Legal Secretary Trainee - County Counsel
County of Santa Clara See More Job Openings by This Employer
Job Description
Salary
- Description
Under immediate supervision, initially in a training capacity, performs or assists in the performance of a variety of legal secretarial duties of moderate difficulty and learns the legal terminology, legal procedures and specialized tasks to support County Attorneys.
The County of Santa Clara Office of the County Counsel is one of the premier public sector law offices in the country and offers an interesting, varied, and dynamic practice with a learning culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Office is recruiting to fill several Legal Secretary positions and we encourage candidates who are interested in driving change and supporting public servants in a collaborative and challenging environment to apply. For more information, please explore our website to view answers to Frequently Asked Questions about our Office and testimonials from existing staff at https://counsel.sccgov.org/employment-opportunities/paralegal-and-legal-secretary-positions.
Our Office is the general counsel for the County of Santa Clara, including the Board of Supervisors and all County departments and agencies. Our attorneys and legal professionals work in a wide array of civil practice areas, including: adult and elder protection; child and family protection; civil rights, torts, and employment litigation; community protection; education; environment and land use; finance, government operations, and technology; health and hospitals; human services; jail reform and custody operations; labor and employment; public safety and justice; social justice and impact litigation; and workers compensation.
Legal Secretaries work as partners with attorneys and other legal professionals on various types of civil and quasi-civil matters that are interesting, challenging, and rewarding. Legal Secretaries may work in one or more of the Office’s legal practice areas and exact secretarial assignments will vary by practice area. As examples, Legal Secretaries 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 Federal, State, 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 Trainee position requires three years of clerical experience requiring use of discretion and judgment. Legal Secretary Trainees will receive training in legal procedures and develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform legal administrative and support duties.
We seek public service minded candidates who are interested in supporting quality and equitable service for community members and are familiar with the Microsoft Office Suite; have the ability to learn specialized legal case management software; have excellent written and oral communication abilities; good grammar, punctuation, and proofreading skills; as well as proficiency with interpersonal, customer service, and organizational skills. The capability to work collaboratively with colleagues to support several attorneys and to interact professionally are valued. An eagerness to take on interesting challenges with a commitment to public service in a fast-paced, professional environment are all qualities for success in this job. All County Counsel team members must maintain strict adherence to the confidentiality of the attorney-client privilege and attorney work product.
Applicants may also be considered for Legal Secretary Trainee 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, but are afforded the same benefits as SEIU members.* * * * * * * * * * * * IMPORTANT * * * * * * * * * * *EXAMINATION DATES: Candidates who meet the employment standards will be invited to take an online written examination,
tentatively scheduled to be offered June 18th, 2025 - June 24th, 2025. Qualifying candidates will be notified via email with examination instructions.- Typical Tasks
- Trains in the preparation of 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 in an accurate manner and in a proper format;
- Learns to abstract information from files and to put general information into proper legal forms;
- Files legal papers with proper court;
- Maintains files and correspondence;
- Maintains law books;
- Screens office and telephone callers, exercising judgment and discretion in dealing with confidential and sensitive matters;
- Performs general office clerical functions;
- May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
- Performs other related duties as required.
- Employment Standards
Demonstrated education, training, and clerical experience and to acquire the following knowledge and abilities:
Training and Experience Note: The knowledge and abilities required to perform this function are acquired through training and experience equivalent to three (3) years of clerical experience requiring use of discretion and judgment and equivalent to the Office Specialist III classification within the County of Santa Clara.
Knowledge of:- Office practices and procedures, including indexing, filing, standard reference sources and operating standard office machines;
- English vocabulary, grammar, spelling and style/format;
- Customer service principles;
- Common office computer applications.
- Deal tactfully with members of the public often under stressful situations;
- Work well under pressure and deadlines;
- Learn to perform a variety of legal secretarial functions;
- Use discretion in organizing activities and setting priorities.
- $59,910.24 - $72,200.96/year
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