1458-Complex and Affirmative Litigation Team - 1458-Legal Secretary I - CAT21-1458-COM02

  • Full-time
  • Work Hours: Regular
  • Job Code and Title: 1458-Legal Secretary I
  • Fill Type: Temporary Exempt

Company Description

The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office is looking for a qualified and motivated Legal Secretary I to join its Complex and Affirmative Litigation Team.

About the Office: The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office is an innovative, nationally-recognized municipal law office working to protect and advance the rights and interests of the City and County of San Francisco and its residents.  With just over 300 talented, dedicated, and diverse attorneys and support staff, the Office provides exceptional legal services to the City’s Mayor, Board of Supervisors, officials, and departments.  Our work empowers City leaders with effective, responsive and creative legal solutions and representation so they can deliver critical public services and our affirmative advocacy enhances the lives and wellbeing of the San Francisco’s residents and visitors.

The Office recognizes that diversity in the backgrounds, ideas and lived experiences of our employees enriches our workplace and enhances our work.  We aspire to recruit, employ, retain and promote capable individuals representing the full spectrum of our community, and welcome all candidates, including candidates of any race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age and candidates with disabilities.  We have a clear vision: to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and stay, and where employees feel welcomed, engaged and valued for their work and contributions to the Office and the City.

To learn more about the City Attorney’s Office please visit: https://www.sfcityattorney.org/

To learn more about the Office’s efforts to provide a welcoming, diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace please click here.

Job Description

About the Complex and Affirmative Litigation Team: The Complex and Affirmative Litigation Team is a collaborative and dynamic group of 10 attorneys, 4 paralegals, and 3 secretaries.  The Team handles affirmative and defensive matters in both state and federal court, at all stages of litigation, from the initial pleadings to appeals.  The matters often involve novel legal issues, large amounts of documents, and significant collaboration with attorneys both on the Team as well as across the office.  We are recruiting to fill a vacant Legal Secretary I position.

Legal Secretary I Position and Responsibilities: Legal Secretaries work under the direction of attorneys and provide a variety of secretarial and clerical duties in a fast-paced, high-volume civil litigation practice.  The responsibilities listed below are representative of the range of duties assigned and are not intended as an exhaustive list.

  • Preparing, editing and proofreading a wide variety of legal documents in proper format which may include pleadings and briefs (including preparation of Table of Authorities and Table of Contents), motions, notices, correspondence, subpoenas, contracts, jury instructions, complaints, notices, exhibit lists and verdict forms, resolutions and ordinances utilizing multiple word processing systems, spreadsheet software, and case management systems/software in order to prepare a variety of legal documents.
  • Legal filing (including E-Filing) documents with the Supreme Court of the United States, circuit courts of appeal, state courts of appeals, and state and federal trial courts.
  • Opening, maintaining, monitoring, organizing, closing legal case files, creating and updating file index, and maintaining correspondence and record files;
  • Maintaining attorney appointment and court calendars, keeping abreast of important court dates, local court rules and procedures regarding filing legal documents with courts as mandated, including e-filing, and serving legal documents as required by court rules.
  • Scheduling depositions, court reporters, and witnesses; and assuring legal complaints are responded to in a timely manner.
  • Providing information when possible by personally assisting callers, and exercising considerable judgment and discretion in dealing with confidential matters.
  • Prioritizing duties and deadlines to accommodate work schedules of a large number of attorneys.
  • May contact court staff, administrative law organizations and other city departments using discretion and tact.
  • Performs other related duties and responsibilities as required, including working closely with paralegals, legal assistants, investigators, information technology staff and accounting staff to complete tasks assigned by attorneys and supervisors.
  • Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of court rules and practices according to jurisdiction.
  • Utilizing a wide variety of word processing, case management and calendaring software
  • Performing related duties as required.

Qualifications

  • Two (2) years of verifiable experience as a legal secretary preparing legal documents including petitions, motions, briefs, complaints and other legal forms.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Excellent verbal and writing skills, and an ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively across multiple legal teams. 
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, accept and implement written and oral instructions, and communicate effectively and tactfully with attorneys, office personnel, court personnel, vendors and representatives of other governmental departments/entities and the general public. 
  • Working knowledge of civil legal procedures, legal terminology and court rules.
  • Adept in Microsoft Office Suite, with a focus on Excel.
  • Experience with Adobe Professional, Cisco WebEx, Microsoft Team.
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.

Verification of Education and Experience:  Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements

Notes:

  1. Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
  2. Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirements by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

Appointment Type:  Provisional - This is not a permanent appointment.  A provisional appointee must participate and be successful in a Civil Service examination for this classification and be selected through an open competitive process in order to be considered for permanent appointment.  Provisional appointments may not exceed three (3) years.

Additional Information

Salary and Benefits: The position has a five-step salary scale ranging from $85,670-$104,130.  The successful applicant is appointed to a salary step based on years of experience and additional relevant degrees, certifications, credentials or skills.  

The City offers robust health, retirement and other benefits.  For more information please visit: https://sfdhr.org/benefits-overview.  Legal Secretaries are represented by the Service Employees International Union, Local 1021, which has a Memorandum of Understanding with the City that can be found at MOU

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Question: If you have any questions regarding this job, please contact  [email protected].

Application Opening:7/20/2022

Application Deadline: 08/06/2022

Analyst Name: Marylou Remo

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

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