LEGAL SECRETARY IV

State of New Hampshire; New Hampshire; On-site; USD 27,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Justice in Concord, NH, seeks a Legal Secretary IV to provide legal secretarial and administrative support for attorneys and paralegals in the Civil Bureau, with secondary front-desk coverage for the department.

Responsibilities include drafting pleadings, managing the CMS docket, coordinating hearings, and ensuring timely filings. A valid driver’s license and strong organizational skills are required.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree with 1 year of experience or 3 years of combined education/experience after high school.
• Valid driver’s license or access to transportation.
• Experience in legal support or related field.

Responsibilities

• Types pleadings, memoranda, and letters with accuracy and timeliness.
• Provides front-desk reception coverage when needed.
• Schedules and reviews workloads for front desk staff and operations.
• Maintains the CMS docket and ensures timely filings per court rules.
• Prepares briefs and notices of appeal per court requirements.

Skills

Legal office experience

Civil litigation experience

Education

Associate’s degree or equivalent combination

Tools

CMS (case management system)

Job description

Department of Justice

1 Granite Place South, Concord NH 03301

Legal Secretary IV

Position #10320

$19.96/hour - $26.41/hour

Summary

To render legal secretarial and administrative services for attorneys and paralegals in the Civil Bureau and to provide secondary front-desk reception coverage for the Department.

Responsibilities

• Types pleadings, memoranda, letters; composes routine pleadings and letters to ensure the timely, accurate and professional completion of documents.
• Provides secondary front-desk reception coverage when the primary receptionist is absent, i.e. during daily break periods, vacation, and sick leave.
• Schedules work assignments for subordinate office staff, as needed, to establish schedule and workflow of the front desk reception; gives instruction and reviews work for accuracy during the absence of chief secretary in the Civil Bureau to ensure the continued smooth operation of the bureau.
• Achieves and applies proficiency with office’s case management system (CMS), and all state and federal court rules and procedures pertaining to the scheduling and management of cases. Maintains the docket of Civil Bureau cases and ensures that CMS entries are consistent with the requirements of the courts, with an emphasis on meeting filing deadlines.
• Contacts federal and state agencies, citizens, legislators, attorneys and court personnel to schedule hearings, depositions, meetings, and/or conference calls and to direct parties to the appropriate entities.
• Organizes and maintains case files, research files, form files, and miscellaneous files enabling retrieval of documents.
• Prepares briefs, to include proofreading, checking citations for correct format, and preparing tables of authorities and contents; oversees filing of briefs, notices of appeal and appendices thereto with the court in compliance with court rules governing format, filing and service.
• Administers and manages cases in an independent manner in discreet areas to assist attorneys in the preparation of routine pleadings, letters and memoranda.
• Assists in coordinating responses to citizen inquiries and discovery requests to aid chief secretary.
• Ensures that sufficient quantities of necessary office supplies are available for use by members of the Civil Bureau as back‑up for Legal Assistant.
• Maintains contract log on computer to ensure tracking and follow‑up on all contracts submitted for approval.

YOUR EXPERIENCE COUNTS

Each additional year of approved formal education may be substituted for one year of required work experience and/or each additional year of approved work experience may be substituted for one year of required formal education.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education/Experience: Associate’s degree and 1 year of experience OR equivalent combination of 3 years of education and experience after completion of high school. Education and experience must be in legal support, paralegal studies, law, administrative support, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• License/Certification: Valid driver’s license or access to transportation
• Other Requirements: None

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in a legal office or with legal terminology.
• Experience in civil litigation.

AFTER-HIRE REQUIREMENTS

None

CAREER ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• In-Band Advancement Available: Yes No
• Criteria: None
• Broad Group Level Advancement Available: Yes No
• Criteria: None

DISCLAIMERS

The supplemental job description lists the essential functions of the position and is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to the position. An employee may be required to perform other related duties not listed on the supplemental job description provided that such duties are characteristic of that job title.

When applicable, the work of an employee in trainee status in this position shall be overseen by a fully qualified individual. An employee in trainee status shall meet the minimum qualifications within the period of time specified on the SJD, not to exceed one year of being hired into this position.

For further information please contact Tom Kaempfer, Director of Administration, 603-271-1234.

TOTAL COMPENSATION INFORMATION

The State of NH total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits, including:

• HMO or POS Medical and Prescription Drug Benefits: The actual value of State-paid health benefits and the amount of employee health benefit contributions may vary depending on the type of plan selected and the bargaining unit with which a position is associated.
• Dental Plan at minimal cost for employees and their families ($500-$1800 value)
• Flexible Spending healthcare and childcare reimbursement accounts
• State defined benefit retirement plan and Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan
• Work/life balance flexible schedules, paid holidays and generous leave plan
• $50,000 state-paid life insurance plus additional low-cost group life insurance
• Incentive-based Wellness Program (ability to earn up to $500)

Value of State's share of Employee's Retirement: 12.87% of pay

Total Compensation Statement Worksheet: https://www.das.nh.gov/jobsearch/compensation-calculator.aspx

Want the specifics? Explore the Benefits of State Employment on our website: https://www.das.nh.gov/hr/documents/BenefitBrochure.pdf https://www.das.nh.gov/hr/index.aspx

EOE

EOE

TDD Access

Relay NH 1-800-735-2964