Legal Assistant

Job Description and Duties

In this role, you will serve as an essential contributor to the administrative and legal operations of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board . As a Legal Secretary , your work will directly support regulatory development, the public variance hearing process, and internal legal functions that enhance worker safety and health across California.

• Operational Support: Coordinate and manage the Board’s variance hearing process from intake to decision issuance, including preparing legal documents, reviewing applications for completeness, and ensuring timely communication with all parties involved.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as the Board’s first point of contact for the public and stakeholders regarding petitions, variances, rulemakings, and hearing procedures. Respond to complex inquiries via phone, email, and in-person while maintaining a high standard of professionalism and customer service.
• Legal and Administrative Expertise: Draft, proofread, and finalize legal decisions and correspondence using Board templates and ensure compliance with internal policies, Title 8 regulations, and administrative law procedures.
• Process Improvement: Maintain and update legal templates, internal databases, and the Board’s online application portal. Assist with troubleshooting technical issues, improving public-facing resources, and identifying opportunities to streamline clerical and regulatory workflows.

This posting may be used to fill future vacancies in accordance with 2 CCR §249.3

To be considered for this Legal Secretary job opportunity, applicants must be either reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility or have reinstatement eligibility. To take the exam and gain employment list eligibility, please click here to access the exam bulletin:

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

This position is located at: 2520 Venture Oaks Way, Suite 350, Sacramento, CA 95833.

Enjoy the convenience of easy freeway access, nearby restaurants and shops, and free parking.

• Hybrid Flexibility: Eligible applicants residing in California can take advantage of hybrid telework options under Government Code 14200—combining in-office collaboration with the flexibility of remote work.
• Office Setting: Work in a modern, temperature-controlled office with state-of-the-art facilities designed for both individual and collaborative work. Expect a dynamic environment where extended work hours may occasionally be required to meet project demands.

Special Requirements

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) highlighting your experience that qualifies you for this position must accompany the application. A resume/curriculum vitae must be submitted IN ADDITION to the SOQ. The SOQ should be typed in 12-point font, no more than two (single-sided) pages in length and address the following in the order listed below:

1. Do you have any prior experience as a legal secretary? If so, please state the total number of years or months of your prior experience working as a legal secretary, and the practice areas in which you have worked (for example, employment litigation, personal injury, workers’ compensation, criminal, etc.).
2. Please briefly describe the knowledge, skills and experience that you have that you believe make you a qualified candidate for this position as it relates to the duties outlined in the duty statement.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Legal and Regulatory Knowledge:

• Understanding of legal terminology, procedures, and documentation relevant to administrative hearings and state rulemaking.
• Familiarity with the Public Records Act and legal filing protocols.
• Experience working with government boards or legal offices is highly desirable.

Organizational and Clerical Expertise:

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet legal deadlines, and handle high volumes of incoming information with accuracy.
• Skilled in formatting and proofreading complex documents including legal notices, memos, and technical correspondence.
• Comfortable working with legal databases and portals for document intake, tracking, and distribution.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills:

• Proven ability to communicate clearly and professionally with attorneys, stakeholders, and the public via phone, email, and in-person.
• Skilled in explaining procedures to both legal and non-legal audiences.
• Professional demeanor with excellent customer service and public contact experience.

Problem-Solving & Initiative:

• Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to discrepancies in legal applications and filings.
• Proactive in escalating unusual issues to attorneys or supervisors for resolution.
• Takes initiative in updating templates, procedures, and public-facing knowledge bases.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website .

Working for the State of California comes with a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Paid Sick Leave and Vacation
• Retirement Benefits via CalPERS
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid Holidays
• 401(k) and 457 plans

Additional Information

Preference will be given to persons with State Restriction of Appointments (SROA) or Surplus status. Applicants must attach a copy of their most recently dated letter that specifies their designation as either SROA or surplus candidate as proof.

Qualified candidates must have eligibility in State employment, be in a reachable rank on an employment list for this classification, be currently in this classification, or have transfer eligibility to this classification.

If you do not hear from us in 4-6 weeks, you may assume the position has been filled by another applicant. Please note that all additional vacancies that become available may be added to this advertisement.

Please note that the Exam and Certification Online System (ECOS) does not allow you to resubmit your application once you withdraw it. If you have any updates to your online application, please contact the Personnel, Recruitment, & Hiring Unit at (800) 564-0771.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey: DIR Applicant Survey

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications - Please see Special requirements section of the posting for instructions on the Statement of Qualifications.