Legal Secretary III

Final Filing Date: Monday, May 11, 2026Exam #: 26/80B26/05GM

Legal Secretary III

$30.250– $41.316 Hourly

The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and the process, be sure to read the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses section located towards the end of this job flier.

The County of Monterey Office of the County Counsel employs individuals of high ethical standards, character and professional integrity. The Office of County Counsel is seeking an organized, dependable, and self-directed individual with prior civil legal experience who can perform a wide variety of specialized legal secretarial and administrative support functions for attorneys and other staff.

TheOffice of the County Counsel serves as the in-house counsel for the County of Monterey, including the Board of Supervisors (BOS), and all County offices, departments, agencies, boards, and commissions as well as liaison and support to the Civil Grand Jury. In addition to providing legal advice, the Office also represents the County in civil and special litigation in state and federal courts, various administrative proceedings, and coordinates the services of outside legal counsel. The County Counsel's Office consists of four divisions; General Government, Litigation, Land Use and Risk Management.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process may be used to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis County-wide.

This classification is part of a flexible series. Incumbents appointed at the lower level of the career series may be promoted up to the higher level of the career series subject to their meeting the employment standards for the higher class and a recommendation for their promotion by the appointing authority.

• Compose, review, and edit a variety of complex legal documents including pleadings, discovery, subpoenas, contracts, ordinances, tables of content, tables of authorities, and other legal documents in addition to correspondence, memoranda, and reports from notes, brief instruction, printed materials, and general guidelines for the work; reviews finished materials for completeness, accuracy, proper legal format, and compliance with policies and procedures.
• Proofread draft legal documents prepared by attorneys and other staff reviewing for proper legal format, grammar, and punctuation; cross-checks content such as case citations and advises attorneys; accordingly, makes or suggests corrections to drafts prepared by attorneys and other staff.
• Calendar and schedule court dates, meetings, deadlines, appointments, and business-related travel arrangements for attorneys; files or arranges for the filing of legal briefs and other necessary paperwork with the court; coordinates with court personnel, outside agencies, and County staff as necessary.
• Track case progress and actions to ensure that filing and other deadlines are met; alerts attorneys to impending deadlines; initiates necessary documentation for attorney review and completion.
• Collect information from a variety of sources pertinent to the area of assignment; compiles data and prepares reports; transcribe interviews and statements; may include summarizing of medical records and/or deposition transcripts.
• Relieve attorneys of certain administrative matters by following up on projects, transmitting information, keeping attorneys informed of pertinent activities and deadlines.
• Prepares administrative records as needed; prepares trial and complex motion binders; redacts discovery and/or Public Records Act responses.

To view the complete classification description, please visit the County of Monterey website: Legal Secretary III

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

Thorough knowledge of:

• Legal office terminology, processes, procedures, and the format for legal documents.
• Court procedures and guidelines.
• Calendaring legal deadlines.
• Operating procedures of a legal office.
• Methods of legal recordkeeping, report preparation, and filing.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination.
• Computers and software programs (e.g., Microsoft software packages) to conduct, compile, and generate documentation.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.

Working knowledge of:

• Legal processes and procedures applicable to the type of law practiced in the area of assignment.
• Legal case management software applications and systems to the type of law practiced in the area of assignment.

Some knowledge of:

• Principles of providing technical and functional direction and training.

Skill and Ability to:

• Compose a wide variety of complex pleadings and other legal documents from notes, brief instructions, printed information, or general guidelines.
• Provide varied and responsible secretarial and office administrative assistance to one or more attorneys and/or associated staff.
• Organize and maintain accurate records and files.
• Understand, interpret, and apply pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards relevant to the work performed.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Effectively provide staff leadership and work direction as assigned.
• Effectively represent the department and the County in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment listed above is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

Education: Equivalent to graduation from the twelfth (12th) grade.
AND
Experience: Three (3) years of responsible experience performing increasingly complex civil and/or criminal legal secretarial and office administrative work.CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
As a condition of employment, the incumbent will be required to:

• Some positions may require occasional attendance at evening meetings for the purpose of departmental business needs and/or trial preparation to take and/or transcribe notes.
• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver’s license or the ability to provide suitable transportation that is approved by the appointing authority.
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency.

BENEFITS:
The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view theJ Unit Benefit Summary Sheet. This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

NOTES:
As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of any criminal convictions. Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9. If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary.
Application and Selection Procedures
Apply On-Line athttps://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/montereycounty,by Monday, May 11, 2026, 11:59 PM(PST)orHard copy applications may be obtained from andsubmitted during normal business hours,Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting:County of MontereyAttn: Gabriela Munoz, HR Analyst168 W. Alisal Street, 3rd FloorSalinas, CA 93901Email: munozg2@countyofmonterey.gov | Phone: 831-755-5899
The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants' possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials. A complete application package will include:

• A completed County of Monterey Employment Application

• Responses to the Supplemental Questions

Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest, and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

HIRING PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS AND ELIGIBLE MILITARY SPOUSES

The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses (i.e., surviving spouses of veterans, spouses of totally disabled veterans, and spouses of active-duty service members) and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. To obtain a Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application, please visit the Human Resources website or click on the following link: Click Here to View theVeterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application

To apply for veterans’ preference points, veterans or eligible military spouses must complete and email a Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application with supporting documentation of their eligibility by the final filing deadline to VeteransPreferencePoints@countyofmonterey.gov

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Gabriela Munoz, HR Analyst, at (831) 755-5899, ormunozg2@countyofmonterey.gov.