Legal Secretary

Job Description and Duties

***Please fill out the application in its entirety with detailed job description/tasks performed, employment beginning and ending date information, and hours worked per week. Also provide a current phone number and email address on the application.***

Come to a place that values integrity, professional development, and a team atmosphere. Cal/OSHA’s Legal Unit is looking for talented, independent, and creative individuals to serve as a Legal Secretary in either our Oakland or San Francisco office.

Under the general supervision of the Legal Support Supervisor I, the Legal Secretary will effectively work for two to four attorneys and will perform the following duties for the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Division or DOSH or Cal/OSHA) Legal Unit attorneys and/or Bureau of Investigations (BOI) special investigators in all fora including administrative, state and federal trial courts and state and federal courts of appeal at all levels.

The Legal Secretary assists Legal Unit and BOI staff in a variety of substantive areas, including, but not limited to, proceedings before the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board (OSHAB), matters before the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board and the Office of Administrative Law, proceedings in state and federal court at all levels as well as any other litigation that may arise involving the Division, and any internal Division, Departmental, or Agency matters.

*Will also consider Senior Legal Typist

***There is one (1) position that may be filled in either Oakland or San Francisco. If you are interested in more than one location, please apply to each specific job control in CalCareers.***

To be considered for this Legal Secretary job opportunity, applicants must be either reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility or have reinstatement eligibility. To take the exam and gain employment list eligibility, please click here to access the exam bulletin:

Legal Secretary:

Shall Consider:

Senior Legal Typist:

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

This job is located at:
Division of Occupational Safety and HealthLegal/Bureau of Investigations –Oakland Office.
1515 Clay Street, Suite 1901, Oakland, CA 94612

***If you are interested in more than one location, please submit an application for each specific job control.***

This is a full-time position headquartered in our legal San Francisco office. The office is in a high rise building with both artificial and natural lighting. In addition, the incumbent works in a typical office setting with an interior workstation in a smoke-free environment. While performing assigned duties, the Legal Secretary may be required to walk for extended periods of time to assist team members and professional staff. The incumbent may also be required to work extensively on computers, scanners, copiers, telephones, faxes, and/or shredders as necessary for processing work, drafting email communication, and other purposes. The incumbent must have the ability to move and transport up to 20 pounds. The incumbent should also be able and willing to telework. This position may also require in-state travel locally in Northern California for meetings and training and as determined according to the needs of DOSH.

Per executive order N-22-25 signed by Governor Newsom, staff are expected to return to office four days per week starting July 1, 2026.

Special Requirements

This position requires the incumbent to perform sustained typing of at least 45 words per minute .

A typing certification is required when applicants apply for State civil service clerical positions. The specific typing requirement will be noted in the Class Specification.

Typing Certification Requirements:

Resume (required):

Please include all relevant experience and tasks performed that align with the duty statement. Please include a description of your knowledge and experience using different computer software programs and systems in your Resume.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Knowledge of: technical legal terms and various legal forms and documents and their processing; modern office methods and procedures and office supplies, materials and equipment; business English and correspondence.

Skills: interpretation skills to accurately interpret written material and numerical data; written skills to edit written material; communication skills, verbal and written, to ensure quality customer service and to communicate with other staff and those contacted in the work place; organizational and time management skills to prioritize work assignments and projects; computer skills (Microsoft Word and Excel, Outlook).

Ability to: organize work-flow; read and write English at a level required for successful job performance; prepare correspondence independently; communicate effectively and follow directions; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; secure and maintain cooperative relationships with all persons contacted in the work; read, understand and follow oral and written instructions and procedures; prepare, format and proofread business correspondence and legal documents.

The incumbent is expected to maintain confidentiality at all times to sensitive information and the nature of the work performed.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Health, Dental & Vision Benefits

• Paid Sick & Vacation

• Retirement (CalPERS)

• Hybrid In-Office and Remote Work

• 11 Paid Holidays

• 401 (k) & 457 plans

• Military Leave

• Longevity Pay

• Employee Assistance Program

• Wellness Programs

• ScholarShare/529 College Savings Plan

• Long-Term Disability Insurance

• Pre-Tax Parking Reimbursement

• Group Legal Services

• Alternate Work Week Schedule

• Reimbursement Accounts

• Public Transit Subsidy

• Telework

And many more! Visit for a full list available benefits!

The office is near Public Transit and bus lines; 5-minute walking distance to restaurants and shopping; Onsite security.

Additional Information

Preference will be given to persons with State Restriction of Appointments (SROA) or Surplus status. Applicants must attach a copy of their most recently dated letter that specifies their designation as either SROA or surplus candidate as proof.

Qualified candidates must have eligibility in State employment, be in a reachable rank on an employment list for this classification, be currently in this classification, or have transfer eligibility to this classification

If you do not hear from us in 4-6 weeks, you may assume the position has been filled by another applicant. Please note that all additional vacancies that become available may be added to this advertisement.

Please note that the Exam and Certification Online System (ECOS) does not allow you to resubmit your application once you withdraw it. If you have any updates to your online application, please contact the Personnel, Recruitment, & Hiring Unit at View phone number on us.fitly.work.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey: DIR Applicant Survey

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.