Legal Secretary

Merced County; Merced (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Merced County is seeking a skilled secretary to support department heads and staff attorneys in our legal offices in Merced, CA. The role emphasizes accurate document preparation, confidential handling of information, and coordination of court-related materials.

The ideal candidate will have three years of secretarial experience, including two years in legal settings, and a typing speed of 50 words per minute.

Qualifications

• Three years of secretarial experience, including at least two years in legal/stenographic clerical work.
• College coursework in legal para-professional training may substitute for two years of required experience on a year for year basis.
• Typing speed of 50 words per minute with accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Serve as secretary to department head or staff attorneys.
• Receive case referrals from courts and District Attorney's office and refer to appropriate attorneys.
• Prepare affidavits, petitions, complaints, warrants, motions, points and authorities, contracts, and abstracts of judgments.
• Composes routine legal documents as directed.
• Transcribes notes for letter, case files, criminal complaints, reports; opens, sorts, and distributes mail.
• May assist with grant proposals and monitoring of grant programs.
• May prepare and submit annual and quarterly staffing, expenditures, funding, and status reports.
• May assign and review the work of subordinate clerical personnel.

Skills

Secretarial experience

Legal knowledge

Typing 50 wpm

Communication skills

Data entry

Confidentiality

Computer skills

Education

Legal secretary training

Tools

MS Word

Excel

Email

Job description

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as secretary to department head or staff attorneys.
  
• Receives case referrals from courts and District Attorney's office and refers to appropriate attorneys.
  
• Prepares affidavits, petitions, complaints, warrants, motions, points and authorities, contracts, and abstracts of judgments.
  
• Composes routine legal documents as directed.
  
• Transcribes notes for letter, case files, criminal complaints, reports; opens, sorts, and distributes mail.
  
• May assist with the preparation of grant proposals and monitoring of grant programs.
  
• May prepare and submit annual and quarterly staffing, expenditures, funding, and status reports.
  
• May assign and review the work of subordinate clerical personnel.

Experience:

Three (3) years of secretarial experience, including at least two (2) years of legal, stenographic and clerical experience. (College course-work in the field of legal para-professional training may substitute for two years of required experience on a year for year basis.)

Typing:

• Type at a corrected rate of 50 words per minute from clear copy.
  
• Complete multiple priority projects with conflicting deadlines.
  
• Communicate effectively with others in person and over the telephone.
  
• Analyze data, interpret directions, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses.
  
• Establish, implement, and achieve goals and objectives.
  
• Perform job duties under stressful conditions and respond appropriately to situations.
  
• Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.
  
• Operate a personal computer and other office equipment.
  
• Frequent use of depth perception, peripheral vision and color perception.
  
• Frequently lift, carry, reach, push, pull, twist and manipulate large and small objects.
  
• Frequent use of hand-eye coordination.
  
• Frequent use of data entry device including repetitive hand and arm motion.
  
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
  
• Normal dexterity, frequent holding and grasping.
  
• Frequently sit for long periods of time.
  
• Regular attendance is an essential function.
  

Knowledge of:

• Legal office methods and procedures.
  
• Legal terminology, phraseology, documents, and forms.
  
• Correct English usage, vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation.
  
• Modern office methods and practices, including filing systems and business correspondence.
  
• Operation of a personal computer and other office equipment and machines.
  
• Basic accounting procedures.
  

Ability to:

• Perform difficult and complex legal and secretarial work with speed and accuracy.
  
• Identify, use, and prepare a wide variety of legal forms and documents.
  
• Function under minimal supervising, exercising sound judgment in making independent decisions.
  
• Understand and follow court calendar procedures.
  
• Effectively represent an official or attorney in situations requiring tact, diplomacy, and poise.
  
• Gather and organize information, preparing a variety of reports.
  
• Interpret and apply laws, rules, and written and oral directions to specific situations.
  
• Use good judgment in recognizing the scope and limit of authority delegated.
  
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with others.

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