Exam Bulletin - Legal Secretary

State of California

Exam Code: EX-1834

Examination Plans Included:

  • LEGAL SECRETARY - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

LEGAL SECRETARY: $4,120.00 - $5,159.00 (A) per Month
LEGAL SECRETARY: $4,327.00 - $5,418.00 (B) per Month

View the LEGAL SECRETARY classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • LEGAL SECRETARY - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1834

For LEGAL SECRETARY, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01834

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00101282 - LEGAL SECRETARY

Either 1
Experience: One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Senior Legal Typist, Range B.

Or 2
Experience: Two years of experience in a private law firm, corporate law office, or a legal program in a governmental agency performing a full range of legal secretarial duties, which requires the preparation of legal documents for filing and service.

(1) Academic education above the 12th grade may be substituted for six months of the required experience on the basis of either

(a) one year of the general education being equivalent to three months of the required experience; or
(b) one year of education of a business or commercial nature being equivalent to six months of the required experience; or

(2) Completion of a certificated legal secretarial program at either a regionally accredited college or a business school approved by the Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education and accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

(Candidates who are within six months of satisfying the experience requirement for this class will be admitted to this examination, but they must fully meet the experience requirement before being eligible for appointment.)

Position Description

00101282 - LEGAL SECRETARY

Incumbents in Range A perform the full range of legal secretarial work. Under general supervision, in a secretarial capacity, incumbents type, format, file, and serve legal pleadings in multiple jurisdictions, including State, Federal, and appellate courts or Office of Administrative Hearings; perform complex clerical work; and coordinate and schedule court-related services with specific instruction.

Incumbents in Range B perform the most complex legal secretarial work. Under direction, incumbents independently perform the most difficult and responsible legal secretarial and clerical work, with minimum instruction, involving either: (1) work in a legal office with Level IV attorneys; or (2) work for a chief legal administrator with major administrative responsibility for a complex legal program and a large professional staff.

Legal Secretary
A demonstrated interest in assuming increasing responsibility, mature judgment, loyalty, poise, tact, and discretion.

Additional Desirable Qualification
Education equivalent to completion of the 12th grade.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Technical legal terms and various legal forms and documents and their processing 
  2. Modern office methods, supplies, and equipment 
  3. Business English and correspondence
  4. An understanding of the judicial process, Department and legal procedures and practices, and multiple and specialized areas of law 
  5. Proper format of State and Federal citations 
  6. Use of legal resources from traditional library references and software applications

Ability to:
  1. Type at a speed of 45 words per minute
  2. Read and write English at a level required for successful job performance 
  3. Establish and maintain effective working relationships 
  4. Prepare correspondence independently
  5. Perform difficult legal clerical work including the ability to process a large variety of legal documents, spell correctly, use good English, and make arithmetic computations
  6. Transcribe accurately difficult dictation involving a variety of legal terms from a dictating machine 
  7. Communicate effectively 
  8. Follow directions
  9. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action
  10. Type, format, file, and serve legal pleadings in multiple jurisdictions, including State, Federal and appellate courts, or Office of Administrative Hearings 
  11. Independently perform complex clerical and legal secretarial work 
  12. Coordinate and schedule legal services 
  13. Screen mail, visitors, and telephone calls and take appropriate action 
  14. Interact with courts, administrative agencies, governmental entities, co-counsels, opposing counsels, or witnesses as directed by the attorney ensuring deadlines are met 
  15. Compose correspondence 
  16. Give information and provide assistance using good judgment and discretion 
  17. Maintain case and administrative files and records 
  18. May act in a lead capacity over clerical staff including legal typists

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the LEGAL SECRETARY Classification will be established for:

  • State of California

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Legal Secretary Training and Experience Exam Preview

Instructions
Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following task statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, your EDUCATION, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

  1. Research court, legal procedures and/or database programs to gather case related information.
  2. Organize and maintain filing systems and index legal documents (e.g., pleadings, discovery, legal correspondence) in paper and/or electronic form for quick reference and to track status of files.
  3. Proofread and format all documents (e.g., letters, pleadings, memorandums, emails, briefs, motions, depositions) to ensure proper grammar, spelling, punctuation and accuracy of information.
  4. Prepare and/or finalize documents/correspondence (e.g., reports, notices, letters, pleadings) for court filings or to communicate with parties/entities.
  5. File and serve legal documents (by hardcopy and/or electronically) in various jurisdictions (e.g., Administrative, State, Federal, Appellate courts) in accordance with specific court requirements.
  6. Mail, email, fax, or arrange for the delivery of legal documents to parties/entities (e.g., clients, witnesses and court officials).
  7. Respond to communication inquiries (e.g., emails, telephone calls, facsimiles) from parties/entities in a confidential and professional manner.
  8. Schedule and arrange court-related services (e.g., court reporter, interpreter, videographer, conference room, fees) to facilitate court proceedings and/or to obtain witness testimony.
  9. Coordinate hearing dates with various parties/entities (e.g., attorney, court, opposing counsel, witnesses, clients) including determining their availability to attend via the use of staff calendar.
  10. Update status of case files by inputting information in database programs to generate reports.
  11. Communicate with courts, administrative agencies, governmental entities, cocounsels, opposing counsels, or witnesses, regarding case related information.
  12. Make photocopies and/or scan documents and other printed material into electronic format.
  13. Type information from hand written documents, dictation, or electronic notes into the proper format for preparation of documents or correspondence.

Testing Departments

  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

State of California
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

State of California reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)