Performs a wide variety of specialized legal clerical and general clerical work which includes composing and typing legal documents and correspondence, processing of legal documents, and maintenance of legal case records; and may require the use of shorthand.
Definition
Performs a wide variety of specialized legal clerical and general clerical work which includes composing and typing legal documents and correspondence, processing of legal documents, and maintenance of legal case records; and may require the use of shorthand.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This series consists of three classes: a supervisory class, SUPERVISING LEGAL SECRETARY; an advanced journey/leadworker class, LEGAL SECRETARY II; and a journey level class, LEGAL SECRETARY I.
SUPERVISING LEGAL SECRETARY is characterized by supervisory responsibility for a clerical staff performing legal and general clerical work; supervision is exercised directly or through subordinate leadworkers. This class is comparable to other clerical supervisory classes in the exercise of independent judgment and responsibility, but is differentiated from them by the requirement for a high level of skill in and knowledge of legal processes and procedures.
LEGAL SECRETARY II is characterized by responsibility for a wide variety of complex legal clerical work requiring independent judgment and discretion, and is subject to minimal work direction and instruction. The range of duties typically involves performing work in multiple, unrelated areas of law and for several attorneys, and/or other staff.
LEGAL SECRETARY I is characterized by a wide variety of general and legal clerical work which is generally repetitive and requires minimal supervision once office procedures are learned.
This series is related to other legal-clerical classes but is differentiated from them by responsibility for a wide range of duties and emphasis on production of legal paperwork; other legal-clerical classes are characterized by primary responsibility for transcribing, or processing of court documents.
Some positions in these classes may require the ability to take and transcribe oral dictation.
Some positions in these classes may be designated "confidential" in nature, in accordance with the County Employee Relations Ordinance, and are excluded from the representation unit which includes positions allocated to the regular classes.
Most positions in these classes are located in the offices of the District Attorney, County Counsel, Public Defender, Municipal Court, and Superior Court, but positions may be located in other offices having legal sections. Positions in Municipal Court and Superior Court may be exempt from Civil Service.
Examples of Duties, Knowledge, and Abilities
SUPERVISING LEGAL SECRETARY
LEVEL: Under direction, supervises, directly or through subordinates, a staff engaged in legal clerical and general clerical work.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:
- Plans, schedules and assigns legal clerical and general clerical work of subordinates.
- Establishes priorities and procedures for intra-office clerical activities, and coordinates those activities with department staff, the courts, and other departments.
- Directs the maintenance of court calendar records, case files and records, and appointment schedules for attorney and investigation staff.
- Informs and trains subordinate staff in legal, procedural and administrative changes, and devises forms and procedures to implement work of staff.
- Conducts studies of officer operations, does research involving legal clerical procedures and forms, writes reports, and makes recommendations to department management to improve and increase efficiency of clerical operations.
- Performs and supervises others in performing public contact duties requiring knowledge of department practices, policies and procedures in the legal department and Superior and Municipal Courts.
- Prepares or supervises the preparation of legal paperwork, including court pleadings and correspondence.
- Ensures that legal forms and legal reference citations are accurate.
- Transcribes notes, memos, legal documents, and minutes of meetings from tape.
- Develops and uses clerical processing procedures for the use of various word-processing and computer-related office equipment.
- Takes and transcribes oral dictation of notes, memos, legal documents and minutes of meetings.
KNOWLEDGE OF:
Purpose, format and processing procedures of a wide variety of legal forms and documents; legal terminology; principles and practices of supervision and training; procedures of the Superior, Municipal and other courts regarding processing of legal documents; general clerical office practices and procedures.
ABILITY TO:
Plan, organize and direct the work of others; train clerical staff; analyze situations accurately and implement an effective course of action; perform and direct the performance of a wide variety of difficult and complex legal clerical work independently; communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
Minimum Qualifications
SUPERVISING LEGAL SECRETARY:
The SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS below AND either 1. One year of experience in Sacramento County service in the class of Legal Secretary II OR 2. Two years of experience in Sacramento County service in the class of Legal Secretary I OR 3. Three years of clerical experience involving the preparation and processing of legal documents for court action.
LEGAL SECRETARY II: The SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS below AND either 1. One year of experience in Sacramento County service in the class of Legal Secretary I OR 2. Two years of clerical experience involving the preparation and processing of legal documents for court action.
LEGAL SECRETARY I: The SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS below AND either 1. One year of clerical experience involving the preparation and processing of legal documents for court action OR 2. Completion of a curriculum approved by the Department of Personnel Management in legal assisting, legal secretarial or legal stenographic work.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- All positions in these classes require the ability to type from clear copy at the rate of 50 net words per minute.
- Some positions may require taking oral dictation involving legal terminology.
Probationary Period
Six (6) months.
Adopted: 11/19/71
Revised: 3/7/85
#J-18808-Ljbffr