Legal Secretary I

Base Pay: $16.13 Hourly


Note: This is an ARPA funded position until September 30,2026.

SUMMARY:
Performs legal secretarial functions which follow established procedures and require some judgment regarding which procedures to apply.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Performs any combination of the following duties:
Screens walk-ins and telephone callers and assists them directly or refers them to the appropriate office or person; responsible for answering the telephone and/or greeting visitors and taking messages.

Prepares, types and processes a variety of legal documents.

Coordinates and schedules appointments for interviews with paralegal or attorneys.

Obtains information needed in the prosecution of a protective order or processing of a civil case including DFPS case discovery or obtains information needed to assist attorney in drafting or reviewing legal documents relating to the business of the county.

Coordinates court settings and maintains calendar.

Prepares files and other materials for attorneys' use.

Uses the computer to process, retrieve and disseminate information and documents, including word processing functions for letters, memoranda and legal documents.

E-files documents with District or County Clerk.

Responds to inquiries from law enforcement agencies, defense attorneys, and the public regarding the status of certain cases; or responds to clients regarding the status of contract and opinion preparations.

Maintains accurate files on assigned cases including opening new files which reflect file numbers and dates assigned.

OTHER DUTIES:
May be responsible for maintaining an adequate inventory of office supplies for the division or unit.

May train new employees in procedural aspects of work.

May aid in locating witnesses.

May make travel arrangements for attorneys.

May maintain office statistics.

May notarize applicant’s affidavits for protective orders, or other documents.

Performs other clerical duties as required including filing, indexing, recording information, making copies, sorting and distributing mail, providing notary services, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Any employee who drives a vehicle on official business must have a driving record which meets standards set by the County and the County’s insurance carrier.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
High school diploma or general education degree (GED) with courses in typing and computers and two years of responsible clerical work experience; at least six months of legal secretarial experience with a governmental entity is preferred.

Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities, may be considered for current Nueces County employees only.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.

Employee reads legal documents, court calendars, correspondence relating to legal cases and manuals relating to equipment or new procedures.

Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

Employee may be asked to draft memos/letters to office personnel, law enforcement, witnesses, victims, etc. requesting information required by attorneys; draft statistical reports and enter data into a written ledger/calendar.

Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Employee comes into contact with court personnel and other county offices in the preparation and filing of legal documents and in assisting with office/county policies; greets and responds to inquiries from law enforcement, defense attorneys, victims, witnesses, etc.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent.

Employee may be required to compute total restitution costs, do minor statistical reports, file numerically, perform inventory tasks, and calculate due dates for legal documents and hearings.

REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
Texas Operator's Driver's License

May be required to obtain Notary Public Certification

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.

Ability to proofread for accuracy.

Considerable knowledge of justice system procedures and functions, modern office practices, legal documents and terminology.

Ability to work independently with little or no supervision.

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