Legal Secretary (Commonwealth Attorney)
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Legal Secretary (Commonwealth Attorney)
Salary
$43,825.60 - $54,995.20 Annually
Location
Charlottesville, VA
Job Type
Regular Full-Time
Job Number
260800002
Department
Commonwealth Attorney's Office
Opening Date
08/10/2026
Closing Date
8/20/2026 5:00 PM Eastern
Bargaining Unit
N/A
Description
Benefits
Questions
General Summary
This Legal Secretary assigned to the Charlottesville Commonwealth's Attorney's Office performs a variety of administrative and technical work in support of the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. This position involves handling sensitive case-related information, assisting with the discovery process, and providing general administrative support while maintaining a high level of attention to detail, effective time management, and coordination with external agencies to ensure compliance with legal procedures. Works under general supervision and reports to the Commonwealth's Attorney.
The preferred hiring range for this position is between $21.07 - $26.44 an hour ($43,825.60 - $54,995.20 annually). Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This full-time, non-exempt position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including 13 paid holidays plus one floating holiday, vacation and sick leave, health insurance with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, gym membership reimbursement, tuition assistance, and professional development opportunities. This position is also eligible for the following retirement benefits:
Choice of retirement plan:
Defined Benefit Pension Plan: Provides a monthly benefit upon retirement, calculated using a defined formula based on earnings history, years of service, and age. The plan includes a 5-year vesting period and requires an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
Defined Contribution 401a Plan: Employer makes fixed contributions to an individual account, which are invested, and returns are credited to the account. The account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. Vesting occurs at 33% after one year, 67% after two years, and 100% after three years of service. No salary contribution is required.
Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
Eligibility to purchase prior service credit under the Defined Benefit Plan
The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS; however, a Portability Agreement is available for eligible employees. For additional details, please refer to the "Benefits" tab within this posting or visit the City's Employee Benefits webpage (https://www.charlottesville.gov/1047/Employee-Benefits) .
Essential Responsibilities and Duties
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.
Serves as the primary point of contact for visitors, staff, and external stakeholders in person, by telephone and written correspondence, providing guidance on departmental policies and directing inquiries appropriately.
Conducts initial interviews with visitors to gather necessary information and provide assistance.
Collects and compiles critical information from external sources such as police reports, body-worn cameras, CCTV footage, medical evaluations, ECC data, and other discovery materials.
Assists the discovery process by coordinating requests with external agencies, tracking required materials, and ensuring the timely delivery of discovery items to defense counsel.
Utilizes multiple software programs simultaneously to compile, organize, and manage case-related data.
Prepares, proofreads, formats, and reviews legal and administrative documents to ensure accuracy, completeness, and adherence to confidentiality requirements.
Types and transcribes legal and administrative documents accurately and efficiently to ensure timely preparation and delivery of materials.
Handles sensitive information with professionalism and in compliance with legal and organizational policies.
Provides comprehensive administrative support, including preparing correspondence, maintaining office filing systems, and processing mail.
Manages office calendars, schedules appointments, tracks deadlines for legal and administrative submissions, and ensures timely follow-up on outstanding items.
Answers routine correspondence for supervisor.
Orders, processes, and documents a variety of accounting documents such as purchase orders, invoices, work orders, and maintaining inventories and office supplies.
May assist in the development and implementation of office policies and procedures.
Prepares data for special and periodic reports as required.
Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools, and other resources, including work time.
Regular and reliable attendance.
Other Duties
Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.
Education, Experience and Skills
Education and Experience: Candidates may qualify by demonstrating the required knowledge and skills outlined for the job through experience(s) other than formal education.
High School diploma or GED AND at least 6 months of administrative work including experience with legal documents, discovery processes, or similar legal office operations.
OR
At least 3 years of administrative work including experience with legal documents, discovery processes, or similar legal office operations.
Preferred:
Associate's degree in Paralegal Studies, Criminal Justice, or related field.
Experience in a legal office or court-related setting.
Certifications/Licenses/Other Requirements:
Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics:
Job Knowledge
Knowledge of office administration, secretarial techniques, record-keeping practices, and modern office equipment/software (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, legal management software).
Knowledge of court processes, legal terminology, and procedures, including discovery, subpoenas, and motions.
