Legal Secretary

Career Opportunity

Supervision Received 

Receives general supervision from higher-level professional, supervisory or management staff.

Written Test Date: Monday, July 28, 2025

A civil service examination will be conducted in accordance with the Civil Service Rules of the city of Las Vegas. A written examination, weighted 100%, will be used to place candidates on the eligible list. The eligible list will remain in effect for a period of 6 months from the date of certification and may be extended for a period of up to 2 years.

Eligible List:

You must score 70% or higher on the written examination to be placed on the eligible list. 

Selection Process: 

Final candidate selection will include list placement and may include hiring interview (if applicable). Any individual offered employment will be required to pass a pre-employment drug test, complete background check, and may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform the physical requirements of the job. Some positions may require preliminary background checks. 

Essential Functions:

1. Prepares and processes a high volume and wide variety of correspondence and legal documents including complaints, wills, notices, resolutions, motions, ordinances, summonses, warrants, contracts, briefs, case history sheets and agreements.  Verifies sources and cites appropriate city ordinances and laws. Collects necessary legal staff signatures.
2. Performs a wide variety of responsible and confidential secretarial duties in support of assigned supervisor or function.  Maintains calendars, schedules meetings, hearings, and depositions. Processes incoming and outgoing mail.
3. Conducts limited research on pending legal issues at the direction of legal staff.
4. Opens, prepares, maintains and closes files, including recording follow-up dates and deadlines. Reviews documents for accuracy.
5. Inputs, updates and retrieves data from a variety of databases; generates reports as necessary.
6. Responds to public inquiries in a courteous manner; provides information within the area of assignment; resolves complaints in an efficient and timely manner.
7. Assists attorneys in the absence of an assigned secretary.
8. Operates a variety of office equipment including transcription machines, copiers, facsimile machines and computers.

Marginal Functions:

1. May take and transcribe correspondence.
2. May administer specialized software.
3. Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

Experience:

Three years of increasingly responsible legal clerical experience.

Training:

Equivalent to graduation from high school; specialized legal secretarial training is desirable.

Licenses and Certifications:

Must type 60 net words per minute as demonstrated by a typing certificate dated no more than one year prior to the date of hire.

May require possession of valid Notary Public Certification.

Knowledge of:

Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
Personal computer operations and common office software including word processing, spreadsheet, email and other related applications at an intermediate level.
Customer service techniques, both in person and on the telephone.
Terminology, forms, documents, format and procedures used in legal secretarial work.
Procedures and practices involved in composing, processing and filing a variety of legal documents.
English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Business letter writing.
Principles and procedures of record keeping.
Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations and ordinances.

Skills in:

Operating a variety of modern office equipment including computer equipment.
Performing competently in the use of spreadsheet, email and other pertinent software applications.
Performing responsible legal secretarial work involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative.
Understanding the organization and operation of the city and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
Understanding, interpreting and applying applicable laws, codes, ordinances, regulations, policies and procedures.
Interpreting, applying and explaining city, department and division policies and procedures.
Meeting critical deadlines.
Managing multiple assignments.
Working independently with minimal supervision.
Producing written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation, spelling and grammar.
Communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.
Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Competencies:

Core Workforce Competencies

Professionalism – Demonstrates core values by being honest, respectful and positive.

Effective Communication – Expresses verbal and written thought in a clear and understandable manner.

Customer Focus – Demonstrates genuine concern and satisfies external and/or internal customers based on the CLV core purpose and values.

Adaptability – Able to effectively modify behavior to suit changing workforce demands.

Problem Solving – Solves problems by considering all causes, solutions and outcomes.

Productive Partnerships – Develops, maintains and strengthens partnerships with others.

Technical and Safety Expertise – Possesses a depth of knowledge, skill and ability in a technical (job) area.