Legal Secretary

Full Time
Redding, CA 96001
Posted
Job description

CURRENT VACANCY IS WITHIN THE SHASTA COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

ORAL EXAM IS
TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 2023

A VALID FIVE (5) MINUTE TYPING CERTIFICATE VERIFYING
A NET TYPING SPEED OF 45 WPM IS REQUIRED FOR THIS
POSITION. FREE TYPING TEST OFFERED FOR COUNTY
POSITIONS ONLY – SEE "SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS SECTION"

IF A VALID TYPING CERTIFICATE IS NOT SUBMITTED BY THE
DEADLINE STATED IN THE PERSONNEL RULES, SECTION 6.1.D.,
OUTLINED BELOW UNDER “SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS”,
YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION

SKILLS OR EXPERIENCES LISTED UNDER THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
STATEMENT MAY ALSO BE USED TO SCREEN APPLICATIONS

RESPONSES TO SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS REQUIRED

FINAL FILING DATE: APRIL 18, 2023 AT 5:00 PM

SALARY INFORMATION

$3,227 - $4,118 APPROXIMATE MONTHLY* / $18.62 – $23.76 APPROXIMATE HOURLY*

*Please refer to the appropriate Bargaining Unit Memorandum of Understanding for potential future salary increases*
Please visit https://www.shastacounty.gov/personnel/page/labor-agreements-mous

ABOUT SHASTA COUNTY

Shasta County offers all the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small-town atmosphere. With its natural beauty, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The District Attorney evaluates all reported crimes to determine if sufficient evidence exists to prosecute individuals for felony and misdemeanor offenses. In those cases where the District Attorney finds sufficient evidence, a criminal prosecution is undertaken. The Department also supervises the Victim/Witness Program. The District Attorney’s office offers the option of a 9/80 schedule.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Under general direction, to perform responsible legal secretarial, clerical, and routine administrative duties in support of an attorney with program management responsibilities, which involve active and extensive public interests and contact with other public agencies; and to perform related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The class of Legal Secretary is distinguished from the Administrative Secretary class series in that while the general nature of secretarial support activities are similar, an incumbent in this class works in a legal setting and is required to be fully proficient in all aspects of the mission of the office to which assigned. It differs from a Legal Services Supervisor in that the latter has significant supervisory responsibilities in addition to secretarial duties.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES


Performs difficult legal secretarial and clerical duties involving the use of considerable independent judgment; may perform routine administrative duties; composes routine memoranda, contracts, resolutions, ordinances and letters; maintains Law Library; may perform legal research; prepares legal forms necessary for filing cases before court, including briefs, motions and orders, warrants, citations, complaints, subpoenas, petitions and resolutions; answers correspondence independently; maintains calendar and schedules appointments for the manager; answers the telephone and interviews callers, exercising considerable judgment in giving out information and referring to the proper person; makes travel arrangements; installs and maintains filing systems and other clerical procedures; prepares payroll and prepares a variety of bills and invoices; opens, sorts and distributes mail; operates a variety of modern office appliances and orders office supplies as necessary; assists in budget preparation and administration; prepares financial and statistical reports; may supervise, train and evaluate a small staff.

TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS


Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following:

Knowledge of:
Legal terminology, forms, documents and procedures; basic organization, services, programs and functions of the legal system; forms and formatting for legal documents; style/format of business correspondence, punctuation, spelling, and general English usage; modern office practices, procedures and equipment; filing and recordkeeping methods; modern office equipment; basic elements of supervision, including instructing workers on specific tasks.

Ability to:
Perform difficult and responsible legal secretarial and clerical duties; organize work effectively to meet critical administrative deadlines; determine office priorities; deal with deadlines and office emergencies; interpret and apply specific policies and procedures; type at a speed of not less than 55 words per minute from clear copy on a typewriter or computer terminal; take dictation at a speed of 90 words per minute and transcribe it accurately may be required for certain positions; compose correspondence independently; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; supervise the work of a small staff.

