from a variety of sources (e.g., statutes, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles, treaties, constitutions, and legal codes) to prepare legal documents (e.g., briefs, pleadings, appeals, contracts, briefs, leases, and agreements) using a personal computer.
• Type and transcribe a variety of correspondence and legal documents including: reports, forms, court pleadings, and other specialized documents (e.g., appellate briefs) from drafts, notes, resolutions, ordinances, legal opinions, contracts, briefs, leases, and agreements.
• Proofreads and checks legal documents and other materials for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with departmental policies and regulations; and checks legal cites for accuracy ensuring conformity with California Style Manual and/or The Bluebook guidelines.
• Maintains and organizes litigation and other departmental files including the copying, filing, and maintenance of individual case files and attends to a variety of law office administrative details.
• Acts as receptionist and receives and screens visitors and telephone calls and directs the caller to the proper person or personally handles the call.
• Arranges meetings by notifying participants and reserving rooms.
• Provides information to the public or City staff as required that may necessitate the use of independent judgment and the interpretation of policies, rules, or procedures.
• Aids with various tasks including compiling information and data for statistical and financial reports; maintaining a variety of records; checking and tabulating data; preparing simple statistical reports.
• Operates standard office equipment and various computer applications.

  Requirements

  • College or business school course work in law office administration is desirable.
  • Must possess a valid (two years old or less) typing certificate for at least 60 net words per minute from a recognized organization.
  • Must possess a high school diploma or GED.
  • Must be able to obtain a valid California driver's license.
  • Knowledge of legal research and case review; Standard legal references, legal terminology, forms, and documents used in legal clerical work; English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; business letter writing; Modern office practices, procedures, and equipment; Civil Procedure, law and motion rules; Structure of the California Court System and local, state, and federal rules of court; Various computer software such as: Excel, Microsoft Word, and Power Point; Municipal legal procedures and practices involved in composing, processing, and filing a variety of legal documents; Municipal organization and local governmental agencies; Function of civil discovery and preparation of discovery documents; and California Style Manual and The Bluebook.
  • Skill in use of Lexis/Nexis and similar legal research programs; Writing Legal Memoranda; Organizing files, including exhibits for trial; Preparing Trial Notebooks; Effective Communication with outside entities; Remaining abreast of current industry practice through continuing legal education courses; and Researching information from print and internet-based resources.
  • Physical/Mental Abilities: Mobility - Constant sitting for long periods of time while operating a keyboard; occasional walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing and pulling; Lifting - Occasional lifting of 10 pounds or less; Vision - Constant use of overall visual capabilities; frequent need for use of color perception, hand/eye coordination, reading and/or close up work; Dexterity - Frequent holding, grasping, typing, repetitive motion and writing; Hearing/Talking - Constant hearing and talking of normal speech in person and on the telephone; occasionally speaking in front of large groups of people; Special Requirements - May require occasional weekend or evening work; Emotional/Psychological - Constant concentration, decision making and public contact; occasional ability to exercise sound judgment, especially under stressful situations; and working alone; Environmental Conditions - Occasional exposure to noise; and Working Conditions - Primarily performed in an office environment which is typically moderately quiet, but may be loud at times and at some locations.

    Qualifications

    • Education/Experience: Possession of a high school diploma or GED and three (3) years of secretarial experience in a law office within the last five (5) years performing increasingly responsible and complex clerical work, including: preparations of various pleadings, motions, discoveries, and calendaring.
    • Other Requirements: Possession, or ability to obtain a valid California driver's license.

    Skills

    • Knowledge of Legal Research and Case Review;
    • Standard Legal References, Legal Terminology, Forms, and Documents Used in Legal Clerical Work;
    • English Usage, Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation;
    • Business Letter Writing;
    • Modern Office Practices, Procedures, and Equipment;
    • Civil Procedure, Law and Motion Rules;
    • Structure of the California Court System and Local, State, and Federal Rules of Court;
    • Variety of Computer Software such as: Excel, Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint;
    • Municipal Legal Procedures and Practices Involved in Composing, Processing, and Filing a Variety of Legal Documents;
    • Municipal Organization and Local Government Agencies;
    • Function of Civil Discovery and Preparation of Discovery Documents;
    • California Style Manual and The Bluebook.

    Benefits

    Postmarks, facsimiles, and photocopies of the City's employment application will not be accepted. Resumes are welcomed but should be submitted as additional information only. The information in this announcement concerning the terms and conditions of employment does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract, and these provisions are subject to change. Employee Benefits are subject to change and are not guaranteed. For a detailed explanation of benefits currently in effect, click here to view a link to City of Stockton unrepresented employees' Compensation Plan.