LEGAL SECRETARY

LEGAL SECRETARY

Salary

$60,976.69 - $84,300.89 Annually

Location

City of Stockton, CA

Job Type

Full-Time (Regular)

Job Number

0626-07922

Department

City Attorneys Office

Opening Date

07/12/2026

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

DEFINITION

OPEN/ PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

TENTATIVE INTERVIEW DATE: TBD (Candidates must appear in person for the interview.)

TYPING CERTIFICATE SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Due at time of application (email to kim.johnson@stocktonca.gov with the subject "Legal Secretary")

To be accepted, the typing certificate must specify the following:

• Applicants full name printed on certificate
• 5-minute timed evaluation (only 5-minute tests will be accepted)
• Minimum of 60 net words per minute
• Date of exam (Must be within two years or less from the final filing date)
• Number of typing errors or accuracy rate
• Name of online testing agency/website

The City Attorneys Office is seeking a well-qualified individual to fill a vacant legal secretary position to handle the advisory matters for the City, including: general civil litigation matters, code enforcement matters, and municipal code violations. The ideal candidate for this position possesses general legal secretary experience.

The Legal Secretary will work in the Office of the City Attorney. The Office of the City Attorney provides legal services and advice to the City Council, officials, boards, commissions, and departments regarding legal and regulatory matters of concern to the City and its operations. The incumbent will work a City of Stockton 9/80 schedule: 7:30am - 5:30pm Monday through Thursday; 8:00am - 5:00pm Fridays, with every other Friday off.

This is an At-Will (Unclassified) position and is not represented by a bargaining unit. Only those candidates deemed best qualified will be placed on the eligible list. (Applicants who fail to submit a typing certificate and fully complete the on-line application/supplemental questionnaire will be subject to rejection.)

These lists may be used to fill future vacancies.

Prior to appointment, eligible candidates may be required to submit to and successfully pass a background investigation, which will include fingerprinting and a drug screen.

Under general supervision, performs a variety of confidential, complex, and specialized clerical, secretarial, and paraprofessional duties in the City Attorneys Office; relieves administrators of routine legal clerical duties; and performs related work as assigned.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

Legal Secretary- This class performs a full range of legal secretarial work and office administrative services for professional legal staff. Incumbents apply technical legal secretarial skills with only occasional instruction or assistance while exercising judgment and discretion in the performance of duties. Work is typically reviewed only on completion. The Legal Secretary is distinguished from the Paralegal in that it is responsible for the legal secretarial and office administration assistance to the City Attorney and associated legal staff.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES (Illustrative Only)

• Performs difficult, complex and/or confidential legal office support work, which may require the exercise of independent judgment, the application of technical skills, or knowledge of detailed or specialized activities related to the Law Department.
• Assists attorneys in the preparation of motions and discovery; intake of new cases; calendaring; scheduling of hearings, trials, and depositions; and copy and service (by mail and otherwise) of pleadings and discovery documents.
• Prepares, indexes, and files legal documents by researching and assembling information from a variety of sources (e.g., statutes, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles, treaties, constitutions, and legal codes) to prepare legal documents (e.g., briefs, pleadings, appeals, contracts, and affidavits);
• Types and transcribes a variety of correspondence and legal documents including: reports, forms, court pleadings, and other specialized documents (e.g., appellate briefs) from drafts, notes, resolutions, ordinances, legal opinions, contracts, briefs, leases, and agreements using a personal computer.
• Proofreads and checks legal documents and other materials for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with departmental policies and regulations; and checks legal cites for accuracy ensuring conformity with California Style Manual and/or The Bluebook guidelines.
• Maintains and organizes litigation and other departmental files including the copying, filing, and maintenance of individual case files and attends to a variety of law office administrative details.
• Acts as receptionist and receives and screens visitors and telephone calls and directs the caller to the proper person or personally handles the call.
• Arranges meetings by notifying participants and reserving rooms.
• Provides information to the public or City staff as required that may necessitate the use of independent judgment and the interpretation of policies, rules, or procedures.
• Assists with various tasks including compiling information and data for statistical and financial reports; maintaining a variety of records; checking and tabulating data; preparing simple statistical reports.
• Operates standard office equipment and various computer applications.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Experience:

Possession of a high school diploma or GED and three (3) years of secretarial experience in a law office within the last five (5) years performing increasingly responsible and complex clerical work, including: preparations of various pleadings, motions, discoveries, and calendaring. College or business school course work in law office administration is desirable. Must possess a valid (two years old or less) typing certificate for at least 60 net words per minute from a recognized organization.

Other Requirements:

• Possession, or ability to obtain a valid California drivers license.

Knowledge of:

• Legal Research and case review;
• Standard legal references, legal terminology, forms, and documents used in legal clerical work;
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; business letter writing;
• Modern office practices, procedures, and equipment;
• Civil Procedure, law and motion rules;
• Structure of the California Court System and local, state, and federal rules of court;
• Various computer software such as: Excel, Microsoft Word, and Power Point;
• Municipal legal procedures and practices involved in composing, processing, and filing a variety of legal documents;
• Municipal organization and local governmental agencies;
• Function of civil discovery and preparation of discovery documents; and
• California Style Manual and The Bluebook.

Skill in:

• Use of Lexis/Nexis and similar legal research programs;
• Writing Legal Memorandum;
• Organizing files, including exhibits for trial;
• Preparing Trial Notebooks;
• Effective Communication with outside entities;
• Remaining abreast of current industry practice through continuing legal education courses; and
• Researching information from print and internet-based resources.

