Legal Secretary

Job Title

Examples of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as secretary to department head or staff attorneys.
• Receives case referrals from courts and District Attorney's office and refers to appropriate attorneys.
• Prepares affidavits, petitions, complaints, warrants, motions, points and authorities, contracts, and abstracts of judgments.
• Composes routine legal documents as directed.
• Transcribes notes for letter, case files, criminal complaints, reports; opens, sorts, and distributes mail.
• May assist with the preparation of grant proposals and monitoring of grant programs.
• May prepare and submit annual and quarterly staffing, expenditures, funding, and status reports.
• May assign and review the work of subordinate clerical personnel.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Three (3) years of secretarial experience, including at least two (2) years of legal, stenographic and clerical experience. (College course-work in the field of legal para-professional training may substitute for two years of required experience on a year for year basis.) Typing: Type at a corrected rate of 50 words per minute from clear copy.

Essential Functions

Complete multiple priority projects with conflicting deadlines.

Communicate effectively with others in person and over the telephone.

Analyze data, interpret directions, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses.

Establish, implement, and achieve goals and objectives.

Perform job duties under stressful conditions and respond appropriately to situations.

Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.

Operate a personal computer and other office equipment.

Frequent use of depth perception, peripheral vision and color perception.

Frequently lift, carry, reach, push, pull, twist and manipulate large and small objects.

Frequent use of hand-eye coordination.

Frequent use of data entry device including repetitive hand and arm motion.

Occasionally lift and carry up to 40 pounds.

Normal dexterity, frequent holding and grasping.

Frequently sit for long periods of time.

Regular attendance is an essential function.

Knowledge of:

• Legal office methods and procedures.
• Legal terminology, phraseology, documents, and forms.
• Correct English usage, vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation.
• Modern office methods and practices, including filing systems and business correspondence.
• Operation of a personal computer and other office equipment and machines.
• Basic accounting procedures.

Ability to:

• Perform difficult and complex legal and secretarial work with speed and accuracy.
• Identify, use, and prepare a wide variety of legal forms and documents.
• Function under minimal supervising, exercising sound judgment in making independent decisions.
• Understand and follow court calendar procedures.
• Effectively represent an official or attorney in situations requiring tact, diplomacy, and poise.
• Gather and organize information, preparing a variety of reports.
• Interpret and apply laws, rules, and written and oral directions to specific situations.
• Use good judgment in recognizing the scope and limit of authority delegated.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with others.

Benefits

HOLIDAYS & LEAVES VACATION 10 days the first 5 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 160 hours), 15 days in the second 5 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 240 hours), and 20 days after 10 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 320 hours). SICK LEAVE 0.0625 hours sick leave for each paid regularly scheduled work hour. 16 days (130 hours per year) with unlimited accumulation. Optional annual buy back of a portion of accumulated sick leave hours upon meeting certain criteria. HOLIDAYS Twelve paid holidays annually plus two optional holidays. BEREAVEMENT LEAVE Five (5) regularly scheduled workdays.

INSURANCE HEALTH INSURANCE Medical Insurance - Merced County offers multiple Medical Plans and contributes towards employee and dependent premiums.

• Anthem 500 EPO
• Anthem 1500 EPO
• Anthem HDHP (High Deductible Medical Plan) with Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Anthem HDHP (High Deductible Medical Plan) without Health Savings Account (HSA)

Dental Insurance - Delta Dental

• County pays 100% of the premium for employees and 50% for dependent(s)

Vision Insurance - VSP

• County pays 100% of the premium for employees and 50% for dependent(s)

DISABILITY INSURANCE State Disability Insurance (SDI) Merced County non-management employees are enrolled in the State Disability Insurance Program (SDI). Premiums for this insurance are paid by the employee. This insurance is administered solely by the State, who determines eligibility and payments. Benefit amounts are based on the quarter with the highest wages earned within the base period.

LIFE INSURANCE County-paid Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

• Represented Employees $10,000

Voluntary Term and Whole Life Insurance are available - premium paid by employee

RETIREMENT DEFERRED COMPENSATION The County offers a 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. Employees choose their investment funds and can make pre-tax or post-tax contributions to the plan up to the maximum allowable. MERCED COUNTY EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION The retirement plan is a defined benefit plan administered pursuant to the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 and other provisions of the California Government Code. MCERA members also pay into Social Security. The applicable benefit formula is dependent upon your hire date with an MCERA employer; your pension amount will be determined by your age, years of service and final compensation amount.

EXTRA HELP EMPLOYEES DO NOT QUALIFY FOR COUNTY BENEFITS. EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP) Anthem EAP services provide up to five face-to-face counseling sessions per incident and provides a toll-free "800" hotline available 24/7 for emergencies and crisis intervention. EAP services include counseling services, legal services, financial services and work-life resource services. EMPLOYEE TICKETS, COUPONS, and DISCOUNTS The County of Merced has partnered with Employee Savings Tickets to provide discounted coupons and tickets for all county employees to attractions throughout the state and out-of-state. The discounts and coupons are available for shopping, movies, sporting events, theme parks, zoos and aquariums and much more.