Legal Secretary

Full Job Description

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as secretary to department head or staff attorneys.
  
• Receives case referrals from courts and District Attorney's office and refers to appropriate attorneys.
  
• Prepares affidavits, petitions, complaints, warrants, motions, points and authorities, contracts, and abstracts of judgments.
  
• Composes routine legal documents as directed.
  
  
• Transcribes notes for letter, case files, criminal complaints, reports; opens, sorts, and distributes mail.
  
• May assist with the preparation of grant proposals and monitoring of grant programs.
  
• May prepare and submit annual and quarterly staffing, expenditures, funding, and status reports.
  
• May assign and review the work of subordinate clerical personnel.

Requirements

Experience:
Three (3) years of secretarial experience, including at least two (2) years of legal, stenographic and clerical experience. (College course-work in the field of legal para-professional training may substitute for two years of required experience on a year for year basis.)

Typing:
Type at a corrected rate of 50 words per minute from clear copy.

Qualifications

• Complete multiple priority projects with conflicting deadlines.
  
• Communicate effectively with others in person and over the telephone.
  
• Analyze data, interpret directions, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses.
  
• Establish, implement, and achieve goals and objectives.
  
• Perform job duties under stressful conditions and respond appropriately to situations.
  
• Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.
  
• Operate a personal computer and other office equipment.
  
• Frequent use of depth perception, peripheral vision and color perception.
  
• Frequently lift, carry, reach, push, pull, twist and manipulate large and small objects.
  
• Frequent use of hand-eye coordination.
  
• Frequent use of data entry device including repetitive hand and arm motion.
  
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
  
• Normal dexterity, frequent holding and grasping.
  
• Frequently sit for long periods of time.
  
  
• Regular attendance is an essential function.

Knowledge of:

• Legal office methods and procedures.
  
• Legal terminology, phraseology, documents, and forms.
  
• Correct English usage, vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation.
  
• Modern office methods and practices, including filing systems and business correspondence.
  
• Operation of a personal computer and other office equipment and machines.
  
• Basic accounting procedures.

Ability to:

• Perform difficult and complex legal and secretarial work with speed and accuracy.
  
• Identify, use, and prepare a wide variety of legal forms and documents.
  
• Function under minimal supervising, exercising sound judgment in making independent decisions.
  
• Understand and follow court calendar procedures.
  
• Effectively represent an official or attorney in situations requiring tact, diplomacy, and poise.
  
• Gather and organize information, preparing a variety of reports.
  
• Interpret and apply laws, rules, and written and oral directions to specific situations.
  
• Use good judgment in recognizing the scope and limit of authority delegated.
  
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with others.