What are the responsibilities and job description for the Legal Office Professional I/II position at County of Santa Barbara?
We are accepting applications to fill current and future Legal Office Professional I/II (LOP) vacancies. There are currently two (2) vacancies in the District Attorney’s Office located in Santa Barbra and Lompoc, California. If you have excellent customer service and communication skills, we want to hear from you!
Legal Office Professional I: $22.99 - $27.64 Hourly, plus bilingual and uniform allowance when applicable. Benefits Info: HERE.
Legal Office Professional I - Restricted: $23.23 – $27.90 Hourly, plus bilingual allowance when applicable. Benefits Info HERE. Restricted positions are regularly privy to the decisions or recommendations of County management affecting employer-employee relations. These employees are in the confidential-unrepresented bargaining unit.
Legal Office Professional II: $28.97 - $35.05 Hourly, plus bilingual and uniform allowance when applicable. Benefits Info: HERE.
Legal Office Professional II - Restricted: $29.24 - $35.35 Hourly, plus bilingual allowance when applicable. Benefits Info HERE. Restricted positions are regularly privy to the decisions or recommendations of County management affecting employer-employee relations. These employees are in the confidential-unrepresented bargaining unit.
Note: Applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:
- Retirement reciprocity
- Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate
The Position: The Legal Office Professional class is a position that is utilized by six departments: District Attorney's Office, Child Support Services Department, County Counsel's Office, Sheriff's Office, Public Defender's Office and Santa Barbara County Employees’ Retirement System (SBCERS). For additional information about our County Departments, please visit this link: http://www.countyofsb.org/deptlist.sbc
The Ideal Candidate will have:
- Excellent customer service;
- Good oral and written communication skills;
- Ability to learn new tasks quickly;
- Ability to prioritize and complete time-sensitive work tasks;
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite;
- Ability to work well independently and as a team player;
- Self-motivation and a good attitude;
- Ability to recognize and maintain confidential information;
- Accuracy and attention to detail skills.
Examples of Duties
About Legal Office Professionals: The incumbent must be detailed oriented, able to handle multiple tasks; organized, able to work within strict legal mandates and deadlines; able to work effectively both independently or as a team member; resourceful in utilizing location tools and location of individuals; have good communication skills; take direction and understand and follow oral and written direction; establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental staff, law enforcement and court personnel.
The incumbent should have knowledge of standard office methods and equipment such as personal computer and copier/fax/scanner; standard word usage and grammar for business and legal documents; legal terminology and legal document formatting; database and word processing software and must be willing to be reassigned to other job duties on an as needed basis and to develop skills.
Job duties may also include preparation of legal documents using legal format; file documents with the courts; record trial information and maintain files, review and process misdemeanor, felony and juvenile complaints, information, search warrants etc.; preparation and maintenance of discovery; location of victims and witnesses and subpoena service; preparation of court calendars.
Legal Office Professional I incumbents will acquire and demonstrate the following:
- Basic knowledge of the Federal and California legal systems.
- Basic knowledge of the California process for a civil or criminal litigation and rules of the local courts.
- Knowledge of the different types of law practiced by the County.
- Basic knowledge of the legal consequences associated with civil, criminal, and administrative legal systems.
- Knowledge of the roles of and relationships between County agencies, other governmental agencies, the court system, and private-sector organizations.
- Skill to use basic legal terminology, including terminology related to legal ethics.
- Skill to explain the ethical obligations of the legal professions, confidentiality laws, attorney/client privilege, and work product privilege.
- Knowledge of general legal office protocol and management, including organizing and maintaining law libraries, documents, and case files; and coordinating witnesses and schedules.
- Knowledge and understanding of the rules and procedures related to legal pleadings and documents.
- Skill to prepare legal documents using a personal computer and/or dictating/transcribing equipment and following formatting, designations, and procedural requirements.
- Skill to proofread legal documents.
- Skill to use specialized computer-assisted resources effectively and efficiently.
Employment Standards
The following job-related competencies are required upon entry to this class for successful performance of essential functions and for demonstration of the County's ACE values:
- Skill to use computer operating systems, word processing, and email software at a level necessary to create documents and send and respond to email messages.
- Use alphabetic computer keyboard with skill and accuracy.
- Use complete English sentences and paragraphs to correctly organize and convey information.
- Correct use of English parts of speech, sentence structure, vocabulary, and word usage.
- Skill to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers and decimals.
- Skill to meet and interact with the public and co-workers courteously and professionally.
- Skill to file information alphabetically, numerically, and chronologically.
- Skill to write and print legibly, clearly, and uniformly to record information.
