Salary : $62,836.80 – $79,996.80 Annually
Location : City of Sparks, NV
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 24-10
Department: Legal
Division: Criminal
Opening Date: 09/22/2023
Closing Date: 10/6/2023 4:00 PM Pacific
Job Information
Are you looking for a meaningful career that has a positive impact on the community? If you answered yes, come join the City of Sparks! Aside from working for an organization that is dedicated to the community, you will also receive a generous and competitive salary, benefit package, tuition reimbursement, bilingual pay (when applicable) and retirement plan. People who come to Sparks stay in Sparks. Apply here to start the process.
Application Tips:
- Fill out and update your general online application before attaching it to any new job posting. HR reviews information listed on the application submitted to the specific job posting
- The Qualifications section below is your cheat sheet to understand what the City is looking for on your application, use this to your advantage. It is up to the candidate seeking employment/promotion to include all relevant information for qualification purposes, on the application the candidate submits to be considered for the job
- One step is eliminated for you! Do not attach resumes or cover letters. The City of Sparks does not review these items with the application. Only attach any licenses/transcripts/ certificates that are required for qualification (see qualifications section to determine what documents to attach)
Don’t forget to enable TEXT messaging in your application before you hit submit! This feature will allow the recruiter to send you important reminders throughout the recruitment process.
Closing Date:
This posting will close on Friday, October 6, 2023 at 4:00 PM PST.
Typing Test:
This position requires the ability to type at 45 net words per minute. Applicants must attach a valid typing certificate to their application. Typing certifications may be obtained from a public/private employment agency or school. Certifications must have been obtained within the last 12 months, the test should be a minimum duration of three (3) minutes and the certificate must possess a signature from the certifying agency. On-line certifications will NOT be accepted. If you haven’t completed a typing test/certification as listed above, please see below for ways to obtain one.
- Nevada Job Connect offers typing tests/certifications. To find a location visit:
- You may schedule an appointment to take a typing test with the City of Sparks Human Resources Department. Typing tests will be offered/administered Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays between 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call (775) 353-2345 or email
Civil Service Testing:
The Civil Service Exam for this position will be a Training and Experience Questionnaire. All applicants interested in consideration must complete the Training and Experience questions attached at the end of this job posting. Training and Experience Questionnaires will be evaluated and given a score. The score received will be the candidate’s Civil Service Exam score and will determine the candidate’s rank on the eligibility list. It is, therefore, in the candidate’s best interest to answer each question completely and thoroughly.
If you have any questions, please email hrstaff@cityofsparks.us or call Human Resources at (775) 353-2345.
Legal Secretary Senior – Criminal
DESCRIPTION
Perform varied, complex and difficult secretarial, office administrative and records processing assistance to the City Attorney and associate legal staff.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is the lead level in the Legal Secretary series, expected to independently perform a range of legal secretarial support work. This class is distinguished from Administrative Assistant to the City Attorney in that the latter provides broad support to the City Attorney in office management, risk management and liability claim collection.
Qualifications
Applicants must possess the following minimum qualifications to continue in the recruitment process:
Education and Experience:
High School Diploma or equivalent and three (3) years of experience in providing technical legal secretarial services, including the preparation of motions for civil matters and office administrative support to one or more attorneys or related support staff equivalent to the City’s class of Legal Secretary II.
Experience in a public agency setting and college coursework are preferred.
Must accurately type forty-five (45) net words per minute.
Licenses and Certificates:
Specified positions may require possession and maintenance of the equivalent to a valid Nevada Class C driver’s license within thirty (30) days of hire.
Must possess and maintain, at the City’s expense, a State of Nevada Notary Public Certificate within thirty (30) days of hire.
Examples of Essential Duties
Legal Secretary Senior – Criminal
Provide lead direction and mentor, technical assistance, training and work review for legal office support staff. Organize and assign work, set priorities and follow-up to ensure coordination and completion of assigned work. Review timecards. Provide training. Provide input into selection, evaluation, disciplinary and other personnel matters. Prepare Attorneys timecards for approval.
Draft pleadings, subpoenas, contracts, ordinances, court orders, notices of conviction and other legal documents, correspondence, memoranda, reports, brief instructions, dictated tapes or printed materials. Type drafts and a variety of finished documents, including both general and legal-related correspondence, reports and documents.
Prepare and mail subpoenas, motions and correspondence. Calendar and schedule court dates, appeals, meetings and appointments for City Attorney and associate staff.
Provide clerical support work for city’s collective bargaining for negotiations, grievances and arbitrations
File or arrange for the filing of legal briefs and other necessary paperwork with the court. Prepare the court list on a weekly basis. Notify witnesses and obtain required documents and certifications.
Compile case documentation for attorney use and file maintenance in both civil and criminal matters.
Prepare budget in area of assignment and submit for approval.
Receive and screen visitors and telephone calls, provide information which requires the use of judgment and interpretation of policies and procedures, or take messages or refer the caller to the proper attorney.
Initiate specified correspondence such as transmittal letters independently for signature by appropriate staff. Review finished materials for completeness, accuracy, format and compliance with policies and procedures using appropriate English usage.
