LEGAL SECRETARY

State of California; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 49,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Hybrid/telework options

Flexible leave options

Job summary

State of California's Civil Rights Department seeks a Legal Secretary to provide advanced clerical support for state and federal civil litigation and investigations. You will manage calendars, draft pleadings, and coordinate with attorneys and staff in a hybrid in-office/telework arrangement.

The position requires attention to deadlines, familiarity with legal terminology, and proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and Adobe software.

Qualifications

• Strong listening and reading ability to comprehend assignments from attorneys.
• Ability to format, file and serve legal pleadings and court forms.
• Knowledge of calendaring deadlines per court rules.
• Experience with MS Word, Excel and Adobe software.

Responsibilities

• Provide complex clerical and secretarial support to civil litigation and investigations.
• Maintain calendars and deadlines with accuracy to support attorneys.
• Prepare and file legal pleadings in multiple jurisdictions.
• Operate office equipment and manage routine administrative tasks.

Skills

Strong listening

Reading ability

Detailed calendaring

Legal terminology

MS Word

Excel

Harvard Blue Book

Tools

MS Word

Excel

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

$4,371.00 - $5,748.00 per Month New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/20/2026

Application Methods: Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account) By Mail Drop-off

The California Civil Rights Department is looking to fill in a legal secretary vacancy. We are rapidly growing as the nation’s largest state civil rights agency. This is a fantastic opportunity to serve your fellow Californians and help protect civil rights. Our legal secretaries are the “tip of the spear” of our civil rights mission, working alongside passionate and dedicated attorneys, investigators, and other support staff. This job provides flexible telework opportunities, robust medical/dental/vision benefits, good work/life balance (all state holidays & flexible leave options), unique and impactful work, and the chance to develop a variety of skills. Under general supervision of a Legal Support Manager, the incumbent will provide complex clerical and secretarial support to State and Federal civil litigations as well as administrative investigations. The incumbent will use a variety of office equipment such as computers, scanners/printers, mail equipment, and telephones to complete their job. The Legal Secretary should be familiar with common legal terminology and law office practices and understand the importance of deadlines and accurate calendaring. The Legal Secretary should be familiar with common legal terminology and law office practices and understand the importance of deadlines and accurate calendaring.

Working Conditions

This position will be filled in the following offices: Oakland or Los Angeles. The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

• Requires daily use of a personal computer and related software applications at a workstation.
• Requires ability to complete tasks that require making repetitive hand movements in the performance of daily duties.
• Requires prolonged sitting and or standing at a workstation for 6.5 to 7 hours per day.
• Requires dependability and excellent attendance records.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• LEGAL SECRETARY

LEGAL SECRETARY $4,371.00 - $5,473.00A $4,591.00 - $5,748.00B New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

3

Work Location:

United States

Telework:

Hybrid

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

The Civil Rights Department (CRDor Department) is the civil rights enforcement agency for the State of California. CRDor Department’s mission is to protect all people in California from employment, housing and public accommodation discrimination, human trafficking, and hate violence.

The CRDis the largest state civil rights enforcement agency in the country. It enforces the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Unruh Civil Rights Act, Disabled Persons Act, Ralph Civil Rights Act, and the California Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

The Department has jurisdiction over both private and public entities operating within the State of California, including corporate entities, private sector companies that contract with the State of California, and all State departments and local governments.

The CRDreceives, investigates conciliates, and initiates individual and systemic discrimination complaints in its five offices throughout California. The CRD lit­igates individual, class, group and systemic cases in all California jurisdictions, including state and federal courts. It leads education and outreach efforts to stakeholders and the public, and has an active regulatory and legislative program.

This position is hybrid and will require scheduled in-office days to be established with your supervisor in accordance with Department policy.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications

• Strong listening and reading ability, to fully comprehend verbal and written assignments and tasks given by supervisors and attorneys.
• Logical thinking in drawing sound conclusions from court orders, instructions given, case issues, and other problem situations.
• Ability to format, file and serve legal pleadings and court forms in multiple jurisdictions, including State, federal and appellate courts.
• Ability to research statutes and regulations to find applicable rules of civil procedure.
• Understanding of calendaring deadlines based on the California Rules of Court, Code of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and local court rules.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely.
• Ability to work both independently and cooperatively with others.
• Ability to execute work assignments with accuracy and organization.
• Ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Experience with MS Word, Excel, Adobe software programs and other office methods, supplies, and equipment.
• Experience or knowledge of proper citation styles using the Harvard Blue Book and California Style Manual.
• Ability to type at a speed of 45 words per minute.

There are many benefits to joining our team! We offer competitive pay, advancement opportunities, upward mobility, work-life-balance, and for many positions, flexible hours and remote work options. The State of California offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, subject to eligibility, such as:

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.