Summary
The Legal Clerk IV role in Stanislaus County's Clerk/Recorder's Office involves handling complex administrative tasks like processing legal documents, recording property records, issuing vital statistics, and assisting the public with records and filings.
It also includes supervising and training junior staff, communicating with attorneys and institutions, and performing duties that may require overtime or shift work.
This job suits someone with strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and experience in legal or clerical support who enjoys working independently on challenging tasks.
Full Job Description
****THIS RECRUITMENT WILL CLOSE AFTER 75 APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED****
THE POSITION
The Legal Clerk IV provides routine to difficult legal clerical support to various County departments. Processes and prepares legal documents, notices and correspondence.
Provides direct legal clerical support to attorneys, court officers and other staff. This is the advanced working and/or lead level class in the Legal Clerk series.
A Legal Clerk IV is distinguished by fully comprehending, interpreting and performing the most complex legal clerical assignments while exercising independence of action and decision making.
This position is subject to overtime, standby and callback assignments and performs related duties as assigned.
Legal Clerk's assigned to the Sheriff's Office are also subject to shift work, which includes weekends and holidays.
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Unless otherwise provided, this position is part of the Classified Service of the County and is assigned to the office worker/clerical bargaining unit for labor relations purposes.
Individuals who are in a full-time classification position are required to serve a twelve-month probationary period, which may be extended an additional six months, for a total of eighteen months.
Incumbents may also be subject to overtime, standby, callback, weekend, holiday and shift assignments as identified in their MOU (Memorandum of Understanding).
The Job Task Analysis provides information detailing the physical and functional demands of the classification. For the complete job task analysis, visit the Risk Management websiteat http://www.stancounty.com/riskmgmt/under "Disability" tab.
Requirements
- Supervise and monitor performance in all Clerk Recorder units;
- Train and monitor subordinate personnel with general direction;
- Examine and/or receive and record judgments, liens, reconveyances, deeds, maps and other documents related to real property for filing and recording purposes;
- Examine documents submitted for filing or recording purposes to ensure accuracy, completeness and conformance with laws, rules and regulations;
- Maintain vital statistic records and issues copies of birth, death and marriage records;
- Calculate, determine and collects fees and maintain simple accounting records;
- Assist the public in locating and understanding historical and current property records;
- File and record contracts, payments and performance bonds;
- Assist the general public in the use of computers and property lien searches;
- Issue marriage licenses and conduct civil wedding ceremonies;
- May receive and process orders by phone, mail or in person for certified and non-certified copies of filed or recorded documents and register Fictitious Business Name Statements;
- Communicate with attorneys, lending institutions, title companies and the public concerning proper completion of documents for re-recording of documents which contain misinformation or require re-acknowledgment;
- Prepare a variety of documents, reports, correspondence, special studies, and research;
- Enter daily index of grantors and grantees into the system and verifies input for accuracy;
- Operate and maintain micro-graphic and photographic process cameras and related equipment in the reproducing of official records and documents;
- Process mail and answer phones; and
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
SKILLS/ABILITIES
Demonstrated ability with all Legal Clerk I , II and III requirements plus:
- Independently and accurately perform advanced level legal clerical work;
- Instruct and monitor line personnel in legal office procedures and techniques;
- Manage various legal projects simultaneously, and maintain order and consistency;
- Exercise independent judgment in decision making;
- Operate related office equipment, such as word processing and/or computers; and use photocopy, adding and microfilm machines;
- Lead and train co-workers;
- Accurately carry out oral and written instructions;
- Prepare complex legal documents;
- Type accurately at the speed which permits successful job performance;
- Answer and screen telephone calls; and
- Update and revise procedures.
KNOWLEDGE
Demonstrated knowledge of all Legal Clerk I , II and III requirements plus:
- Legal terminology and forms;
- Advanced legal clerical procedures and operations;
- Advanced clerking operations for legal offices and/or law enforcement;
- New laws, amendments, and local rules;
- Codes pertaining to legal offices and law enforcement;
- Data processing principles and advanced computer word-processing applications; and
- English grammar, spelling and proper punctuation.
EDUCATION
- One (1) year of experience as a Legal Clerk III in County Government; OR
- Four (4) years of general clerical experience of which three (3) years involved work in a law enforcement, legal secretarial/clerical secretarial capacity (One year of relevant college or business school training may be substituted for one year of the general clerical required experience);AND
- Applicants must be able to type at least 35 WPM (net corrected).
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
In addition to the minimum qualifications, applicant screening process will focus on the following highly desirable qualifications. Please list any of these qualifications you may have within the "Duties" section of the online application:
- Bilingual (Spanish) - ability to pass a certification of oral and written testing.
Additional Information
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURES
Applications cannot be submitted later than 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date. Make your online application as complete as possible so a full and realistic appraisal may be made of your qualifications.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.
Attaching your resume and cover letter are an optional feature for those who wish to do so in addition to completing the required application. Information on your resume and cover letter will not substitute for the education, work experience and required fields on the County application. The online County application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications.
EXAMINATION PROCESS
Most County recruitments consists of the steps detailed below and are governed by Merit Principles. The examination process ensures that all applicants are given the same opportunity to gain employment within Stanislaus County.
- Application Review and Screening. Applications are carefully screened based on information provided. Those who submit incomplete applications that lack relevant qualifications or do not submit all required documents will not be invited to move on.
- Oral Examination. Applicants are invited to a panel interview in which they will be evaluated by County subject matter experts.
- Eligible Lists. Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification. Eligible lists are effective for six months, but may be extended up to eighteen months.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Application Deadline: 75 applications or
3/30/2026
Oral Examination: 4/15/2026
Note: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, part-time and full-time vacancies throughout Stanislaus County.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Final appointment will be conditional upon successfully passing a County paid pre-employment drug screening (if applicable for position) and a job-related background investigation.
Some positions may require possession or the ability to obtain, and maintenance of a valid California Driver’s license or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job related essential functions.
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Cell phones are typically incompatible with the online application format or browser. We recommend using a desktop or laptop computer. If you are still having technical difficulties, please call NEOGOV at 1-855-524-5627.