Administrative Assistant to Legal Advisor Judicial Council of California

Under direction, the Administrative Assistant to Legal Advisor provides varied, complex and confidential legal, secretarial and administrative assistance to the Legal Advisor and the commission, coordinates hearings in formal proceedings, manages the commission’s publications and website, prepares and issues press releases, and performs related work as assigned.

The Commission on Judicial Performance strives for work-life balance and includes substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package including pension, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending, up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs, and retirement savings plans. In San Francisco, the office is only a 7-minute walk from the Civic Center BART station.

The successful candidate will be expected to work in the San Francisco office. At present, commission employees work remotely two days a week and are in the office three days a week.

Examples of Duties (illustrative only)

• Provides legal, secretarial, and administrative support to the Legal Advisor and the commission.
• Types, edits, and proofreads a variety of legal and other documents, including correspondence, memoranda, orders, and commission decisions.
• Reviews finished materials for completeness, accuracy, format, correct English usage including spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and conformance to commission rules, procedures, and uniform style using the California Style Manual.
• Reviews final legal documents by checking referenced facts and verifying cited authorities.
• Maintains calendar and dockets in formal proceedings and other commission matters.
• Coordinates hearings in formal proceedings and appearances and oral arguments before the commission, including making arrangements for site, court reporter, and security.
• Handles filings of legal documents with the commission and the Supreme Court.
• Assists in preparing revisions to the commission’s rules and policy declarations, including proofreading amendments, circulating rules for public comment, preparing and issuing press releases, and submitting rules for publication.
• Manages the preparation and publication of the commission’s annual report and other reports; works with staff to produce statistics; drafts, proofreads and edits text; provides the graphics designer and printer with final revisions; monitors publication deadlines; and coordinates and facilitates the delivery and distribution of reports.
• Answers general inquiries from the media and the public concerning formal proceedings.
• Updates the commission’s website, including revising web pages, posting commission decisions and press releases, and updating the website’s database.
• Remediates documents for the commission’s website for ADA accessibility.
• Prepares and issues press releases.
• Provides commission decisions to the Supreme Court’s Reporter of Decisions for publication.
• Drafts correspondence.
• Organizes and maintains an information management system.
• Scans case materials and other documents, links electronic documents to database records, and enters data into the commission’s case tracking database.
• Performs research, including using legal and other databases.
• Follows up on projects, disseminates information and keeps informed of commission policies, procedures and activities.
• Coordinates the preparation and distribution of materials and binders for meetings, hearings and other projects.
• Provides additional secretarial and administrative support as needed.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Must be available to work overtime and on weekends and holidays.
• Statewide travel may be required.

Knowledge of:

• Legal concepts, terminology, practices, and procedures.
• Secretarial and administrative office practices and procedures, including filing, letter writing, and the standard format for correspondence, memoranda, briefs, drafts, opinions and other documents, and the production of reports and presentations.
• Principles, techniques, and practices of administration and project coordination and management.
• Correct business English, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and the use of legal terminology.
• Methods of legal research.
• Information management and record-keeping principles and practices.
• The operation of standard office equipment and computers and the use of specified computer applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, graphic design and desktop publication.

Ability to:

• Provide varied and complex legal secretarial and administrative assistance to attorneys and the commission office.
• Accurately proofread, edit and cite check a variety of legal documents and commission decisions, ensuring correct spelling and grammar, accuracy of quotations and citations, and conformity with approved format and style using the California Style Manual.
• Use initiative and judgment within established procedural guidelines.
• Organize, prioritize, and coordinate multiple work activities and meet critical deadlines while maintaining accuracy; exercise skill in setting priorities that accurately reflects the importance of assigned responsibilities.
• Compose correspondence independently or from brief instructions.
• Use standard software to perform calculations, compile statistical data, and prepare reports, charts, graphs and presentations.
• Communicate effectively and professionally in English, verbally and in writing, with attorneys, judges, commission members, staff and the public.
• Type at a rate necessary to accurately produce documents and other materials.
• Operate computers and use specified computer applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, graphic design, and desktop publishing.
• Work independently.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Maintain confidentiality by exercising a high degree of tact, discretion, and sound independent judgment in communicating confidential and sensitive information.

Licenses and Certificates:

None

Education and Experience:

Equivalent to an associate degree and four years of experience in a secretarial, administrative or paralegal position in a law office, a law-related agency, or the judicial system.

Or: Two years in a legal secretarial/administrative support position with the Commission on Judicial Performance.

Additional directly related college-level education may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis. Additional directly related experience may be substituted.

This position requires completion of our online application, a resume and a letter expressing your interest in and highlighting any experience that you deem particularly relevant to, this position.

To complete the online application please click the Apply for Job button. For earliest consideration, please apply by June 21, 2024. This position will remain open until filled.

The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (415) 865-4272.

Please note: If you are selected for hire, the Commission on Judicial Performance will require verification of employment eligibility or authorization to work legally in the United States.

Salary range: $6,340 – $7,705 per month

The Commission on Judicial Performance offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
• 1 personal holiday per year
• Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs
• Pre-Tax Parking Savings Program
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• FlexElect Program
• Long Term Disability (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)