LEGAL ASSISTANT I - III (DC)

City of Long Beach; California; On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Long Beach seeks a professional legal assistant for the Departmental Counsel Division to support two attorneys in transactional work, document preparation, calendar management and file coordination.

Minimum three years as a legal assistant required; municipal or state/federal filing knowledge is a plus. At-will employment; base requirements include a high school diploma and strong organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Three years paid full time law firm or law office experience as a legal assistant/secretary.
• Knowledge of legal terminology and office procedures.
• Familiarity with municipal and state/federal court rules a plus.

Responsibilities

• Prepares initial drafts, revises, formats, finalizes and proofreads legal documents under attorney direction.
• Prepares TROs and Writ of Mandate documents.
• Maintains calendar and tracks deadlines for attorneys.
• Coordinates meetings and administrative hearings.
• Maintains and organizes complex files and records.
• Processes contracts and resolutions with City departments for Council agenda.
• Screens phone calls and assists the public professionally.
• Opens cases in CityLaw and enters data; provides back-up support as needed.

Skills

Typing 60 wpm+

Attention to detail

Proofreading

Grammar and punctuation

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Adobe Acrobat

Organizational skills

Multitasking

Communication skills

Discretion with confidential matters

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

The Long Beach City Attorney’s Office is seeking a professional, proficient legal assistant to work in our Departmental Counsel Division supporting two attorneys. The primary responsibilities of the position involve transactional work, document preparation, calendar management, file management, project coordination, and general administrative duties. A minimum of three years experience working as a legal assistant is required. Transactional as well as municipal law experience and/or knowledge of State and Federal court rules, electronic filings and general litigation experience is a plus, but not required. The position may be filled at a grade level I, II or III depending on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate.

The Long Beach City Attorney’s Office is seeking a professional, proficient legal assistant to work in our Departmental Counsel Division supporting two attorneys. The primary responsibilities of the position involve transactional work, document preparation, calendar management, file management, project coordination, and general administrative duties. A minimum of three years experience working as a legal assistant is required. Transactional as well as municipal law experience and/or knowledge of State and Federal court rules, electronic filings and general litigation experience is a plus, but not required. The position may be filled at a grade level I, II or III depending on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate.

SPECIAL NOTE

This is an "at-will" position. The appointed candidate will serve at the discretion of the City Attorney, and can be terminated at any time. In such an event, the candidate has no right to any appeal or grievance procedure under any rule or regulation of the City of Long Beach.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Prepares initial drafts, revises, formats, finalizes and proofreads legal documents (contracts, leases, resolutions, ordinances, opinions, letters, memoranda, etc.) at the direction of attorneys in accordance with departmental policies and procedures;
• Prepares Temporary Restraining Orders and Writ of Mandate documents;
• Takes initiative to make sure work handled by our office is completed timely, correctly and free of errors;
• Receives, sorts, reads, routes and responds to routine mail and inquiries;
• Maintains calendar and tracks deadlines for attorneys;
• Coordinates and schedules meetings and administrative hearings;
• Establishes and maintains a variety of complex, privileged and sensitive files and records;
• Processes resolutions, ordinances and contracts with City departments for finalization and placement on the City Council Agenda;
• Screens and routes telephone calls in a courteous and professional manner from the public, City Councilmembers, Department Heads and other City employees;
• Opens assignments in CityLaw (case management software), and enters and maintains information;
• Provides back-up support to other Departmental Counsel attorneys as needed;
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements To File

• High School Diploma or equivalent;
• Three years paid full time law firm or law office experience as a legal assistant/secretary.

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL DEMONSTRATE

• Ability to type accurately at the rate of 60 words per minute or better;
• Strong attention to detail;
• Excellent proofreading and redlining skills;
• Excellent grammar, punctuation, spelling and usage;
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Word and Outlook; and Adobe Acrobat;
• Solid organizational and multi-tasking skills;
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and ensure timely completion;
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing;
• Knowledge of office procedures and legal terminology;
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and instruction;
• Good judgment in making decisions in accordance with office policies and procedures;
• Ability to interact professionally with all levels of personnel;
• Discretion in dealing with confidential matters;
• Ability to establish and maintain harmonious and effective working relationships;
• Excellent attendance, professional appearance and demeanor.

Desirable Qualifications

• Corporate/Government transactional experience is highly desirable;
• Public Works and/or Construction contracting experience is highly desirable;
• Knowledge of local, state and federal court rules and filing procedures also a plus but not required.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. To be considered, please submit an online application, including a cover letter and resume , in PDF format. Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration.

Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination prior to appointment. For questions regarding this recruitment, please email the Office of the City Attorney at [e-mail] .

Equal Opportunity Statement

The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as an individual with a disability, or other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We value diversity in our workforce and are committed to creating a workplace where every employee is respected and included. We strive to reflect the diversity of our community at all levels of the organization, promote fair and equitable employment practices, advance equity, and inclusion through our work with staff and community partners, and promote transparency by publishing workforce demographic information, including diversity and pay data by race and gender.

The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.

The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please contact the Office of the City Attorney two (2) business days prior to the interview(s) at [phone].

In support of the City's language Access Policy, bilingual skills (Spanish, Khmer and/ or Tagalog) are desirable for positions interacting with the public.

For technical support with your governmentjobs.com application, please contact [phone].