Some positions MAY require the following Additional Qualifications:
- The ability to read, write and/or converse fluently in English and Spanish may be required. If you indicated on your application that you are bilingual, Human Resources will place you on the employment list for a job requiring bilingual skills. Hiring departments may test you on your fluency. If you do not demonstrate sufficient fluency, your name may be withheld from future certifications, in accordance with Civil Service Rule VI.
- Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License may be required for some positions.
- Some departments require employees to wear uniforms.
- Some positions require a Live Scan and the applicant to pass a background investigation. Current or excessive use of drugs, sale of drugs, serious criminal history, or deception relating to employment history may bar employment.
Supplemental Information
SELECTION PROCESS:
- Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards. All applicants who meet the employment standards will advance to the online Written Examination.
- Online Written Examination: Candidates will be notified by email with instructions on obtaining and taking the online Legal Office Professional Exam. Candidates' final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by their score on the Legal Office Professional Exam.
VETERAN’S PREFERENCE POINTS: Veteran's preference credit is applicable for this recruitment (5 points for veterans, 10 points for disabled veterans). To be eligible for this credit, you must be applying for this position within five years from your most recent date of: (1) honorable discharge from active military service; or, (2) discharge from a military or veterans' hospital where treatment and confinement were for a disability incurred during active military service; or, (3) completion of education or training funded by a Federal Educational Assistance Act. No time limit exists for veterans with 30% or more disability.
To receive veteran's preference points, you must: (1) check the Veteran's Preference Points box on the employment application form, (2) submit a copy of your Form DD-214 to the Human Resources Department on or before the closing date, and (3) pass all phases of the examination process. The preference points will be added to your final test score.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.
Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Child Support Services, District Attorney, Public Defender, and Sheriff's Office conduct a background investigation. Current or excessive use of drugs, sale of drugs, serious criminal history, or deception relating to employment history may bar employment. Other departments may require an extended background check including credit history; this is at the discretion of each department.
The following process is only used for the Sheriff's Office:
- Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ). Once candidates are placed on the employment list, the Human Resources Department will email candidates a notice regarding completion of a Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ).
- Polygraph Examination: measures the accuracy of information disclosed on the PHQ and during the background investigation.
- Background Investigation: includes an interview and in-depth background investigation of arrest records, personal, military, credit, and employment history; inquiry of persons who know you and evaluate whether you respect the law and rights of others; are dependable and responsible; have demonstrated mature judgment in areas such as the use of drugs and intoxicants; are honest; and a safe driver.
- Live Scan: Electronic fingerprint scanning that is certified by the State Department of Justice.
Recruiters will correspond with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.
Statement of Commitment: The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.
APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Wednesday, April 30, 2025; at 4:59p.m. PST; postmarks not accepted. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.
Collin Graham, Senior Talent Acquisition Analyst: cgraham@countyofsb.org
- BENEFITS: Retirement Plans Generous County Defined Benefit Plan Eligible to participate in 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan Retirement Reciprocity with CalPERS, CalSTRS, and 1937 Act plans For more information on our retirement plans, please visit: https://www.sbcers.org/ and http://www.santabarbara457.comHealth Benefits Choice of dental, vision and medical plans. In addition to the Benefit Allowance noted above, the County contributes toward medical premiums and dental premiums On-Site Employee Health Clinics in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria which provide ongoing and episodic services to eligible employees and their eligible dependents Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free, confidential assistance with personal and workplace problems to employees and their immediate family members Healthcare Advocacy Program to help employees navigate the complexities of health plan benefits Available Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account (HSA), Supplemental Term or Whole Life Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance and more! For more information on our health benefits, please visit: https://www.countyofsb.org/4012/Health-BenefitsPaid Time Off Vacation Leave 12 to 25 days per year depending on length of public employment Sick Leave 12 days annually with unlimited accumulation, one year of which can be converted to service credit upon retirement Paid Holidays based on bargaining unit (view the compensation summary for this bargaining unit, link below) Alternative Transportation Benefit (TDM) up to 2 days of additional vacation for using alternative methods of commuting For more information on Paid Time Off please view the Compensation Summary for this bargaining unit (available below)Miscellaneous Benefits County Paid Term Life Insurance County Paid Long Term Disability Insurance Childcare and Employee Discounts Relocation Assistance may apply Flexible work schedule may apply For more information on all of these benefits, please visit: https://www.countyofsb.org/4013/24636/WorkLife-BenefitsCompensation Summary To view the Compensation Summary specific to the bargaining unit for this position (link to full Memorandum of Understanding also available at bottom of the summary), please visit: https://www.countyofsb.org/3085/SEIU-Local-620 *This benefits list is for convenience only; please refer to the Memorandum of Understanding for complete details of terms and conditions. Amounts are generally prorated for part-time employment.
Salary : $23 - $28
