Placer County

To provide responsible, administrative and secretarial assistance to a legal department; to provide highly responsible administrative staff assistance including conducting specific and moderately complex analysis of a wide range of legal documents; and may provide functional and technical supervision over assigned personnel.

This is the advanced journey level class in the Legal Secretary series.  Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, independence of action taken, by the amount of time spent performing assigned duties, and by the nature of the public contact made.  Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series including routine legal research; preparing first drafts and may provide technical and functional supervision over others.  Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.

Receives direction from management personnel.

Exercise technical and functional supervision over assigned legal secretarial and clerical personnel.

• Provide responsible secretarial and technical assistance to professional legal staff; perform routine legal research and prepare draft Board of Supervisors agenda items.
• Provide routine administrative staff assistance including conducting specific analysis of a wide range of legal documents.
• Assist in formulating office policy, goals and procedures; collect and compile relevant data supporting recommendations.
• Assist in the development of new program elements and program modifications as necessary to meet stated goals and objectives.
• Perform administrative detail work and maintain appropriate records and statistics.
• Conduct surveys and perform research and statistical analysis as requested; prepare related reports.
• Compile materials and prepare reports and documents.
• Review contracts for accuracy and completeness of signatures, dates and exhibits.
• Respond to inquiries and requests for information from the public and County staff.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Four years of highly responsible legal secretarial experience including research and analysis of legal documents.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade preferably supplemented by course work in business, paralegal or a closely related field.

License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of a law office.
• Principles and practices of routine legal filings.
• Applicable federal, state and local laws regulations.
• Legal terminology.
• Principles and practices of legal secretarial work.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• Basic statistics and analytical techniques.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, sit at desk and/or stand at counter for long periods of time.  Intermittently twist and reach office equipment; write and use keyboard to communicate through written means; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; lift light weight.
• Intermittently review documents related to department operations; observe, identify and problem solve office operations and procedures; understand, interpret and explain department policies and procedures; explain operations and problem solve office issues for the public and with staff.
• Use computer word processing, spread sheet, database and customized applications.
• Work with accuracy and thoroughness under stress.
• Independently perform complex legal secretarial duties.
• Review and analyze legal documents and perform routine legal research.
• Research and draft simple legal documents.
• Analyze situations accurately and develop effective courses of action.
• Evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Perform administrative detail work including preparing clear and concise reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Type at a minimum of 50 words per minute.
• Assign work and train legal secretarial and clerical personnel.