Legal Secretary - Senior

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view General benefits

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

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.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

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.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

Tentative Recruitment Timeline:

Week of 5/25/21    Minimum Qualifications Screening

Week of 5/31/21    Training and Experience Rating

Week of 5/31/21    Establish Eligible List

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Jennifer Tucker, Administrative Technician, at jmtucker@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4667