Public Records/Legal Assistant I (Internal Opportunity Only)
City of Bremerton See More Job Openings by This Employer
About the City of Bremerton
Nestled along the shores of the Puget Sound and just a scenic ferry ride from Seattle, the City of Bremerton offers an exceptional blend of career opportunity and quality of life. From the vibrant Harborside district—featuring the Kitsap Conference Center, waterfront hotels, dining, and the Port of Bremerton Marina—to the creative energy of the Bremerton Creative District and Quincy Square, there’s something here for everyone. Enjoy local attractions like the Puget Sound Navy Museum, stroll the waterfront Bremerton Boardwalk, or relax at Harborside Fountain Park. Cross the iconic Manette Bridge to explore charming shops and cafés, or unwind at Evergreen Rotary Park. Outdoor enthusiasts and golfers alike will appreciate the city-owned Gold Mountain Golf Course, while arts and culture thrive at venues like the Admiral Theatre and events such as the Bremerton Blackberry Festival. With its strong sense of community, natural beauty, and growing opportunities, Bremerton is an ideal place to build your career and make a lasting impact—explore our openings and discover your future here.
- General Function
A cost of living increase of 3.8% has been approved for 2027.
THIS IS AN INTERNAL OPPORTUNITY. ONLY CURRENT CITY OF BREMERTON EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.Under the direction of the City Attorney or designee, performs technical, clerical, and administrative duties related to public records and litigation support. Serves as backup to the City Clerk, Risk Management Specialist, and Civil Legal Assistant. Work is performed with limited supervision and requires strong organizational, prioritization, and communication skills to complete assignments accurately and on time while managing competing deadlines.
- Representative Essential Duties and Responsibilities
(Note – this list is intended only to illustrate the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements does not exclude them from the position.)
Public Records Support
- Receives, logs, and processes public disclosure requests (PDR) in a timely and legally compliant manner.
- Reviews each PDR to determine the appropriate response; identifies records sources; coordinates with relevant departments to gather responsive records and clarify questions; reviews records for applicable redactions and withholding exemptions; assembles and submits response packets; and provides departments with general assistance and guidance.
- Prepares and submits response notifications to requesters; schedules appointments and oversees the review of records;
- Responds to questions regarding City policies and procedures, including the appeal process and closure of requests.
- Maintains the public-records request tracking system to monitor reviews and responses, support compliance, and provide accurate State reporting.
- Trains City employees in use of the system and serves as its subject-matter expert.
- Works closely with the Legal Department to support compliance on complex public disclosure requests and requests involving legal discovery.
- Provides support to and serves as backup to the City Clerk, as requested or necessary.
Legal Department Support
- Assists City attorneys with preparing court files and documents related to drug forfeitures, abatements, tort-claim responses, litigation, and other legal matters.
- Receives, logs, and processes tort claims and lawsuits and promptly notifies City attorneys of urgent matters requiring immediate action.
- Conducts special research and compiles case-background information for attorneys.
- Responds to requests for information from courts, attorneys, defendants, and others in accordance with department policies and practices.
- Maintains case files and the file-maintenance system to support timely follow-up with defendants, attorneys, and the courts.
- Provides administrative, clerical, research, assignment, and special-project support to legal assistants and other department personnel.
- Drafts letters, motions, affidavits, and case offers from brief instructions or notes.
General Support
- Maintains the confidentiality of work-related matters, client records, and City information.
- Answers telephones and performs receptionist duties as needed.
- Maintains regular attendance.
- Performs related work as assigned or required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
- Applicable laws, rules, and regulations governing public disclosure, records retention, release, and dissemination of official records and documents, including the Washington Public Records Act, Local Government Records Retention Schedules, and Bremerton Municipal Code.
- Functions and responsibilities of the City Clerk's Office.
- City organization, operations, policies, and objectives.
- Filing methods and systems, including indexing and cross-indexing principles and techniques.
- Modern office practices, procedures, and equipment.
- Grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling appropriate for professional business communication.
- Legal forms and procedures, including the functions and procedures of Municipal Court, Superior Court, and the Court of Appeals.
Skill in:
- Using word-processing, spreadsheet, database, email, and document-management applications, including Microsoft Office products and systems such as GovQA.
- Organizing, prioritizing, and tracking detailed assignments and projects with competing deadlines.
- Maintaining, indexing, and retrieving accurate public-records and legal case files.
- Drafting clear, accurate, and professional correspondence, legal documents, notifications, and reports from instructions or notes.
Ability to:
- Understand and effectively perform work within the assigned scope of authority.
- Think critically, identify core issues, analyze complex office problems, and develop appropriate solutions.
- Provide professional customer service by telephone, email, and in person.
- Keep the supervisor informed of critical information and work status.
- Communicate clearly and professionally and establish effective working relationships with others.
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality.
- Consistently demonstrate the City's core values of service, teamwork, integrity, and respect while supporting a safe, ethical, and professional work environment.
- Qualifying Education and Experience (Minimum Requirements)
- Two years of college-level coursework in records or information management, library science, legal secretarial studies, or a related field.
- Three years of progressively responsible clerical or administrative experience in a legal office, public-records function, city clerk's office, or another relevant area.
- An equivalent combination of related education and experience totaling five years may be considered. Equivalencies do not apply where a license or certification is required by law.
Preferred Qualifications:
Public-disclosure and legal-office experience.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Work is primarily sedentary and involves sitting most of the time, with walking and standing required occasionally. Duties frequently require reaching; repetitive wrist, hand, and finger movements; typing, picking, pinching, and handling objects; tactile perception; speaking; and hearing sufficient to exchange detailed information at normal speaking levels, with or without correction. The employee may occasionally exert up to 10 pounds of force and may frequently or continuously exert a negligible amount of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in a typical office or administrative environment and does not involve substantial exposure to adverse environmental conditions.
- Examination Process and Required Documents
Applicants must apply on-line at https://www.BremertonWA.gov/169/Current-Jobs.
Required Application Materials:
A completed City application and personal résumé are required. Incomplete applications packets will not be considered. Required application materials must be submitted online by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their application materials reflect the minimum qualifying experience, knowledge, skills and abilities as listed on the job posting.
Important Application Note: Please do not attach copies of certifications or transcripts to your application unless they are listed as a requirement for the position.
Application process after submittal - What to expect:
Initial screening – Once the position closes, the HR Department will review and evaluate your application materials to determine whether your materials reflect and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience required to meet the minimum qualifications.
Invitation to Interview – After initial screening and additional review by the hiring department, if it is determined that you exceed the minimum qualifications, you may be contacted and invited to interview with a hiring panel.
References – After the interview, if it is determined that you are the most qualified candidate for the position, references will be sent electronically to the individuals listed on your application.
Pre-employment Requirements – If/when applying for safety-sensitive positions, pre-employment physicals and/or drug testing may be required prior to any final offer of employment.
NOTE TO APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES: If you require an accommodation at any point during the application process, please contact Human Resources at (360) 473-5348 or humanresources@ci.bremerton.wa.us
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Thank you for your interest in joining the City of Bremerton.
The City of Bremerton is committed to integrating diverse perspectives into our workplace culture and encourages our employees to bring their whole, authentic selves to work. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under applicable law. We strive to create a diverse team that allows us to effectively connect to the community we serve.
If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.
ADA Statement
The City of Bremerton does not discriminate on the basis of disability in programs and activities, which it operates pursuant to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and ADA Amendments Act. This policy extends to both employment and admission to participation in the programs, services and activities of the City of Bremerton. Reasonable accommodation for employees or applicants for employment will be provided.The City of Bremerton is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce.
- $64,772.40 - $78,919.92/year
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