Legal Clerk IV (Sheriff's Office Only)

About the Opportunity

THE POSITION

RECORDS DIVISION

The Legal Clerk IV in Records is the advanced level in the Legal Clerk series and will be the lead worker in the absence of the Supervising Legal Clerk. Incumbents are expected to fully comprehend, interpret, and perform the most complex clerical assignments while exercising independence of action, judgement and decision making. Incumbents are responsible for providing direction and guidance, monitoring work assigned, training other clerks, and providing solutions to non-sworn and sworn staff. Legal Clerks assigned to the Records Division must have strong customer service, exceptional time management and organizational skills to perform a variety of highly responsible and sensitive administrative work. These Legal Clerks perform a variety of complex specialized office duties, which include but not limited to transcribing reports using proper English grammar, sentence structure and punctuation, maintaining reports, citations, criminal records, court-related documents, and various other records. They support the technical function of patrol operations and play a critical role in the criminal justice system. Clerks establish and maintain effective working relationships with government agencies and the public on a frequent basis. Clerks enter, maintain, and retrieve data and information from a variety of law enforcement records systems including California Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (CLETS). Clerks will analyze and submit statistical data that meet federal regulations and requirements. They will need to understand and follow oral and written instructions while maintaining confidential sheriff’s department records and reports by adhering to established guidelines and regulations governing law enforcement records.

ADULT DETENTION DIVISION

The Legal Clerk IVs in the Adult Detention Division are the advanced level in the Legal Clerk Series and will be the lead in the absence of the Supervising Legal Clerk. The Legal Clerk IV will be expected to take control and provide guidance and direction to all staff and the public. The Legal Clerk IV must have advanced knowledge and experience in all areas of booking and court procedures. The incumbent must fully comprehend and provide direction and solutions on complex bookings, releases, sentences, and court minute orders. Adult Detention is a fast-paced unpredictable environment, therefore requires lead staff to possess excellent problem-solving skills, organizational skills, and quick independent decision-making skills. Legal Clerk IVs must possess a high level of professionalism, excellent interpersonal and people skills and relate positively with employees at all levels, including incarcerated persons, visitors, the public, law enforcement agencies and all other interactions. The Legal Clerk IVs in Adult Detention are responsible for various tasks to include, but not limited to, booking, court paperwork, sentence calculations, processing releases, warrant checks, collecting DNA, receiving, and sending teletypes, visitor applications, monitoring the lobby window, visits, phones, reviewing policy and procedures, training new hires, etc., all while providing professional guidance and direction to staff.

To learn more about the Sheriff's Department, click here .

Full time Legal Clerks who are assigned to perform work in the Adult Detention Facilities shall be paid, in addition to regular salary, a custodial facility assignment pay of ten percent (10%). The custodial facility assignment pay shall be prorated on a minimum eight (8) hour shift basis.

Full time Legal Clerks who are assigned to work swing shift will receive shift differential pay of five percent (5%) in addition to their regular salary and those assigned to work graveyard shift will receive shift differential pay of seven-and-one-half percent (7.5%) in addition to their regular salary.

All Legal Clerk positions at the Sheriff's Department are subject to shift work which includes working nights, swings, weekends, and holidays. Shift change occurs every six (6) months at which point all Legal Clerks not in a specialty assignment may be assigned to a different shift.

Unless otherwise provided, this position is part of the Classified Service of the County and is assigned to the Office Worker/Clerical bargaining unit for labor relations purposes.

Individuals who are in a full-time classification position are required to serve a twelve-month probationary period, which may be extended an additional six months, for a total of eighteen months.

Incumbents may also be subject to overtime, standby, callback, weekend, holiday and shift assignments as identified in their MOU (Memorandum of Understanding).

The Job Task Analysis provides information detailing the physical and functional demands of the classification. For the complete job task analysis, visit the Risk Management website at http://www.stancounty.com/riskmgmt/ under "Disability Management".

