County of Santa Clara
The Office of the County Counsel is the general counsel for the County of Santa Clara, including the Board of Supervisors and all County departments and agencies, as well as certain other public entities. The Office provides all the day-to-day legal services expected from any in-house attorney, including advice and counsel regarding how to navigate emerging areas of law, civil litigation for the County, and negotiation and drafting of contracts and other legal documents. The Office’s attorneys work in a wide array of practice areas, including civil litigation, labor and employment, health and hospital, public safety and justice, child welfare, probate/conservatorship, workers’ compensation, general government advice and transactions, real property and public works, civil and code enforcement, and social justice and impact litigation. As public law attorneys, our work covers a wide array of policy matters that significantly affect the health, safety, and well-being of the County’s 1.9 million residents.
Legal Secretaries in the Office of the County Counsel have the ability to work in a number of legal practice areas. Legal Secretaries will: assist attorneys in preparing for hearings in Federal and State court, as well as other Federal and State administrative agencies; prepare legal correspondence, memoranda, and pleadings; file, research, and track legal papers with state, federal, and appellate courts; abstract information from files; manage attorneys’ calendars and files; keep attorneys aware of scheduled events and approaching deadlines; and communicate by phone and email with clients, maintaining a high degree of confidentiality and professionalism at all times.
The Legal Secretary I works as a partner with attorneys, paralegals, and other legal assistants in the Office of the County Counsel to provide administrative support in civil legal proceedings. The position requires a solid background of clerical experience, some of which should be in a legal office. We seek someone who is proficient with the Microsoft Office Suite and has the ability to learn specialized legal case management software. Successful candidates must demonstrate excellent written and oral communication abilities evidenced by strong grammar and punctuation, effective writing and proofreading skills, and competency in formatting documents. The capability to work collaboratively with your colleagues to support several attorneys and to interact professionally with clients as shown through your interpersonal, customer service, and organizational skills are necessary characteristics. An eagerness to take on interesting challenges with a commitment to public service in a fast-paced, professional environment are all essential qualities for this job. All County Counsel personnel must maintain strict adherence to the confidentiality of the attorney-client privilege and attorney work product.
Applicants may also be considered for Legal Secretary I positions that are designated as Confidential and receive five-percent (5%) premium pay. Positions which are designated Confidential support the County Counsel’s Labor and Employment Team, whose attorneys are involved in contract negotiations with various employee bargaining units, personnel and union grievances, employee discipline, arbitrations, and other personnel matters involving union members. Confidential Employees are not represented by SEIU Local 521.
Candidates who meet the employment standards will be invited to take an online multiple choice examination. The examination link will be tentatively available Tuesday, August 9, 2022 through August 16, 2022.
COVID-19 Risk Level: Low
Typical Tasks
- Prepares legal correspondence, opinions, resolutions, ordinances, leases, contracts, orders, motions, complaints, warrants, subpoenas, commitments, indictment decisions, summons, demurrers, judgments, affidavits, trial briefs, appeals, writs, jury instructions, dismissals, reports and other legal documents;
- Abstracts information from files and puts general information into proper legal form;
- Files legal papers with proper court;
- Maintains files of legal correspondence;
- Performs calendaring functions;
- Reads reports describing legislation affecting legal procedures;
- Compares references with law library or other sources to check accuracy of citations;
- Maintains law books;
- Screens office and telephone callers, referring those who may be better served elsewhere; personally assists callers when possible;
- Exercises considerable judgment and discretion in dealing with confidential matters;
- May perform general office and legal clerical functions;
- May be assigned to assist new attorneys to become familiar with office procedures, various court rules and legal forms;
- Composes routine legal correspondence;
- May perform transcription;
- May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
- Performs other related duties as required.
Employment Standards
Demonstrated education, training, and a period of legal clerical experience to acquire the following knowledge and abilities:
Training and Experience Note: The knowledge and abilities to perform this function are obtained through two (2) years of clerical experience, one (1) year of which must include working in a law office, or within a Justice System function, performing complex or responsible legal clerical work such as, preparing complaints, petitions, calendars and conducting civil and/or criminal discovery while working directly with and interfacing with attorneys in the performance of duties.
Demonstrated completion of twenty (20) semester units or thirty (30) quarter college units may substitute for one (1) year of the non-legal clerical experience.
OR
One (1) year of experience as a Legal Secretary Trainee in the County of Santa Clara.
Knowledge Of
- Law office work, procedures, and terminology;
- General office practices, procedures, and machines;
- Court filing and calendar procedures;
- Various court rules and procedures;
- Standard legal forms and documents and formats;
- Law library arrangement and other legal references;
- Customer service principles;
- English vocabulary, grammar, spelling and style/format;
- Common office computer applications.
Ability to:
- Prepare legal documents and reports from general instructions using appropriate computer applications;
- Work under pressure and meet strict deadlines;
- Abstract pertinent information from files to prepare legal documents;
- Correct spelling, punctuation, and English grammar on draft copy;
- Work independently in the absence of specific instructions;
- Interpret and apply specific laws and ordinances;
- Obtain information through interviewing;
- Deal tactfully with members of the public and other government entities under stressful conditions.
**Departments may selectively recruit for typing speed up to 50 Net WPM, depending on departmental need.
To apply for this job please visit www.governmentjobs.com.