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Job Description
Salary
- Position Information
- Under general supervision, to perform specialized and responsible clerical work involving knowledge of legal terminology and procedures; to prepare, accept and/or process legal documents; to provide information and assistance to the public; and perform related work.
Legal Clerk I the entry level and Legal II is the journey-level in the Legal Clerk series. Legal Clerk I incumbents work under close supervision and are assigned routine tasks related to the processing of legal documents, are trained to perform the duties and responsibilities of a Legal Clerk II and become familiar with legal terminology and processes pertinent to a particular department.
Legal Clerk II incumbents perform the complex legal clerical tasks related to the processing of legal documents, assignment of duties require knowledge of legal terminology, proper procedures and regulations, and court procedures or recordable documents. Legal Clerk II incumbents exercise initiative and independent judgment and initiative within a range of alternatives and must be knowledgeable of departmental policies and procedures. - Examples of Duties
- Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Checks and reviews a variety of information and documents for completeness and conformance with established regulations and procedures.
- Types various legal documents.
- Gathers, prepares and maintains necessary information in Court.
- Prepares and microfilms all "allowed" files and documents.
- Boxes, labels, and maintains filmed documents.
- Enters information into a video display terminal.
- Processes various legal documents including court order, reports, and correspondence.
- Reviews information and documents for conformance with applicable regulations and procedures.
- Determines, collects, and records various fees for filing or other services.
- Records funds received and make deposits.
- Advises on proper procedures and forms for filing.
- Determines what notice is required and to whom notice is to be given in various filings and prepares and sends out or posts notices.
- Writes correspondence related to legal filing and legal processes.
- Determines and collects fees.
- Maintains control sheets and processes billings for fees charges.
- Performs financing statements searches.
- Insures that documents are properly signed, dated, notarized and are legible.
- Issues marriage licenses and passport applications.
- Performs civil marriage ceremonies.
- Registers notary public.
- Files, records and certifies documents relative to notary publics.
- Performs loyalty oaths and official appointments for County employees.
- Records and posts California Environmental Quality Act documents.
Knowledge of:- Legal terminology, phraseology, and procedures used in preparing or recording work.
- Common legal documents related to the assigned department.
- Provisions of any legal codes applicable to the work in the assigned office.
- Laws and regulations governing public access and use of information and records maintained.
- Document indexing systems and related statutes pertaining to document recording.
- Business English, including vocabulary, correct grammatical usage, and punctuation.
- Modern office methods and procedures.
Ability to:- Learn/Perform responsible legal clerical work with speed, accuracy and minimal supervising. Level II incumbents perform the complex and difficult clerical work.
- Learn/Interpret and apply laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the assigned office.
- Learn/Analyze a variety of legal documents accurately, finding errors and explaining necessary corrections.
- Make arithmetical calculations with speed and accuracy.
- Deal tactfully and courteously with the public.
- Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.
- Follow oral and written instructions.
- Prepare and maintain accurate and complete records and reports and devise improvements as necessary.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS- Regular attendance is an essential function.
- Frequent operation of personal computer and other modern office equipment.
- Communicate effectively with others in person in writing, and over the telephone.
- Prepares, accepts, reviews, files and/or records legal documents and information.
- Analyze data, interpret directions, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses.
- Perform job duties under stressful conditions.
- Respond appropriately to situations.
- Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.
- Complete multiple priority projects with conflicting deadlines.
- Occasional standing, pushing, pulling, bending, squatting, climbing.
- Lifting – Frequently 5 pounds or less; occasionally 5 to 30 pounds.
- Constant good overall vision and reading and close-up work.
- Frequent color perception and use of eye/hand coordination.
- Occasional use of depth perception and peripheral vision.
- Normal dexterity with frequent writing.
- Frequent hearing of normal speech, hearing/talking on the telephone, talking in person.
- Frequent decision making, concentration, and public contact.
- Minimum Qualifications
- Legal Clerk I:
Experience: Two (2) years of clerical experience, preferably involving the use of legal terminology and court procedures.
Education: None required.
Legal Clerk II:
Experience: Three (3) years of clerical experience, including at least one (1) year of experience in legal process work comparable to that of a Legal Clerk I.
Education: None required - Supplemental Information
- TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION – WEIGHTED 100%
The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit a range of specific information regarding each candidate’s knowledge, skill, abilities, and potential to effectively perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses to the questionnaire will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination to receive a score. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination.
Examination administration and processing time is approximately two weeks after the closing date of the job bulletin.
ELIGIBLE LIST INFORMATION
A departmental open eligible list will be established for the county of Merced. The list will be utilized for 12 months after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.
RETEST PERIOD
Once you have taken the examination, you may not retest for SIX (6) MONTHS from the established eligibility date.
SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTS
Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CalHR at mssprogram@calhr.ca.govor 916-909-3701 upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination.
EDUCATION DOCUMENTS
If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must attach your transcripts to your application. Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the foreign course work is equivalent. Transcripts and evaluations may be unofficial; official transcripts may be required upon appointment. Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.
GENERAL INFORMATION
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.
MSS reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the recruitment if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all competitors will be notified.
If you meet the requirements stated on this bulletin, you may take this examination. Your performance in this examination will be rated against predetermined rating criteria. All competitors who pass will be added to the eligible list. Meeting the entry requirements does not assure success in the examination or placement on the eligible list.
General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgement, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. As part of the hiring process, a background investigation may be required.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENT
Some positions in this classification may require possession of a California driver’s license. Employees who drive on County business to carry out job-related duties must possess a valid California driver’s license for the class of vehicle driven and meet automobile insurability requirements of the County. Eligibility for employment for those who do not meet this requirement due to disability will be reviewed on case-by-case basis by the appointing authority.
ABOUT MERCED COUNTY
Merced County is located in the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley in central California, an area earning worldwide acclaim for its rich agriculture, and spans from the coastal ranges to the foothills of Yosemite National Park. The City of Merced, the self-proclaimed Gateway to Yosemite, has a population of approximately 81,102, yet retains the charm of a small town with amenities routinely found in larger communities. Merced's revitalized downtown is emerging as the entertainment center of the area. The County is representative of the rural heartland and Gold Rush remnants underpinning the state's heritage. It is a peaceful, quiet, and friendly area with an abundance of beautiful bike paths and offers choices of higher education in UC Merced and Merced College.
- $1,584 - $2,124
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