Legal Assistant III

Salary : $56,904.40 - $69,985.23 Annually
Location : Madera County, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: District Attorney
Division: District Attorney Administration
Opening Date: 10/13/2026
Closing Date: 10/27/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: CLRCL

** Paralegals encouraged to apply**
Under general direction, to perform a wide variety of responsible legal support services for the staff in the office of assignment to include legal research, drafting legal documents, litigation support, electronic legal processing, department-client and public contact; and performs related duties as required.

Supervision Received and Exercised Receives general supervision. May provide lead technical and functional supervision to lower-level staff.

Examples of Duties


The job functions listed below are not inclusive or exclusive and are intended only as illustrations or examples of the various types of work that may be performed. Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the County to be appropriate under applicable law.

• Conducts complex legal research and prepares comprehensive drafts of legal documents and memoranda for attorney review and approval.
• Analyzes statutes, court decisions and other legal authorities to provide guidance and recommendations.
• Researches necessary facts and background information from other county departments, other agencies and the public, for high-level legal assignments.
• Prepares and reviews drafts of various legal documents, including but not limited to, opinions, ordinances, resolutions, leases, contracts, contract amendments and pleadings for attorney review and approval.
• Prepares documents and performs tasks necessary for pretrial preparation; organizes and maintains files and materials.
• Prepares detailed reports, operates in and navigates through electronic computer systems or web-based search engines to conduct advanced legal research.
• Maintains and organizes files of opinions and memoranda written by staff.
• Reviews contracts for compliance with statutes, court decisions and other legal authorities.
• Assists attorneys with routine and complex legal research and provides support in ligation-related matters.
• Reviews and refines work methods and procedures and contributes to the development of procedural guidelines and training manuals.

Employment Standards / Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Legal documents and a full understanding of their use.
• Advanced legal practices and procedures of office of assignment.
• Methods and procedures for directing the work assignments of other staff.
• Staff development and training.
• Filing procedures and legal terminology.
• Principles and practices of the law pertaining to the office of assignment.
• Advanced methods of legal and factual research.
• Discovery techniques.
• Drafting legal memoranda.
• Use of legal research computer and web-based systems.
• General legal office practices and procedures.

Skill to:

• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment.
• Type at a rate necessary for successful job performance.

Ability to:

• Conduct complex legal research.
• Perform specialized legal work assignments.
• Interpret legislative codes, court rulings and case law.
• Draft the more complex legal instruments, resolutions, memoranda, pleadings and contracts.
• Provide work direction to other staff.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Follow written and verbal instructions.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with attorneys, coworkers and others.
• Handle a large and varied assignment to meet fixed or fluctuating deadlines and to achieve work objectives.
• Coordinate document processing.
• Arrange support services for attorneys.
• Identify, analyze, and resolve complex problems.

Qualifications Any combination training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education

• Completion of paralegal, legal secretarial, legal office practices or other law related course work.

Experience

• Two (2) years of experience conducting legal research and preparing a variety of legal documents for a governmental entity or a private law firm that included the use of computerized or web-based legal resource systems such as Lexis or Westlaw.

Licenses and Certifications

• Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid driver's license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles may be required.

Physical Demands
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office and court setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to operate a motor vehicle to visit various County and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Standing in and walking between work areas is frequently required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned duties, as well as push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 10 pounds.

Environmental Conditions
Employees work in an office and court environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Application Process
The application review process will include screening to ensure applications are complete and meet all minimum qualifications. In addition to the application, the applicant is required to complete the Supplemental Questions to further evaluate their education, training and experience relative to the required knowledge, skills and abilities for the position. Applicants must submit answers that are as complete as possible.


Only qualified applicants who pass the minimum qualifications review, will be invited to the examination process which may be administered by a written examination, oral interview, or any combination of qualifications appraisal determined by the Department of Human Resources to be appropriate. The Department of Human Resources will make reasonable accommodation in the examination process for disabled applicants. If you have an accommodation request, please indicate such on your application.

