County of Monterey
LEGAL SUPPORT COORDINATOR
DEFINITION
Under direction, performs highly skilled legal administrative support to legal staff within
the department; directs and trains legal secretarial support staff; oversees the preparation
and coordination of civil litigation matters in support of department legal and
management staff; functions as a lead worker for legal secretarial staff; and performs
other related work as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Legal Support Coordinator, under the guidance of the Assistant County Counsel, is
responsible to provide, perform, and coordinate complex legal administrative services,
activities, and staff in support of departmental legal and management staff. Incumbents
in this position are assigned specific complex tasks requiring knowledge of legal
concepts, and the application of a high level of civil litigation paraprofessional expertise
and knowledge, while utilizing independent thinking, discretion and sound judgment in
the performance of duties.
Legal Support Coordinator is distinguished from the next lower class of Legal Assistant
in that the latter assists staff attorneys with the preparation of criminal or civil cases, and
assists in the preparation of legal documents for presentation to the court, and researches
legal issues.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
1. Participates in recruitment, selection and discipline of legal secretarial support
staff. Supervises, trains, coordinates and directs assignments to legal secretarial
support staff
2. Some positions in this class may prepare timely responses to public records act
requests
3. Some positions in this class may prepare administrative records
4. Some positions in this class may review standard contracts prior to submission to
attorneys for approval
5. Some positions in this class may coordinate and prepare agenda for Board of
Supervisors’ Closed Session, and may draft, finalize and cause timely distribution
of Closed Session memoranda
6. Some positions in this class may coordinate claims procedures with Risk
Management, and ensure that claims are properly considered and processed
according to County policies
39C03
Legal Support Coordinator
7. Sets depositions, responds to and propounds discovery, and responds to subpoena
duces tecum
8. Consults with outside counsel, expert witnesses and investigators; interviews
witnesses and County staff to obtain information and documents concerning civil
matters; reviews invoices from outside counsel, expert witnesses, and vendors
prior to attorney approval for payment and corrects invoice discrepancies
9. Assists in the management of office litigation and case tracking systems, i.e.
database entry and follow up, and trains staff in the use of such systems
10. Tracks and coordinates all attorney court deadlines and court appearances. Tracks
and coordinates Litigation Attorney meetings and other appointments
11. Prepares reports and letters to insurance carriers; consults with insurance carriers
and outside counsel and apprises same on status of litigation matters
12. Administers, implements, interprets, and applies departmental administrative and
other systems, policies and procedures. Assures compliance with Federal, State
and local codes, ordinances, regulations, rules, laws, policies, procedures and
guidelines, and provides guidance to others in that regard
13. Prepares or assists with the preparation of and maintains a variety of complex
records, data, and statistical information
14. Attends staff meetings, and confers regularly with supervisor and staff attorneys
15. Drafts correspondence, pleadings and legal forms.
QUALIFICATIONS
A combination of experience, education, and/or training which substantially demonstrates
the following knowledges, skills and abilities:
Working knowledge of:
1. Principles and practices of recruitment, selection, supervision, coordination,
discipline, counseling and training.
2. Principles and practices of legal research methods and techniques.
3. Principles and practices of civil litigation computer support programs, and other
related computer programs, including legal research services.
4. Principles, practices and techniques of interview processes.
5. Federal, State and County codes, laws, regulations, rules and ordinances, and
departmental policies and procedures as related to County Counsel.
6. Legal terminology.
39C03
2
Legal Support Coordinator
7. General office procedures in order to direct legal secretarial support staff.
8. Principles and practices of record keeping and database systems and processes
and word processing software, with a focus on Word Perfect.
9. The services and functions of the Courts, County department and other agencies.
10. Principles and practices of law office protocols and procedures.
Some knowledge of:
1. Principles and practices of civil legal procedures.
2. Principles and practices of court rules and procedures, trial and hearing
procedures and rules of evidence.
Ability to:
1. Select, supervise, coordinate, direct, and evaluate the work of subordinate staff;
train, motivate, discipline and counsel subordinate staff.
2. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in order to prepare and assist
in the preparation of a variety of narrative, statistical, and/or complex reports,
memoranda, correspondence, related documents, litigation summaries and other
written information, to present statements of law and fact clearly, accurately, and
logically; and to effectively apply interviewing techniques.
3. Research, analyze complex problems and issues, evaluate alternatives, and make
sound recommendations; work independently with multi-changing priorities
and/or deadlines.
4. Be cognizant of sensitive and political issues while assisting with problems and/or
issues, or while preparing and/or assisting with legal documents and information;
and maintain confidentiality.
5. Understand, interpret, explain, and apply applicable Federal, State, County and
departmental codes, laws, regulations, rules, ordinances, policies, procedures,
guidelines, and related contracts, and ensure compliance of same.
6. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials,
governmental agencies, county employees, the general public, department staff
and others encountered in the course of work; and provide excellent and courteous
customer service.
7. Assist in the development and oversight of complex record keeping and reporting
systems; train subordinate staff in the use and implementation of these systems
and processes.
39C03
3