These standards are typically attained with
two years of clerical experience preparing a wide variety of legal documents.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

  • THIS POSITION REQUIRES A VALID TYPING CERTIFICATE.
    A valid five (5) minute typing certificate dated within the past three years verifying a net typing speed of 45 wpm is required for this position. Current County employees who have such a document in their official County personnel file are exempt from this requirement forever; however, it is recommended to contact Shasta County Personnel to ensure your typing certificate is attached. Your valid typing certificate must be submitted by the recruitment closing date and time as listed on this flyer. Self-tested, computer-generated typing certificates are not accepted.

  • Only for current County job openings that require a typing certificate: Shasta County offers a free typing test.
    The test is available by appointment only. Space is limited and appointment times are not guaranteed. The typing certificate is valid only for Shasta County jobs. Appointments are available daily from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the test takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. To make an appointment, please call 530-225-5515. Tests are administered at 1450 Court Street, Room 348, Redding, CA 96001. You will be asked to present your picture ID.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

An ideal candidate for a legal secretary position within the District Attorney’s office should have current legal experience, a positive work ethic, and be able to work harmoniously in groups while in a fast-paced legal environment. The candidate needs to be able to remain calm and focused while working to meet high stress deadlines.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

Responses to the following must be submitted with a completed application.

  • Do you have current or recent experience working in a law office or courthouse position that has you in a daily legal setting? If yes, please describe your experience. If no, please write “n/a”.
  • How many years of legal secretary or legal clerk experience do you have? If none, please write “n/a”.
  • Is your legal experience mainly in civil or criminal law? If so, please write which area of law your legal experience is in. If neither applies, please write “n/a”.
  • I understand that this position requires a valid typing certificate verifying a net typing speed of 45 WPM and I will not be considered for this position if a certificate is not submitted by the recruitment closing date and time. Yes___No___
  • This position is in an office that works closely with victims of crime. Do you understand that some tasks required in this role may involve reading police reports, hearing stories about victimization, exposure to graphic materials and speaking with victims on the phone or in person? Yes___No___

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • All new employees are required to have their paycheck directly deposited to a bank account.
  • Some positions may require a valid California driver's license and acceptable driving record according to County policy.
  • Reasonable accommodations may be made for those persons who are disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act to perform the essential functions of the position.
  • As part of the selection process, all individuals provided with a preliminary offer of employment with Shasta County will be subject to a background investigation, including a criminal history check (primarily completed through the taking of fingerprints). An image of your fingerprints will be captured and sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history, (if any), will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application. Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered.
  • Based on the results of the background investigation and criminal history check, applicants may then be provided with an offer of employment conditioned on the results of a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol testing.
  • Shasta County participates in E-Verify. For more information visit https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RighttoWorkPoster.pdf (Download PDF reader). If you do not have internet access, contact Personnel at (530) 225-5515 to request a flyer.
  • In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, County employees, in the event of a disaster are considered disaster workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.
  • Positions in this classification are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the County and the United Public Employees of California – General.
  • Employees in this classification are covered under the CalPERS retirement program. Depending on the provisions of the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) and other applicable laws, an employee in this classification will be covered under one of the following CalPERS retirement formulas: (1) 2% at 55, (2) 2% at 60, or (3) 2% at 62. An employee in this classification will also contribute up to 8.75% of his/her pay to this plan or will contribute such other amount to the plan as authorized by PEPRA and other applicable laws. Please visit our employees benefit page at https://www.shastacounty.gov/personnel/page/employee-benefits for additional information regarding benefits and CalPERS coverage information. The provisions in this flyer and on the County’s website are for information purposes only. To the extent the provisions of the flyer or the County’s website are inconsistent with PEPRA and other applicable laws, PEPRA and other applicable laws shall govern.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURES


Shasta County Personnel will accept applications and responses to the supplemental questions until 5:00 p.m., on April 18, 2023. A Resume and/or Cover Letter will be accepted in addition to the application form but will not serve as a substitute for a completed application. It is not acceptable to complete the application with statements such as, “Refer to Resume and/or Cover Letter,” or “See Attached Resume and/or Cover Letter” the employment application must be completed in its entirety prior to submission. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Closing date postmarks or faxes will NOT be accepted. This recruitment will establish a list that may or may not be used by other departments. Prior applicants must reapply to be considered.

