1458-Legal Secretary I

Job description

CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Title: Legal Secretary I

Job Code: 1458

INTRODUCTION

Under supervision, provides legal secretarial and clerical services of a difficult, responsible and confidential nature for an attorney's office; and performs related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This class is the journey level in the legal secretarial series and is distinguished from other secretarial and clerical classes by its knowledge and continuous use of legal terminology, documents and procedures. This class differs from class 1460 Legal Secretary II in that positions in the latter class perform the most difficult and technical legal secretarial work.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

May supervise clerical support staff.

MAJOR, IMPORTANT, AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. Word Processes and edits a wide variety of legal documents in proper format including pleadings, briefs, correspondence, subpoenas, contracts, jury instructions, complaints, resolutions and ordinances utilizing multiple word processing systems, to prepare a variety of legal documents.

2. Abstracts information from various sources to put general information into proper legal form.

3. Transcribes legal dictation from dicta-phone or longhand notes, minutes, interviews and telephone messages; or takes and transcribes dictation from shorthand notes at a rate of 110 wpm, to prepare legal documents and correspondence.

4. Opens, maintains, monitors and closes legal case files and maintains correspondence and record files.

5. Maintains attorney appointment calendars; keeps abreast of important court dates and files legal documents with courts as mandated; assures complaints are responded to in a timely manner..

6. Provides information when possible by personally assisting callers, and exercises considerable judgment and discretion in dealing with confidential matters.

7. Prioritize duties and deadlines to accommodate work schedules of a large number of attorneys.

8. Performs related duties as required.

IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of: legal office practices, procedures, terminology and business English; knowledge of filing systems.

Ability and Skill to: operate modern office equipment; ability to take transcription; ability to independently compose correspondence; ability to understand and follow directions; ability to proofread and solve problems including mathematical computations; type to complete 55 net words per minute; communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification. Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

Education:

Experience:

Two (2) years of verifiable experience as a legal secretary transcribing dictation and typing legal documents including petitions, motions, briefs, complaints and other legal forms; AND

The ability to type 55 net WPM

NOTE: The ability to transcribe legal matters accurately from a transcribing machine with no more than a 2% error rate may be required by some departments as a special condition.

License and Certification:

Substitution: A certificate of completion in legal secretarial skills from a recognized college, university, or training program, which involved learning legal terminology and legal formats and forms, may substitute for six (6) months of the required legal secretarial experience. Proof of satisfactory completion must be submitted at the time of filing.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

PROMOTIVE LINES

TO: 1460 Legal Secretary II

ORIGINATION DATE: 02/22/1988

AMENDED DATE: 04/22/08; 03/24/2016

REASON FOR AMENDMENT To accurately reflect the current tasks, knowledge, skills and abilities defined in the most recent job analysis conducted for this job code.

BUSINESS UNIT(S): COMMN SFMTA SFCCD SFUSD

Standard information

Disaster service work

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Historic and future compensation