Depending upon the number of applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, applicants may be scheduled for one or more of the assessments listed below. Of those passing the initial assessment, only the top 15 will move forward to the appraisal panel. Passing score is 70% out of 100% on each assessment section. If only one assessment is conducted, the weight for that assessment will be 100%.

THE APPRAISAL PANEL (100%) IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026

To move forward in the application process, you must complete an online application through our website All job postings are also included via the TDD phone at View phone number on click.appcast.io and the 24-hour job line at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Please attach a copy of your unofficial transcripts (indicating when degree was awarded), licenses, and certificates to your application or your application may be considered incomplete. Resumes may be uploaded but cannot be used in place of a completed application.


For an open recruitment, applicants claiming veteran's preference must submit a copy of their DD-214 form along with the application. Candidates who attain ranking on an eligible list and are involuntarily called to active duty may be considered for eligibility reinstatement upon their return.


PLACEMENT ON THE ELIGIBLE LIST:
The Civil Service Commission may limit the number of qualified applicants eligible to participate in the examination process. If two or more candidates have the same total final score on an examination, they shall be ranked in order of their scores in that portion of the examination which has the greatest weight. The names of two or more eligibles having final ratings which are identical shall be grouped on the eligible list as tie names with equal rank for certification and appointment purposes.


Candidates who are successful in all phases of the examination process will be placed on an eligible list, in rank order based on a calculation of their total score from the examination process. The eligible list established by this recruitment will be active for a minimum of six (6) months or one (1) year, unless otherwise determined by the Director pursuant to section 6-4 (b) and may be extended for up to an additional year by the Commission.


PRE-EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS:
As a condition of employment with the County of Madera, a candidate must submit to a Tuberculosis (TB) screening, and related follow up testing as necessary. Designated classifications* are also subject to a medical examination, which includes a review of medical history. TB screenings and medical exams are administered by the Madera County Public Health Department and/or health care professional designated by the County.


Designated classifications required to submit to an employment medical examination generally include those that are physical in nature or as may be required by law. If you have any questions about the pre-employment requirements, please contact the Department of Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io or


ELIGIBILITY FOR EMPLOYMENT:
You will be required to submit verification of your identity and citizenship or legal right to work in the United States at the time of and as a condition of an offer of employment.

As a condition of employment, all prospective employees shall be required to be fingerprinted (Live Scan) and/or undergo a background investigation.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Madera County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, national origin, age, disability (physical or mental), medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, political affiliation, or any other basis protected by Federal or State law.
Benefits of employment with the County of Madera include:

• 14 paid holidays per year;
• 1 sick leave day per month (unlimited accrual);
• 2 weeks paid vacation after 1 year, vacation accrual increasing thereafter with years of service (45 days maximum accrual);
• Membership in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), with an enhanced 2.7% @ 55 retirement benefit formula (based on the highest 12 months with the employee paying 8% toward the retirement cost) for those individuals with current or prior qualifying public sector service that establishes eligibility as a "classic member" pursuant to the provisions of California's 2013 Pension Reform Act (Act) and CalPERS Regulations. Individuals with no current or prior qualifying public sector service, and who are defined as new members or new employees under the Act, will be eligible for the 2% @ 62 retirement benefit formula (based on the average compensation over 36 consecutive months with the employee paying 7.75% toward the retirement cost);
• County participates in the Public Employees' Retirement System Health Benefit Program and for certain selected health plans, the County pays 95% of health insurance premium for employee and 50% for either two-party or dependent coverage;
• Additional salary increases after 10, 15, and 20 years of service.

01


I understand that I must indicate the specific time period and distinct job title in the applications work experience section. I understand that I am required to describe, in detail, my qualifying experience on my application.

• Yes, I understand.

02


Have you completed paralegal, legal secretarial, legal office practices or other law related course work? Proof of completion must be attached

• Yes
• No

03


Do you possess two (2) years of experience conducting legal research and preparing a variety of legal documents for a governmental entity or a private law firm that included the use of computerized or web-based legal resource systems such as Lexis or Westlaw?

• Yes
• No

Required Question