Applicants will be screened and those considered best qualified will be invited to appear for an oral and/or written examination. Meeting the announced requirements does not guarantee inclusion into the selection process. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of additional application screening, written and/or practical exam(s), oral interview, or any combination thereof.

Veterans' Credit
: Veterans (as defined by California Government Code section 18973) who have been discharged from military service under conditions other than dishonorable and who receive a passing score on all components of the employment examinations (up to and including oral examinations) shall receive credit for an additional five points to be added to their final examination score. To be considered for this credit, a veteran MUST provide a copy of his or her discharge document (DD-214 or equivalent) and information as to the type of discharge (honorable, dishonorable, etc.) WITH THE EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION ON OR BEFORE THE FINAL FILING DATE.

Applicants are encouraged to apply on-line at
www.ShastaCountyCareers.com or submit an application to the Shasta County Personnel Office.

Arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants with disabilities. Requests for accommodations may be made to the Shasta County Personnel Office by the filing deadline posted on this bulletin. Shasta County does not discriminate on the basis of disability. If you feel you are being denied service based on a disability, our ADA Coordinator may be reached at (530) 225-5515; relay service (800) 735-2922; fax (530) 225-5345.

SHASTA COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Shasta County Personnel
1450 Court Street, Suite 348; Redding, CA 96001; (530) 225-5515


NOTE:
Various bargaining units may have benefits that alter from this general summary. This summary of benefits is not a binding document and is provided as a courtesy. Refer to labor agreements (MOUs) for specific benefit information.

THESE BENEFITS DO NOT APPLY TO EXTRA HELP EMPLOYEES

Holidays:
12 paid holidays (96 hours) per year.

Vacation:
10 working days a year during the first three years of service; 15 working days a year - 4 through 9 years of service; 17 working days a year - 10 through 15 years of service; 20 working days a year - 16 or more years of service. Note - accrued vacation leave may not be used until after six months of employment. For purposes of vacation accrual, a working day is no more than 8 hours.

Sick Leave:
96 hours of sick leave are earned each year with no maximum accrual. Employees terminating in good standing after completion of 5 years of continuous service will receive a pro-rata payoff of accumulated sick leave. Unused sick leave may be converted to PERS service credit upon retirement. Note - accrued sick leave may not be used until after three months of employment. Accrued paid leave benefits are used in conjunction with FMLA/CFRA as appropriate.

Bereavement:
Maximum of 24 hours for each non-concurrent death in the immediate family.

Health Plan:
Shasta County contracts with PERS for medical insurance and has an alternative Blue Cross plan. Employees in the Teamsters bargaining unit are insured through a Teamsters Trust plan. Depending on the plan selected, the County pays most, or all, of the employee premium, and contributes a portion of the dependent premium. Contributions are made for a portion of a retiree's insurance premium.

Dental Plan:
The County pays a portion of the employee's and dependents' premium for dental insurance. The employee pays the full premium during the first six months of coverage.

Vision Plan:
The County pays the employee premium and employees may enroll dependents at their own expense.

Life Insurance:
The County pays the premium for life insurance for most employees. The amount of coverage varies by bargaining unit.

Retirement:
The County is in the Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) coordinated with Social Security. Members hired prior to May 8, 2011 are covered under the retirement formula of 2% @ 55 benefit. Members hired after May 8, 2011 but before January 1, 2013 are covered under the retirement formula of 2% @ 60 benefit. Members hired after January 1, 2013 are covered under the California Public Employees Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) with a benefit formula of 2% @ 62. Please review the specific MOU for stipulated retirement formulas.

Employees pay 7.75% of his or her salary, on a pre-tax basis for a period of time as specified in his or her labor contact, or Personnel Rules as appropriate.

Miscellaneous:

  • Deferred Compensation plans available through specified companies.

  • IRC Section 125 plan available for pre-tax payroll deductions for contributions towards un-reimbursed medical expenses and dependent care.

  • Optional insurance products are available.

SHASTA COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Any information on this page or links is subject to change without notice.

Shasta County Personnel

1450 Court Street, Room 348
Redding, CA 96001-1676

(530) 225-5515

Comments, please email: schr@co.shasta.ca.us

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