Organize and maintain chronological files. Update statute and code books for attorneys.
Relieve attorneys of certain administrative matters by following up on projects, transmitting information, keeping informed of pertinent activities and scheduling and arranging for meetings.
Audit reports for outside agencies. Provide technical and service agreements to outside agencies.
Organize own work, set priorities and meet critical deadlines.
Train other in work procedures and work performed.
Perform other duties which may be assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- City ordinances, state laws and a variety of court rules and requirements
- Analyze and resolve office administrative situations and problems
- Explain criminal justice operational structure and answer questions
- Effective communication principles and practices of conflict management
- Records management policies, principles and practices
- Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary
- Public agency structure including the role of a Mayor, City Council and appointed boards and commissions
- Budgetary principles and practices and business arithmetic
- Organize work, set priorities and meet critical deadlines
- Must accurately and efficiently type
- Use initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines
- Train others in work procedures
- Computer applications and software related to the work including Microsoft Office
- Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted during work
Physical Demands:
Requires ability to work in a typical office setting and use standard office equipment. Occasionally bend and lift boxes and files. Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
SUPPLEMENTAL JOB POSTING INFORMATION
- This is a Civil Service position and is Non-Exempt under FLSA guidelines
- May be called back, held over, work off-hours, nights, weekends and holiday shifts as required
- May be required to work during emergency circumstances or inclement weather conditions
- This position reports to the City Attorney and the Chief Assistant City Attorney
- Supervision exercised: May plan, assign and review the work of support staff and train others in work procedures
- Must submit a fingerprint card and meet NCIC/CJIS requirements
- May be required to pass a pre-placement drug screen and background investigation
Application and Recruitment Information
Human Resources will require prior to the first examination for the position, necessary documentary evidence be submitted for fitness of any qualification. Any requirement not met for the advertised position prior to the first examination for that position, will be cause for Human Resources to decline to examine, certify or hire the applicant.
Recruitment Communication:
Human Resources will be contacting you at various stages of the recruitment process via email only, even if you have chosen U.S. mail for prior application processes or for applications with other agencies. Please make sure your email address is accurate.
Reasonable Accommodation:
Human Resources will make efforts to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled candidates in the selection process. If you have special needs, please notify the Human Resources office when you turn in your application or at least three (3) business days prior to the examination/interview by calling (775) 353-2345.
Disclaimer:
The City of Sparks hires and promotes candidates based on a competitive merit selection process, which may include any or all of the following: screening for minimum qualifications, written examinations, supplemental training and experience questionnaires, assessment centers, interviews (oral or written), physical tests or any combination which the Sparks Civil Service Commission may order.
Scoring in the top five (5) for promotion or top ten (10) for entry level in any part of the selection process merely advances the applicant to a higher round of examination, which may consist of additional interviews and other evaluations. Scoring in the top five (5) or ten (10) gives no right to be selected for the position. The City of Sparks reserves the right to select applicants who demonstrate the best combination of qualifications for the position.
The City of Sparks is proud to offer a quality benefit program for our employees. Our plan offers a variety of benefits for a diverse workforce.
This is an overview of the City of Sparks benefit plans only. This overview does not in any manner modify, alter or expand or add to the applicable contract or resolution.
If you have questions regarding the various benefits described, please contact Human Resources at 353-2345.
• No State Income Tax
• Nevada PERS Retirement Plan Fully Paid By The City of Sparks
• No Social Security Participation, But Medicare Deduction Required (1.45%)
• Twelve Paid Holidays
• Vacation Leave Plan
• Sick Leave Plan
• Sick Leave Bank
• Personal Day
• City Paid Medical, Dental, Prescription And Vision Insurance Coverage For Employee; Employees Hired After 7/1/2006 Contribute 25% Of The Cost Of Dependent Coverage
• City Paid Life Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Workers Compensation
• Military Leave
• Family Leave
• Service Awards
• Longevity Pay
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Deferred Compensation Plans
01
All typing certifications must be received at the time the application is submitted.Did you attach the required typing certification with your application?
- Yes
- No
02
Do you have at least three years of full-time experience as a legal secretary in a professional legal setting?
- Yes
- No
03
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION BEGINS HERE: The next four (4) questions are your Civil Service Exam – Training and Experience. The questions must be completed and submitted with your application by the deadline date. Your answers to these questions will be evaluated and scored. ****Your resume and application will not be available to the rater and will not be considered for the scoring process. It is therefore in the candidate’s best interest to answer each question as thoroughly and directly as possible. *** Any blank response will receive zero points, incomplete responses will be graded accordingly. Click yes below to acknowledge that you understand.
- Yes
- No
04
Be specific and detail your direct experience with criminal litigation, include your specific roles and, where and when you gained this experience.
05
Be specific and detail your direct experience with calendaring and with electronic filing with courts. Include your specific roles and where and when you gained this experience.
06
Be specific and detail your direct experience with editing/writing/proofreading. Include your specific roles and where and when you gained this experience.
07
What is your knowledge of legal terminology, legal documentation, and court rules? List where you gained this knowledge and where you have had to apply this knowledge. Include your specific roles where you had to specifically use your knowledge.
Required Question