Familiarity with state and federal regulations related to legal documentation and data confidentiality.
Reading
Intermediate: Ability to read and understand legal documents and other written materials such as books, newspapers, magazines, journals, multi-step instruction manuals, and reference materials.
Writing
Intermediate: Ability to organize data and write clear and concise reports, business letters, explanations, and summaries with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech.
Math
Basic: ability to perform the four basic arithmetic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division.
Communication Skills
Intermediate: Provide and receive complex information. May include interactions that involve stressful, negative situations requiring significant tact and the ability to diffuse aggressive behavior and reach consensus. Elements of persuasion may be necessary to gain cooperation and understanding. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with City staff, leaders, and the public.
Independence and Decision-Making
Requires General Direction: Normally performs the job by following general instructions or established standard operating procedures and/or policies. There is some discretion when making decisions among a few easily identifiable choices of the appropriate procedure or policy to apply to duties. Performance is reviewed frequently.
Technical Skills
Skilled: Comprehensive, practical knowledge of a technical field with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the assigned and apparent job responsibilities. Intermediate skill in Microsoft Office applications and departmental software.
Fiscal Responsibilities
Prepares and processes purchasing documents and payments.
Supervisory Responsibilities
No supervisory responsibilities. May occasionally direct helpers, assistants, seasonal employees, interns, or temps.
Other Characteristics
Excellent organizational, time management and customer service skills.
Balance multiple tasks simultaneously.
Works closely with others as part of a team.
May require dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.
May have constant interruptions and requests for service.
Performs tedious or exacting work.
Must work effectively with sensitive and confidential issues and information.
Physical Conditions & Additional Information
Physical Demands:
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
Must occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. and position self to maintain files in file cabinet.
Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
Ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software and Hardware:
Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned.
Work Environment:
Work is performed in an office environment where there may be exposure to computer screen for extended periods of time, monitor glare and dust.
The noise level is typically moderate.
The City of Charlottesville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports workforce diversity at all levels of the organization. The City prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The City is dedicated to this with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs, and general treatment during employment.
Requests for reasonable accommodation by individuals with disabilities may be requested by contacting Human Resources at (434) 970-3490 or hr@charlottesville.gov.
The City of Charlottesville conducts job related background checks, reference checks, and pre-employment drug tests, in accordance with federal, state, and local law, of applicants who reach the final stages of the employment selection process. The City's policy has not changed because of the decriminalization of marijuana in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Marijuana remains an illegal drug under federal law, and it continues to be a violation of the US Department of Transportation regulations and the City's policy prohibiting employees from testing positive for marijuana.
SUMMARY OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Updated February 9, 2026
Benefits cited represent those for regular 40-hour employees and may differ for Management Level, Part-Time, and/or Library positions. Long-term temporary employees are eligible for all benefits except retirement. Interns, temporary, seasonal, substitute, and relief employees are not eligible for benefits.
LEAVE:
Vacation: Need some time off? Use it, you earned it:
Years Worked
0 -
3 -
Hours Accrued Biweekly
3.09
3.85
4.62
5.4
6.16
6.93
7.7
Sick: Under the weather? Earn 4.62 hours biweekly, approximately 120 hours a year, with no limit on accumulation to be used to care for yourself and qualifying family members.
Holidays: Enjoy 13 paid holidays per year. Including 1 Floating Holiday, which must be taken during the Fiscal Year (July 1 - June 30):
OBSERVED CITY HOLIDAYS
New Years Day
Dr. Martin Luther King Day
Presidents' Day
Liberation & Freedom Day
Memorial Day
Juneteenth Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Friday after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
1 Floating Holiday
Volunteer Leave: Paid leave for participating in an authorized event as a volunteer, subject to Section 9-3, Code of Ethics & Conflicts of Interest. Regular full-time employees receive up to 8 hours and all regular part-time employees are eligible to receive pro-rated leave each available each calendar year.
INSURANCE:
Aetna Medical Plans: Coverage is effective on the first of the month following date of hire.
