Legal Secretary I - Superior Court

Whatcom County Superior and Juvenile court is hiring for two Legal Secretary I's.    

• One position will support Superior Court – Water Adjudication division.

• One position will support all of Superior Court with a focus in coordinating court certified interpreters.

These positions performs a variety of complex and diverse office, clerical and secretarial support work to facilitate the effective operations of the department.  Under general supervision, prepares court documents, pleadings, reports and correspondence and coordinates collection and distribution of paperwork.   

Whatcom County Superior Court is an independent branch of government and personnel employed under the judicial branch of government.  The positions are in accordance with GR 29. Under GR 29, the Presiding Judge is responsible for the daily operations of the Court, which includes working conditions, hiring, discipline, and termination decisions.

Key Duties Include:

• Provides clerical, office and secretarial support for assigned areas.
• Prepares pleadings and correspondence such as summons, subpoenas, jury instructions, briefs or other legal documents.  Performs basic research of documents and compiles data.   Date stamps and distributes documents as required.
• Answers, screens or routes telephone and other inquiries.  Identifies customer needs, explains services clearly and promptly responds to requests.   Evaluates priorities and independently addresses routine and diverse matters, inquiries and complaints.   Distributes, collects mail through numerous court runs daily and processes subsequent work related to the court runs.  
• Maintains case-tracking system of case files, records, calendars, schedules appointments, special hearings, court appearances, interviews and meetings.  Arranges, coordinates and attends meetings or hearings.  Prepares and distributes agendas, minutes and other material.
• Organizes, updates, maintains purges, and archives databases, files, records, and other documents according to guidelines.   Modifies processes and troubleshoots routine problems as needed. 
• Prepares, edits and/or updates routine contracts, agreements, correspondence, procedures, reports, and other documents.  Runs and compiles routine and diverse reports. 
• Collects, researches, verifies, enters, updates and retrieves computer data.
• Acts as liaison between assigned attorneys or probation officers and the courts, other criminal justice departments and agencies and with the public, with regard to assigned caseload.

Supervisor: Administrative Supervisor

Hours of Work: Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM Salary Range: 

• MCBA- Range 109.0

Hiring rate depends on qualifications.  This position receives annual pay increases to the next step in the associated salary range (apx. 3.8%) subject to satisfactory performance, in addition to any negotiated Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA).Required Qualifications:

• Requires a Legal Secretary Certificate 
• Six months experience as a Legal Secretary OR two years experience in a law office, criminal justice system or a related field.

Experience with court or legal procedures is preferred.
 Knowledge of legal terminology is preferred.

Salary : $21 - $32