Program Specialist - PART TIME LEGAL SECRETARY

City of Stockton•Stockton, CA

About The Position

The City Attorney’s Office is hiring a part-time Legal Secretary to support its litigation division. The office provides legal services and advice to the City Council, officials, boards, commissions, and departments on legal and regulatory matters affecting the City and its operations. Under general supervision, the Legal Secretary performs confidential, complex, and specialized clerical, secretarial, and paraprofessional duties; relieves administrators of routine legal clerical duties; and performs related work as assigned. The role provides legal secretarial and office-administration support to the City Attorney and associated legal staff. Incumbents apply technical legal secretarial skills, judgment, and discretion, typically working with only occasional instruction or assistance; work is generally reviewed upon completion. This at-will, unclassified position is part-time and is not represented by a bargaining unit. Incumbents may work up to 20 hours per week, with a maximum of 960 hours per fiscal year; the assignment ends upon reaching the allotted hours. Assigned hours follow the City’s 9/80 schedule and vary within the stated weekday operating hours, with alternating Fridays off. Candidates may be required to pass a background investigation, including fingerprinting. City employees are considered disaster service workers and may be required to report or remain on duty during emergencies or disasters and undertake an applicable loyalty oath.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Three years of secretarial experience in a law office within the last five years, performing increasingly responsible and complex clerical work, including preparation of pleadings, motions, and discovery, and calendaring.
A valid typing certificate, no more than two years old, showing a speed of at least 60 net words per minute and issued by a recognized organization.
Submit the typing certificate and fully complete the online application and supplemental questionnaire; failure to provide the certificate or complete the application materials may result in rejection.
Successfully pass a background investigation, including fingerprinting, if required before appointment.

Nice To Haves

College or business school coursework in law office administration.

Responsibilities

Perform complex, confidential legal office support work requiring independent judgment, technical skills, or specialized knowledge related to the Law Department.
Assist attorneys with motions and discovery, new-case intake, calendaring, scheduling hearings, trials, and depositions, and copying and serving pleadings and discovery documents.
Research and assemble information from sources such as statutes, court decisions, legal articles, treaties, constitutions, and legal codes to prepare legal documents.
Prepare, index, and file legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, contracts, and affidavits.
Type and transcribe correspondence and legal documents from drafts and notes, including reports, forms, court pleadings, appellate briefs, resolutions, ordinances, legal opinions, contracts, leases, and agreements.
Proofread documents for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with departmental policies and regulations; check legal citations for accuracy and conformity with the California Style Manual and/or Bluebook guidelines.
Maintain and organize litigation and departmental files, including copying, filing, and maintaining individual case files, and handle law-office administrative details.
Receive and screen visitors and telephone calls, direct callers to the appropriate person, or handle calls directly.
Arrange meetings by notifying participants and reserving rooms.
Provide information to the public or City staff, using independent judgment and interpreting policies, rules, or procedures when needed.
Compile information and data for statistical and financial reports; maintain records; check and tabulate data; and prepare simple statistical reports.
Operate standard office equipment and computer applications.
Perform related work as assigned.