WHO WE ARE: Founded in 1966, CRLA’s mission is to fight for justice and individual rights alongside the most exploited communities of our society. Through a network of regional offices and cross-cutting programs, CRLA provides legal services to tens of thousands of low-income people annually. Our work impacts farmworkers, indigenous populations, individuals with disabilities, immigrant populations, LGBTQ+ communities, women, children, and low-income families in rural areas.
- Position: Legal Secretary
- Experience: 1 + years of experience as a Legal Secretary or equivalent experience providing administrative support
- Application Deadline: Open until filled
- Location: Stockton Office
- Other: FLSA Non-Exempt, Union Position, Full-Time
The Legal Secretary (LS) manages communications, correspondence, typing legal documents, filing, travel, calendar, and general organizational matters within the Agricultural Worker Program. Also responsible for managing legal expenditures; minimal coordination of litigation with outside counsel; and maintaining/organizing records of litigated and transaction matters.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Works with a team of support staff to provide secretarial support to Agricultural Worker Program staff, including attorneys and community workers, in all landlord-tenant legal matters.
- Drafts a variety of legal correspondence, forms, petitions, pleadings, motions, and discovery and informational material.
- Files documents with the court both in person and via e-filing and stays updated with changes in local court rules and procedural requirements for litigation in all Agricultural Worker Program service counties.
- Assists walk-in applicants for services and clients at the CRLA Stockton office, including screening for intake, copying documents, preparing pro se documents for filing, and providing information and referrals to community members.
- Types, reviews, and independently composes outgoing correspondence to ensure all legal documents/enclosures are in proper processing order and that correspondence is grammatically correct.
- Contacts the court to obtain cases statuses and hearing/trial dates, and communicates with court clerks related to filing and court access issues.
- Maintains records relating to legal matters in process and ensures that legal requirements and deadlines are met.
- Maintains and organizes client files, including obtaining pleadings from the court, obtaining and organizing client documents within the electronic client file, using standard naming conventions, ensuring files are complete, and preparing files for closing.
- Performs various responsible secretarial duties such as setting up and/or maintaining filing systems and appointment calendars, answering inquiries over the phone or in person, returning voicemails, and managing secretarial and administrative details with minimum direction.
- Operates a variety of office machines.
- Input case and project information into CMS, including time records, calendaring, and other information as directed.
- Provides support to the Administrative Legal Secretary and other Legal Secretaries as needed.
- Assists with library maintenance.
- Performs other normal law office duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- At least one (1-3) year of legal secretarial experience or equivalent.
- Type 55-60 w.p.m.
- Knowledge of computer software, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Windows and case management software.
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and Teams), Table of Authorities, Internet & email skills.
- Ability to learn data entry and correctly enter information into CRLA’s case management system.
- Knowledge of or ability to learn and obtain proficiency in all office equipment functions such as copiers, fax, and scanners.
- Ability to work collaboratively with all CRLA staff, clients, and community organizations.
- Ability to maintain client confidentiality at all times.
Preferred Education and Experience:
A highly qualified and desirable candidate would also have the following:
- Experience working with low-income families and communities.
- Experience in a non-profit legal services environment.
- Prior experience in legal services.
- Bilingual (English & Spanish) required
This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
We offer a diverse, family-friendly environment and compensation based on competitive public interest salaries; generous benefits package which includes 100% employer-covered medical, dental, vision, life, and short & long-term disability insurance for employees and up to 50% for dependents coverage; and 401K retirement plan with CRLA contribution effective immediately. Generous paid leave policy which includes; 15 days of sick leave, 15 holidays each year, and vacation (accrue 15 days for the first year of service and 20 days after one year of service at CRLA). This is a union position (Legal Service Workers for Rural California "LSWRC" ), and the estimated starting hourly range for this position is $22.41 - $30.28 (placement in the range is primarily determined by years of related experience).
CRLA requires that all employees are Fully Vaccinated, defined as a CDC-approved COVID vaccination and one booster shot. This offer is contingent on meeting this requirement. The complete vaccination policy, including the process for reasonable allowable accommodations, is available for your review upon request.
APPLICATION:
CRLA invites all applicants to submit their resume and in their cover letter a statement about how their unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.
California Rural Legal Assistance thrives on our diversity, and we are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to building a culturally diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, persons of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, persons with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups to apply.
