Qualifying Experience
Candidates for this position must have at least two years of full-time paid experience as a legal secretary performing litigation document preparation under the California court system’s filing requirements and procedures including electronic filings; or two years of full-time paid experience as a legal secretary working for a Worker’s Compensation attorney or a group of attorneys performing litigation document preparation and electronic filings under the California court system’s filing requirements and procedures.
Responsibilities and Requirements
As a Secretary Legal “C”, the primary responsibilities and requirements of this position may include, but are limited to:
• Act as a secretary to a Deputy City Attorney, assigned in the City Attorney’s Office.
• Prepare, serve and file pleadings, hearing notices, deposition notices (notifies all parties with date, time, location, and parking info); Service and production of medical documents on parties, civil litigation forms and documents in State, Federal and Appellate Courts (e.g. Complaints, Answers, Applications for Publication, Default Judgement Packages, Notice of Rulings, various routine and complex motions); Discovery documents (e.g. Form Interrogatories, Request for Admissions, Request for Inspection and Production of Documents, Case Management Statements); Various trial documents (e.g. Witness and Exhibit Lists, Jury Instructions, trial notebooks); Draft and finalize pleading documents for Court filing; Paperwork for closed cases.
• Open and maintain new cases.
• Calendar upcoming hearing dates and other office related appearances.
• Prepare hearing notices, deposition notices (notify all parties with date, time, location, and parking info); service and production of medical documents on parties.
• Prepare drafts and finalize pleading documents for Court filing.
• Prepare paperwork for closed cases.
• Maintain litigation case files.
• Require judgement, tact, discretion, and the ability to work effectively with management, secretarial and clerical staff, and others to accomplish the goals of the Department and the Division.
• Perform other related duties.
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
Candidates for this position will be evaluated on their knowledge, abilities, and qualifications based on their resume, interview, and other means, as specified:
• Ability to complete tasks with a high degree of accuracy.
• Ability to meet time-sensitive deadlines, sometimes on short notice.
• Ability to prioritize, organize, and complete multiple tasks independently and accurately.
• Ability to communicate effectively and deal tactfully with co-workers, supervisors, the public and others.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing in a clear and effective manner to convey legal information concisely.
• Ability to respond to all work-related inquiries from attorneys and supervisors, including the status and accuracy of work assignments.
• Ability to exercise good judgment.
• Ability to prepare legal forms with minimal instructions.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and track legal proceedings.
• Ability to set-up and maintain a calendar system.
• Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to use judgement, tact, discretion, and the ability to work effectively with management, secretarial and clerical staff, and others to accomplish the goals of the Department and the Division. Perform other related duties.
• Knowledge of legal and court procedures.
• Knowledge of legal forms and other essential data including legal terms and phraseology.
• Knowledge of court filing procedures and requirements; office procedures; safety principles and practices.
• Knowledge of city personnel rules, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations related to equal employment opportunity (EEO).
