Legal Clerk I/II

Performs specialized and responsible office support work that requires knowledge of legal terminology and legal clerical procedures; and performs related work as required.

Legal Clerk I $1308.33 - 1565.70
Working under close supervision, Legal Clerk I is the entry/trainee level in the Legal Clerk series. Employees in this class receive in-service training and are given detailed instructions in the performance of the more routine legal clerical duties. As requisite skills and knowledge are developed, greater independence and the full scope of responsibility are exercised. Unless a position is permanently allocated to this level due to the nature of the work, employees are expected to promote to Legal Clerk II after one year of satisfactory performance at the Legal Clerk I level.

Working under general supervision, Legal Clerk II is the journey level in the Legal Clerk series. Incumbents are expected to be fully qualified and able to perform a wide range of legal office support work. They work with a higher level of independent responsibility for precision and accuracy in producing notices and documents identified with legal matters and proceedings. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the lower level of Legal Clerk I, or if filled from the outside, require prior related experience.

This classification series differs from the Legal Assistant classification in that Legal Clerks perform the more routine legal clerical support duties that involve producing forms, notices, and documents. They do not serve in a paraprofessional capacity and do not conduct research or provide input on legal positions or arguments.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(For Legal Clerk I, duties are performed at the trainee level)

• Processes, maintains, and prepares a variety of legal forms, records, and reports; verifies that information or data is complete, accurate, consistent, and in conformance with prescribed format, procedures, and regulations.
• Gathers and reviews confidential information from agencies and processes documents related to assignments; communicates with affected parties to gather needed information and explain procedures.
• Determines acceptability of information and proper action to be taken based on established oral or written instructions.
• Contacts various agencies and organizations regarding the status of documents such as releases of liens, case settlements, etc.
• Receives, assembles, and maintains files and other information related to court actions; updates computer information; maintains court calendars by scheduling and reviewing court dates; files information or forwards to staff members.
• Files pleadings, orders, judgments, and a variety of other legal documents in the appropriate court.
• Identifies and corrects deletions or errors in accordance with prescribed format; follows up to secure additional information as needed.
• Produces a variety of legal documents including, but not limited to, Notices of Hearing, Subpoenas, Petitions, Dispositions, Dismissals, Monthly and Special Reviews, Warrants, and Special Orders, in addition to letters, reports, and fiscal or statistical reports.
• Types from electronic recording devices; proofs typewritten materials for grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, format, layout, and clarity of language; may verify the consistency, completeness and accuracy of references and other information.
• Receives and screens calls for attorneys; provides information based on knowledge of policies and procedures; performs follow up on caller requests as needed.
• Logs reports from law enforcement agencies; searches manual and automated systems for prior offenses and other relevant information; receives and processes discovery requests and gathers information.
• Maintains information related to assignments by entering information into a manual or computerized data system; serves as a court liaison regarding assigned work activities and related matters.
• May attend court proceedings to take notes and/or enter narratives into a database; may produce and file documents as a result of court proceedings.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

• Modern office procedures, techniques, and equipment.
• Clerical and department work practices, procedures, specific rules, precedence, and regulations.
• Proper English grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation.
• Knowledge of legal terminology, phraseology, documents, and procedures.
• Business letter writing.
• Filing, indexing, and recording systems and procedures.

• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Understand and apply laws, rules, and policies applicable to legal office procedures.
• Exercise independent judgment in determining and selecting the appropriate processes, alternatives, forms, and desired actions within the bounds of established work practices, procedures, and commonly used regulations.
• Prepare and maintain accurate and comprehensive reports and records.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Use discretion in organizing work and carrying out assignments with minimum supervision.

Legal Clerk I

Examination Information
 Training & Experience Examination – Weighted 100%

The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit a range of specific information regarding each candidate’s knowledge, skill, abilities, and potential to effectively perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses to the questionnaire will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination to receive a score. To obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination. 

Examination administration and processing time is approximately two weeks after the closing date of the job bulletin. 

Eligible List Information

A departmental open eligible list will be established for the county of Del Norte. The list will be utilized for 12 months after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.

Retest Period

Once you have taken the examination, you may not retest for SIX (6) MONTHS from the established eligibility date.

Special Testing Arrangements

Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CalHR at mssprogram@calhr.ca.gov or 916-909-3701 upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination.

Education Documents

If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must attach your transcripts to your application. Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the foreign course work is equivalent. Transcripts and evaluations may be unofficial; official transcripts may be required upon appointment. Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

General Information

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

MSS reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the recruitment if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all competitors will be notified. 

If you meet the requirements stated on this bulletin, you may take this examination. Your performance in this examination will be rated against predetermined rating criteria. All competitors who pass will be added to the eligible list. Meeting the entry requirements does not assure success in the examination or placement on the eligible list. 

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgement, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. As part of the hiring process, a background investigation may be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Additional Information   

• A valid driver's license may be required at the time of appointment and employees may also be required to drive their own car, provide proof of car insurance, and a DMV clearance. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• As a condition of employment, the County of Del Norte will require proof of ability to work in the U.S.
• This recruitment will be used to fill full-time, part-time, and extra-help positions as vacancies occur.

About Del Norte County
 Del Norte County, where the redwoods meet the sea, is located in the northwest corner of California along the Pacific Ocean and adjacent to the Oregon border. The substantially rural county is notable for forests containing coast redwoods, some over 350 feet tall. These redwoods are the tallest living things on Earth, dating back over 2,000 years. Notably, the County is located in one of the few rain forests in the temperate region. The County is home to a multitude of unique plants and flowers, coastal bird and fish species, rocky primitive beaches and sea stacks, pristine rivers, and historic lighthouses. Del Norte County is home to several fun rivers and ocean activities, a variety of food festivals, including local seafood, a sanctioned BBQ cook-off, raft races on the beautiful and wild Smith River, and the very popular ocean stand-up paddleboard race. There are numerous hiking trails located within the national and state parks, as well as sponsored park events throughout the year.  Star Wars enthusiasts will also recognize the County as being the location of some of the forest scenes used in Return of the Jedi.