Choose from two options:
Select HMO with City-funded HRA ($0 premium for employee-only coverage)
Choice POS ($13.02 biweekly premium for employee-only coverage)
Prescription Card: ($10 generic, $30 lower cost name brand,$55 higher cost name brand, 20% up to $150 for specialty drugs)
Mail Order Maintenance Prescription Drug Program ($20 generic, $60lower cost name brand, $110 higher cost brand) not available for specialty drugs)
Delta Dental Plan:
Diagnostic and Preventative-100% of allowable charge; Basic Dental Care-80%; Major Dental Care- 50%
Primary - $50 deductible, 80/20; Prosthetic and Complex Restorative -$50, 50/50
$1,500 Annual benefit maximum
$1,000 Orthodontic benefit (children to age 19)
MetLife Vision Plan: (Optional)
$2.50 premium paid bi-weekly for employee-only coverage. Dependent care coverage also available.
Eye health exam, dilatation, prescription and refraction of glasses covered after $10 co-pay
$130 allowance for frames, after co-pay, plus additional discounts where accepted.
Life Insurance: In the event of your death, your beneficiary will receive twice your annual salary. Supplementary policies for you and your dependents are available.
Long-Term Disability: U pon approval for along-term illness or injury, you can receive up to 60% of your earnings after a 90-day wait period.
Voluntary Benefits: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity insurance; Short-Term Disability; Identity Theft Protection
RETIREMENT:
Pension:
Choose from two (2) options:
A Defined Benefit Pension plan pays a monthly benefit in retirement using a defined formula based on the employee's earnings history, tenure of service, and age. Our plan has a 5-year vesting period and an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
A Defined Contribution 401a plan in which fixed contributions are paid into an individual's account by the employer, the contributions are invested, returns (positive or negative) are credited to the account, and the account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. The vesting schedule for our 401a plan is 33% after one year of service, 67% after two years of service, and 100% vesting after three years of service. There is no required contribution from salary. (Note: the Defined Contribution retirement plan is the only plan available for Library employees).
Supplement: Deferred Compensation 457 available for you to invest your own money for additional retirement savings.
VOLUNTARY:
Wellness:
Gym Membership Reimbursement Program (up to $34.00 per month)
Bicycle Commuter Program: Reimbursement up to $20 per month for reasonable bicycle commuting expenses
Online wellness resources and Lunch-and-Learn Sessions
Employee Assistance Program:
A variety of confidential, personal professional services for you and your family available 24 hours a day.
Tuition Reimbursement:
Up to $1,500 for job-related certificates, trade programs, undergraduate coursework or up to $3,000 for graduate level courses per fiscal year for career-related courses.
Flexible Spending Accounts:
Expense accounts available for healthcare, dependent care and parking/mass transit.
01
Please indicate your highest level of education obtained: (Your response must be verifiable in reference to the Education History section of your online application.)
High School Diploma / GED
Associates degree
Bachelor's degree or higher
None of the above
02
If you earned an Associate's degree or higher, what was your major or field of study?
Paralegal Studies
Criminal Justice
Legal Studies
Related field
Not applicable (High School Diploma/GED)
03
Do you have prior experience in a legal office or court-related setting?
Yes
No
04
How much experience do you have performing administrative work that included preparing, reviewing, processing, or maintaining legal documents, supporting discovery processes, or performing similar legal office operations? (Your response must be verifiable in reference to the Work History section of your online application.)
No experience.
Less than six (6) months
Six (6) months to less than two (2) years.
Two (2) to less than four (4) years.
Four (4) years or greater.
05
Briefly describe your administrative work experience, including any experience handling legal documents, assisting with the discovery process, or supporting legal office operations. If no experience, please write "none." (Must be verifiable with reference to your application)
06
To be considered, qualifying education and experience, including City of Charlottesville employment, must be clearly documented in the education, work history, and additional information sections of the employment application. Resumes can be attached but should not be used as a substitute for the required information on the application. I understand that an attached resume may not be accepted in place of a completed employment application and that my qualifications should be stated on the employment application itself.
Yes
No
07
I certify that the information above is true and correct, and I certify that it can be verified with reference to the information in my basic application. I understand that my application may be rejected if the responses to supplemental questions do not match my basic application.
Yes
No
Required Question
Employer
City of Charlottesville
Address
P. O. Box 911 605 East Main Street Charlottesville, Virginia, 22902
Phone
(434) 970-3490
Website
http://www.charlottesville.gov/jobs
