Legal Secretary I

City Attorney

Exempt | Location: Civic Center

Annual Salary

$57,044.00 - $83,373.00

contact information

Xochilt Chavira
xochilt.chavira@lacity.org

job description

LEGAL SECRETARY I

VARIOUS SECTIONS

Salary Range: $ 57,044 - $83,373

About Us

The Los Angeles City Attorney's office is one of the nation's largest municipal law offices. With over 1000 legal professionals, including 500 attorneys, the Office provides the City with the highest caliber of legal services, ranging from prosecuting criminal misdemeanors and playing a leading role in criminal justice reform, advising on homelessness initiatives, defending civil lawsuits and claims, and bringing civil enforcement actions in the name of the People of the State of California.

Guided by an overarching commitment to integrity, accountability and transparency, we find great meaning in the work we do and the services we provide.

We seek collaborative team players who understand that fulfilling our mission is key to making a positive impact.

Duties and Responsibilities

This position serves as secretary to attorneys or administrators performing a full range of secretarial duties, including taking and transcribing dictation, taking minutes of meetings, typing and proofreading; maintaining databases, filing systems and appointment calendars; answering inquiries from the public or employees of other agencies over the telephone or in person; and ordering office supplies. Must demonstrate the ability to maintain the status of cases being handled; have knowledge of legal and administrative procedures, and sources of information. In addition, this position will assist with the general office workload and will learn all of the functions of the office and complete other duties as assigned. In addition to these general duties, additional assignment specific responsibilities may apply.

Requirements

All applicants are required to meet the following qualifications:

· Applicants are required to pass a spelling test with no more than five (5) errors;**

· Applicants are required to pass a letter composition exercise;**

· At least one year performing clerical or secretarial duties is required;

· Applicants must be proficient in Microsoft Word and have knowledge of legal procedures and terminology;

· This position requires a fast and accurate typist who pays close attention to detail, is able to work under pressure with minimal supervision, and can performing a team environment;

· Reliable attendance and punctuality are mandatory; and

· Applicants must be able to lift boxes (up to 25 lbs).

Desired Qualifications

· Knowledge of state and federal court rules, litigation document preparation under the California Court system’s filing requirement and procedures including electronic filings.

Benefits Offered

Medical, Dental, Vision	· Paid Time Off
Life Insurance	o 13 Yearly Holidays
Disability Insurance	o Vacation
Tax-Advantage Spending Accounts	o Personal Leave
Retirement Plan (LACERS)	o Floating Holidays
Deferred Compensation Plan (457(b))	o Sick Leave
Employee and Family Assistance Program	o Bereavement Leave

Career Path

This position is eligible to automatically promote to Legal Secretary II ($62,368 - $91,182) after 2 years of satisfactory performance. See MOU 3 for details.

Telework

This position may qualify for up to 2 days of telework per week.

Current Location

Position is subject to assignment at any location within the County of Los Angeles.

Probation

Appointment to this exempt position (non-Civil-Service) will be subject to a one (1) Year probationary period as required by Section 1050 of the City Charter. Successful completion of the one (1) year probationary period will result in tenure with the office.

**Applicants will be contacted and scheduled to complete the letter composition exercise and spelling portions of the Legal Secretary test.

Selected applicants will be contacted to interview. Testing will remain ongoing as positions become available. This position will remain open until filled.

Contact

Questions? Please email atty.recruit@lacity.org.

AS A COVERED ENTITY UNDER TITLE II OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY AND, UPON REQUEST, WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO ITS PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES. TO REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, PLEASE CALL (213) 978-7160.

How to apply

Application and Deadline

Interested candidates should go to:https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacityattorney/

to apply online.

exempt employment

If employment is said to be exempt, it is meant that the employment is exempted from the civil service provisions of the City Charter. In order to receive a regular civil service appointment, employees must have successfully participated in a civil service examination, received a high enough score on the examination to be placed on and receive an appointment from an eligible list, and they must serve a probationary period. Exempt employees do not compete in a civil service examination, they are not placed on an eligible list and receive an appointment from that list, nor do they serve a probationary period. As a result, exempt employees do not have what is referred to as a “property interest” in their job. Exempt employees serve at the will of the appointing authority and can be terminated at any time without cause. Employees with a property interest in their job, i.e. civil service employees, cannot be deprived of their employment(discharged or suspended) without due process.

General Information About Exempt Employment

Exempt employees serve at the will of the appointing authority, and as such, they may be discharged, suspended or otherwise disciplined without cause. Exempt employees have no property interest in their employment, and any procedural benefit or other prerogative extended to them by their appointing authority is not intended to create and does not create any such property interest. No officer or employee of the City may make to any other officer or employee any representation of a property interest in employment which does not correspond to Charter provisions unless the City Council, by ordinance, permits such representation. No unauthorized representation can serve as the basis of an employee's reliance on, or expectation of, a property interest.

Employees Seeking To Become Civil Service Employees

There is no protective leave for an exempt employee appointed to a civil service position. Upon receiving a civil service appointment and passing probation, the former exempt employee will be subject to the Civil Service provisions described in Article X of the City Charter. Upon appointment, the civil service employee will begin to accrue displacement and layoff seniority on the first day of his/her civil service appointment and may file for promotional examinations for which s/he qualifies. A full or half-time exempt employee appointed to a full or half-time civil service position continues to: contribute to the Retirement System; accrue vacation time; accrue sick time; receive anniversary date salary increases; and, receive health and dental benefits identical to those received in the civil service position.

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