Typical Tasks

• Train, lead, and monitor performance of subordinate personnel and/or; independently oversee document processing and maintenance;
• Prepare daily and monthly reports and a variety of correspondence as required;
• Update and revise procedures;
• Provide customer service and confer with staff, attorneys, and the general public in answering questions;
• Process and interpret various legal forms, documents, and procedures such as minute orders, warrants, detainers, etc.;
• Process and type correspondence, notices, and forms including record search forms and failure to appear letters;
• Perform data entry;
• Determine eligibility for release;
• File documents and case files;
• Retrieve and distribute all facility and inmate mail;
• Release of incarcerated persons property and/or clothing;
• Respond and answer incarcerated persons request forms;
• Process and type arrest reports, traffic citations, restraining orders, etc., including transcription;
• Monitor and distribute teletype messages;
• Complete court runs and bookings;
• Assemble and maintain files, search for missing documents and files;
• Answer and screen incoming calls and sign up visitors;
• Data entry for newly arrested defendants;
• Book Incarcerated persons;
• Maintain a good rapport with staff and the public;
• Provide the District Attorney’s office information including case filings, additional reports, and criminal history to prosecute cases in court;
• Respond to public records requests and release in accordance with the Public Records Act;
• Receive and process requests for background checks;
• Sort and distribute mail received in Records;
• Operates a variety of computer software such as Microsoft Word, Access, Excel, Outlook, and programs specific to the Sheriff’s Office;
• Perform various entry and maintenance transactions involving stolen vehicles, missing persons, restraining orders, stolen property, etc., within state and national law enforcement telecommunication system databases (CLETS/NLETS);
• Transcription involving legal terminology;
• Answer phone calls and respond to citizen questions, directing to appropriate agency, department, or staff, as appropriate;
• Assist deputies with information related to agency warrants, criminal history, and records checks;
• Process all daily court minute orders;
• Cover the court desk as needed; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education/Experience)

KNOWLEDGE

Demonstrated knowledge of all Legal Clerk I , II and III requirements plus:

• Legal terminology and forms;
• Advanced legal clerical procedures and operations;
• Advanced clerking operations for legal offices and/or law enforcement;
• New laws, amendments, and local rules;
• Codes pertaining to legal offices and law enforcement;
• Data processing principles and advanced computer word-processing applications; and
• English grammar, spelling and proper punctuation.

SKILLS/ABILITIES

Demonstrated ability with all Legal Clerk I , II and III requirements plus:

• Independently and accurately perform advanced level legal clerical work;
• Instruct and monitor line personnel in legal office procedures and techniques;
• Manage various legal projects simultaneously, and maintain order and consistency;
• Exercise independent judgment in decision making;
• Operate related office equipment, such as word processing and/or computers, and use photocopy, adding and microfilm machines;
• Lead and train co-workers;
• Accurately carry out oral and written instructions;
• Prepare complex legal documents;
• Type accurately at the speed which permits successful job performance;
• Answer and screen telephone calls; and
• Update and revise procedures.

We recognize your time is valuable, please only apply if you meet the following required qualifications.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• One (1) year of experience as a Legal Clerk III in County Government; OR
• Four (4) years of general clerical experience of which three (3) years involved work in a law enforcement, legal secretarial/clerical secretarial capacity ( One year of relevant college or business school training may be substituted for one year of the general clerical required experience ); AND
• Applicants must be able to type at least 35 WPM (net corrected).

Please note that it is in the best interest of the candidate to submit a typing certificate as this department will only consider hiring those that attach one at application.

TYPING CERTIFICATE
A typing certification (within four years) from Workforce Development, a temporary staffing agency or a comparable institution is required to be attached to your application to be considered for desirable qualifications. Internet typing certificates are not accepted. The certificate must be a three (3) to five (5) minute timed test and net corrected of 35 words per minute (WPM). Typing certificates must be on agency letterhead, dated and signed by the issuing agency and have net words per minute listed.

Application and Selection Procedures

APPLICATION PROCEDURES/FINAL FILING DATE

Applications cannot be submitted later than 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date. Make your online application as complete as possible so a full and realistic appraisal may be made of your qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Attaching your resume and cover letter are an optional feature for those who wish to do so in addition to completing the required application. Information on your resume and cover letter will not substitute for the education, work experience and required fields on the County application. The online County application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

Most County recruitments consists of the steps detailed below and are governed by Merit Principles. The examination process ensures that all applicants are given the same opportunity to gain employment within Stanislaus County.

• Application Review and Screening. Applications are carefully screened based on information provided. Those who submit incomplete applications that lack relevant qualifications or do not submit all required documents will not be invited to move on.
• Written Examination. Applicants will be invited to participate in a written exam that tests knowledge for the position.
• Oral Examination. Applicants are invited to a panel interview in which they will be evaluated by County subject matter experts.
• Eligible Lists. Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification. Eligible lists are effective for six months, but may be extended up to eighteen months.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

Application Deadline: March 12, 2025 at 5pm

Oral Examination: TBD

Note: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, part-time and full-time vacancies throughout Stanislaus County.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Final appointment will be conditional upon successfully passing a County paid pre-employment drug screening (if applicable for position) and a job-related background investigation.

Some positions may require possession or the ability to obtain, and maintenance of a valid California Driver’s license or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job related essential functions.

Stanislaus County supports the good health of its workforce. More information is available at http://myclubwellness.org

Cell phones are typically incompatible with the online application format or browser. We recommend using a desktop or laptop computer. If you are still having technical difficulties, please call NEOGOV at 1-855-524-5627.

Benefits associated with this position can be found at Benefits Summary .

Closing Date/Time: 3/12/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• Stanislaus County

• (209) 525-6341

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