Legal Secretary

Maricopa County; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 29,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Hybrid/alternative work schedule

Healthcare plan

Child care benefits

Paid vacation and sick time

Parental leave

Wellness program

Arizona State Retirement System

Job summary

Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office seeks a hard‑working Legal Secretary to support attorneys, prepare legal documents, handle case files, and assist with transcription and data analysis. The role includes reception duties and coordinating calendars in a fast‑paced environment.

The position requires two years of legal experience, a high school diploma or GED, and bilingual English/Spanish abilities. Hybrid work options and tuition reimbursement are offered.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience in a legal setting with knowledge in legal preparations and legal proceedings.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).
• Secretarial experience in law-related settings.

Responsibilities

• Type and prepare legal documents, briefs, petitions, and memoranda from dictated copy.
• Transcribe witness interviews from various formats.
• Perform receptionist duties for assigned unit or floor and manage calls and visitors.
• Translate letters or documents between Spanish and English; interpret for Spanish speakers.

Skills

Legal experience

Bilingual English/Spanish

Receptionist duties

Transcription

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Posting Date 09/29/26 Application Deadline 10/04/26 Pay Range $21.75 - $36.50 hourly Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification. The position is eligible for overtime compensation for all hours worked over 40 in the designated workweek. Job Type Unclassified Department Public Defender

About the Position

The Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office is searching for a hard-working Legal Secretary with excellent communication and organizational skills to join our team. The Legal Secretary provides secretarial support services to our attorneys, which include the preparation of legal documents, handling of case files, performing reception tasks, transcription, and analysis of data, and provide support to attorneys and other staff, and assist group leadership with tasks as needed.

About The Office of the Public Defender

With over 470 employees, the Office of the Public Defender is the largest of the five indigent defense offices in Maricopa County. We are also one of the largest public defender offices in the country. Our office provides innovative, client-centered legal representation in the full range of criminal matters to clients unable to afford legal counsel. Our attorneys and staff are dedicated to treating our clients with respect and dignity as we defend their constitutional rights in a court of law. This is a fast-paced department with an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve.

Proud to Offer

• Work with a greater purpose
• Tuition reimbursement
• Exceptional work-life balance, with hybrid and alternative work schedule options
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Child care benefits, including access to our on-site center Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including an incentive
• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring a 11.98% per paycheck contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

Job Contributions

• Type and prepare legal documents, briefs, petitions, and memoranda from written copy, oral, or mechanical dictation in a fast-paced environment
• Transcribe witness interviews from cassette tapes, CDs, and digital recordings
• Perform as a receptionist for assigned unit or floor, answer a multi-line telephone, screen and transfer calls, direct visitors, sort and distribute mail
• Translate brief letters or documents into or from Spanish/English; compose brief Spanish letters; interpret for Spanish-speaking individuals; interpret for visitors who speak Spanish
• Coordinate case files and calendars; file documents in hard files; prepare court calendars; schedule meetings, interviews, and legal calls for attorneys
• Photocopy and organize documents, correspondence, notebooks, books, motions, briefs, files, and other confidential materials
• Access information electronically from the Court and update internal case tracking systems; use internal case tracking systems and intra/internet to answer questions for attorneys, staff, and clients
• Hand-deliver and/or pick up documents/items on and off-site
• May supervise clerical staff in the absence of a supervisor

We Require

• Two years of experience in a legal setting with knowledge in legal preparations and legal proceedings
• High school diploma or GED
• Post-secondary education may substitute for the experience requirement on a year-for-year basis
• We Also Value Criminal law office, indigent defense, and legal secretary experience
• Secretarial experience, which includes dealing with law-related matters such as might be found in a law, insurance, or real estate office
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Selection Procedure

Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive.

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants.

If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process or to perform the essential functions of the position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact [e-mail] to initiate the interactive process.

Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We are Maricopa County. Who is that, you may ask? Forbes has rated Maricopa County one of Arizona’s Best Employers in 2024. We are over 13,000 employees strong, providing vital services for one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, with over four million residents who call Maricopa County home. You may wonder what we do, and it may be easier to answer that by asking what are you interested in! Join us and you will become part of a dynamic group of diverse and talented professionals who are passionate about making a difference and giving back to their communities. We offer career paths and opportunities in just about every job category and job level imaginable, so your journey with us is what you make of it! Along with offering purposeful careers, you can expect a rich selection of economical and comprehensive healthcare options, robust retirement plans, tuition and loan payment programs, and multiple paid leave options, as part of an overall generous compensation and benefits package. Thinking about career options, then please think about us! We are Maricopa County, and we are looking forward to working with you.