Description

Under general supervision, to plan, organize, and carry out legal support functions for the County Counsel and staff attorneys to perform a variety of legal secretarial and support duties; to perform office and administrative support work; to answer public and staff contacts and concerns; and to do related work as required.
 
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is the first level in the Legal Secretary class series.  Incumbents have responsibility for performing a variety of legal, office, and administrative support work.  Work assignments require substantive knowledge of legal terminology, legal documents, and legal procedures.  This class is distinguished from Senior Legal Secretary - Confidential in that Senior Legal Secretary - Confidential has responsibility for coordinating legal support work and functions for the County Counsel and staff attorneys.
 
REPORTS TO
County Counsel, Assistant County Counsel, Chief Deputy County Counsel, Attorneys I, II, III and IV and Legal Office Coordinator.
 
CLASSIFICATIONS SUPERVISED
This is not a supervisory class.

Examples of Duties

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Plans, organizes, and carries out legal support functions for an assigned area; serves as legal secretary, performing a variety of legal support work; may provide direct support for staff attorneys; interviews office visitors and telephone callers, answering inquiries, responding to concerns, and referring them to other staff as appropriate; may personally prepare or assist with the preparation of a wide variety of legal documents, such as motions, briefs, court orders, notices, and subpoenas; receives documents and referrals from courts and other agencies, passing them on to attorneys or other staff when needed; prepares affidavits, petitions, complaints, warrants, and abstracts of judgments; checks and reviews information and documents for completeness and conformance with required standards and procedures; composes routine legal documents, as directed; calendars court appearances and maintains case logs for proceedings; prepares files and information for court proceedings; assists with special projects; may do basic research in assisting with development of citations for cases; compiles information for records and reports; composes correspondence; types and/or uses word processing software to prepare reports, documents, letters, forms, and other  items; prepares materials for meetings and conferences; completes a variety of forms and documents; maintains inventories of office supplies and program material; may develop and maintain detailed records of activities and functions; may learn and use on-line, automated software systems for developing program information, records, and legal documents; compiles  data and completes reports required by other government agencies; retrieves historical information from files, records, and computerized information systems; performs administrative support duties, such as assistance with contract review, monitoring contract caseload and monitoring execution of contracts; operates a computer and  uses software packages to maintain complex information and operating records; assists with the development of information requirements for assigned programs and services.

Typical Qualifications

Training and Experience:
Any combination of training or experience that would likely provide the knowledge and skills to successfully perform the listed duties is qualifying.  A typical way, but not required,  to obtain the required knowledge and skills would be:
 
Knowledge of legal terminology and procedures developed as a Legal Secretary, Legal Assistant, or Paralegal for any period of time. 
OR
Three years of responsible office and administrative support work.
 
Special Requirements:
 None.

Supplemental Information

TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk;  normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; lift and move objects weighing up to 25 lbs.; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment, including computer, telephone, calculator, copiers, and FAX.
 
TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in an office environment;  continuous contact with other staff and the public.