PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to request City Council adoption of a resolution revising and re-titling the specification for the classification of Administrative Legal Secretary CTC No. 0019 to Law Office Administrator CTC No. 0479, as shown in the attachments.

BACKGROUND

The overall practice of law has changed significantly over the past 20 years and the role of the traditional legal secretary has changed with it.  Legal secretaries no longer simply type from dictation or handwritten documents, open mail, and answer phones.  They are responsible for editing and compiling complex legal documents from disposition and development agreements to Supreme Court briefs.  They are responsible for knowing and understanding an extensive array of court procedures, calendaring requirements and rules, and understanding and utilizing complex network-based computer applications. 

The Administrative Legal Secretary position has become a true law office management position.  In addition to general office administrative responsibilities and oversight of 19 staff members, the Administrative Legal Secretary is also required to have an extensive knowledge of court and other legal procedures, rules, and concepts.  This position is expected to actively and independently supervise and manage the workload of a staff of legal secretaries, including hiring, preparation and discussion of performance evaluations, discipline up to and including termination, and the preparation and administration of the City Attorney�s budget. 

ANALYSIS & CONCLUSION

The proposed revisions and re-titling of the classification for the specification of Administrative Legal Secretary to Law Office Administrator addresses the significant changes to the position and more clearly reflects the actual duties and requirements for this position.  They also clearly address the current and on-going needs of the department and will assist the department as it needs to recruit in this highly specialized field.

This classification will be an unrepresented management (�Z� group) position, exempt from Civil Service and the Fair Labor Standards Act.  This position will be included in the City�s Conflict of Interest Code.

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no fiscal impact from the revision or re-titling of this specification because the current salary range for this position will be maintained.  However, it is possible that depending on future survey results, the salary range for this position may be adjusted next Fiscal Year. 

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that the City Council adopts the proposed resolution revising and re-titling the specification for the classification of Administrative Legal Secretary CTC No. 0019 to Law Office Administrator CTC No. 0479, as shown in the attachments.

Respectfully submitted,

Judie Sarquiz

Management Services Director