Physical/Mental Abilities:

• Mobility - Constant sitting for long periods of time while operating a keyboard; occasional walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing and pulling;
• Lifting - Occasional lifting of 10 pounds or less;
• Vision - Constant use of overall visual capabilities; frequent need for use of color perception, hand/eye coordination, reading and/or close up work;
• Dexterity - Frequent holding, grasping, typing, repetitive motion and writing;
• Hearing/Talking - Constant hearing and talking of normal speech in person and on the telephone; Occasionally speaking in front of large groups of people;
• Special Requirements - May require occasional weekend or evening work;
• Emotional/Psychological - Constant concentration, decision making and public contact; occasional ability to exercise sound judgment, especially under stressful situations; and working alone;
• Environmental Conditions - Occasional exposure to noise; and
• Working Conditions - Primarily performed in an office environment which is typically moderately quiet, but may be loud at times and at some locations.

This class specification should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirement of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Any essential function or requirement of this class will be evaluated as necessary should an incumbent/applicant be unable to perform the function or requirement due to a disability as defined by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Reasonable accommodation for the specific disability will be made for the incumbent/applicant when possible.

Only those applicants who best fit the needs of the City will be considered for this career opportunity. Applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed and only the most qualified applicants will be referred to the City Attorneys Office.

ALL APPLICATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS MUST BE COMPLETED FULLY AND SUBMITTED ON AN OFFICIAL CITY OF STOCKTON APPLICATION FORM. (DO NOT STATE "REFER TO RESUME" ON YOUR APPLICATION OR SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE.) INCOMPLETE AND/OR FALSIFIED APPLICATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTALS WILL BE REJECTED AND CANNOT BE REVISED AFTER SUBMITTAL ON OR BEFORE THE FINAL FILING DATE. POSTMARKS, FACSIMILES, AND PHOTOCOPIES OF THE CITYS EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. RESUMES ARE WELCOMED BUT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED AS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ONLY.

The information in this announcement concerning the terms and conditions of employment does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract, and these provisions are subject to change.

NOTES:

• After on-line submittal, immediate notification will appear on your screen indicating your application has been received. Please print this notice as proof of filing.
• Notification and correspondence will be sent via email only. No paper notices will be mailed to applicants. It is the applicants responsibility to ensure a correct email address is provided and that correspondence is being received.
• NeoGov.com: You will receive correspondence via the e-mail address you placed on your application. Some e-mail accounts have been known to place these e-mails in the spam/junk file. Please check your e-mail folders or accept e-mails ending with neogov.com.

In accordance with California Government Code section 3100, et., seq., all City of Stockton employees are considered disaster service workers who may be required to report for duty, or remain on duty to address disaster service activities in the event of an emergency or disaster and are required to undertake an applicable loyalty oath.

NOTE: Employee Benefits are subject to change and are not guaranteed. For a detailed explanation of benefits currently in effect, click here to view a link to City of Stockton unrepresented employees Compensation Plan.

01

The Supplemental Questionnaire is part of the examination process; accordingly, it should be completed carefully. It must be submitted with your official employment application. Do not indicate "see resume" as an answer to any of these questions.

• I certify that the information provided is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any falsification may cancel any terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.

02

Do you possess, or are you able to obtain prior to appointment, a valid California Class C Driver License? (Note: A "No" response will result in application denial.)

• Yes
• No

03

This position requires you possess a high school diploma or GED? Do you understand and meet this requirement?(Note: A "No" response will result in application denial.)

• Yes
• No

04

Experience:

This position requires that you MUST possess a minimum of 3 years of secretarial experience in a law office (within the last 5 years) performing increasingly responsible and complex clerical work to include preparations of various pleadings, motions, discoveries, and calendaring. Do you understand and meet this requirement? (Note: A "No" response will result in application denial.)

• Yes
• No

05

If you answered "Yes" to Question #4, please detail your qualifying experience to include employer, title, related duties, and dates and percent of time performing these duties. (To prevent disqualification, your answer to this question MUST accurately describe and quantify your qualifying experience.)

06

TYPING CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must submit a valid Typing Proficiency Certificate, two years old or less, for at least 60 net words per minute by the final filing deadline. The City will accept typing certificates from an agency or online testing site.

To be accepted, the typing certificate must specify the following:

Applicants full name printed on certificate; 5-minute timed evaluation (only 5-minute tests will be accepted); Minimum of 60 net words per minute; Date of exam; Number of typing errors or accuracy rate; and Name of online testing agency/website

Do you understand this policy?

• Yes
• No

07

Typing Certificate Submission:

Typing certificates with a minimum of 60 net words per minute may be submitted as follows:

1) Attach to online application (preferred method)

or

2) Email to kim.johnson@stocktonca.gov - At time of Application (Write "Legal Secretary" in the subject line of your email)

NOTE: City of Stockton employees currently working in a position requiring a typing certificate may use their certificate on file with the HR Department in lieu of submitting a new one ONLY if that certificate meets the criteria listed above. Therefore, with the exception of it being two years old or less, the certificate on file must meet all other criteria. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure Human Resources receives a valid typing certificate for this position.

Do you understand and meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No

08

Please indicate the computer software in which you are proficient. (Intermediate skill level is considered proficient.) Check all that apply:

• MS Word
• MS Excel
• MS Powerpoint
• Novell Groupwise
• No Experience

Required Question

Employer City of Stockton

Address 501 W Weber Ave.

Building 1

Stockton, California, 95203

Phone (209) 937-8233

(209) 937-8234

Website http://www.stocktonca.gov/