Legal Secretary & Media Specialist
Mason City, IA
Full Time
County Attorney
Entry Level
Legal Secretary & Media Specialist: Full-time position with the Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s Office. Primary duties are to provide administrative and clerical support to the County Attorney’s office. High school diploma or GED. Two (2) years of previous secretarial experience and/or training preferred. Excellent benefit package including full health insurance, IPERS retirement benefits, vacation days & sick leave days.
Applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on July 9th, 2026 or until filled. Pre-employment physical, drug screen and background check required. Cerro Gordo County is an EOE. Applications can be completed online by visiting our website at: www.cerrogordo.gov
Posted: June 29, 2026
Summary:
Provides administrative and clerical support for the County Attorney and legal personnel of the County Attorney’s office; to provide assistance to the general public and officials conducting business with the office; and to perform additional tasks as may be assigned by the Office Manager, Staff Attorneys, or the County Attorney.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Provides prompt and efficient service to the public, law enforcement officials, and other employees doing business with the County Attorney’s office in person, by mail and/or by telephone. Greets and directs those who approach front window. Answers telephone, screens and directs calls. Takes and relays messages.
Prepares routine correspondence and legal documents, such as summonses, orders, complaints, petitions, motions and subpoenas. Compiles and maintains court records and case files for criminal, juvenile and civil charges and proceedings; files documents with the courts; schedules appointments and depositions; performs computer data entry of case file information.
Prepares trial notices, distributes and communicates regarding scheduling updates with officials and parties involved in official proceedings.
Processes criminal documents and reports. Closes court cases and records in accordance with established policies. Maintains official court calendar. Prepares Judgment and Sentence records for distribution. Processes Trial Information data, Minutes of Testimony and law enforcement reports to the appropriate State agency.
Receives, organizes, and requests media related to criminal and/or juvenile matters at attorney request in accordance with required timelines. Downloads, reviews, and disseminates media to appropriate parties. Copies, edits, and documents media transmission on office database. Utilizes professional guidelines, policies, and confidentiality regarding review and disclosure of related media and reports.
Maintains database records and files. Provides support and assistance to office staff utilizing the database records.
Clears files and disposes of closed files and documents as directed.
Performs other related duties as required.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
None
Qualification Requirements:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements listed as follows are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required.
Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may require ability to utilize principles of fractions and/or interpret graphs.
Ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data and/or information. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.
Ability to utilize a wide variety of references, advisory, descriptive data and/or information and forms such as County policy/procedure manuals, Code of Iowa statutes, law reference books, legal dictionary, legal documents, criminal reporting forms, computer and software manuals, and time records.
Ability to compile, assemble, copy, record and/or transcribe data and/or information according to a prescribed protocol. Includes judging whether readily observable functional, structural or compositional characteristics are similar to or divergent from prescribed standards, procedures or routines.
Ability to produce reports and correspondence with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Ability to communicate with and before others using correct English.
Ability to provide guidance, assistance, and/or interpretation to others on how to apply procedures and standards to specific situations.
Ability to communicate efficiently and effectively with others and to understand the varied functions of the County Attorney’s office in order to meet the various needs of the general public, business and professional contacts, county employees and law enforcement officials doing business with the office or courts;
Ability to utilize available resources to assist clientele or make appropriate referrals to meet the needs of those seeking assistance.
Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving evaluation of information against measurable or verifiable criteria.
Ability to use discretion, maintain confidentiality, and disseminate information in an appropriate and professional manner related to sensitive case information.
The requirements and duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
Education and Experience:
High school diploma or GED; preferred two (2) years of previous secretarial experience and/or training involving general/legal secretarial skills, data processing or spreadsheet skills or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this position.
Language Skills:
Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and the general public.
Ability to deal with the general public in a tactful and courteous manner.
Ability to properly and effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
Reasoning Ability:
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions in written, oral, or diagram form.
Ability to apply common sense to solve problems or achieve work objectives.
Ability to recognize work situations that require special attention.
Ability to deal with problems involving several variables in standardized situations.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
None
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be physically able to start, stop, operate and monitor a variety of automated office machines and equipment used.
Must be able to move or carry job-related objects or materials. Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds).
Physical demand requirements are at levels of those for sedentary or office environment work. Some tasks require visual perception and discriminations.
Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to physical harm caused by an emotional consumer or the general public.
Tasks are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.
While in the course of reviewing work material, the employee may be exposed to graphic or sensitive depictions of criminal events.
Work is normally performed in an office environment. Headaches, eyestrain, carpal tunnel and related occupations hazards associates with computer work reflect most common potential for injury.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Comments:
Must have a valid Iowa Driver's License and have reliable transportation. Must be insurable for driving under county insurance company policies.
Applicant will be subject to post offer, pre-employment drug and physical testing, reference checks, as well as a criminal background check.
Cerro Gordo County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Cerro Gordo County is subject to and has adopted a policy in compliance with the 2008 Smokefree Air Act.
The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on July 9th, 2026 or until filled. Pre-employment physical, drug screen and background check required. Cerro Gordo County is an EOE. Applications can be completed online by visiting our website at: www.cerrogordo.gov
Posted: June 29, 2026
CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IOWA
POSITION DESCRIPTION
POSITION DESCRIPTION
| Position Title: Legal Secretary & Media Specialist | |
| Department: County Attorney | |
| Immediate Supervisor: Office Manager | |
| Shift: Normally 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday | |
| Location: Cerro Gordo County | |
| FLSA: Non-exempt/Bargaining | Salary Range: Union - $21.47 |
| Approved by: Board of Supervisors | Date: July 1, 2026 |
Summary:
Provides administrative and clerical support for the County Attorney and legal personnel of the County Attorney’s office; to provide assistance to the general public and officials conducting business with the office; and to perform additional tasks as may be assigned by the Office Manager, Staff Attorneys, or the County Attorney.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Provides prompt and efficient service to the public, law enforcement officials, and other employees doing business with the County Attorney’s office in person, by mail and/or by telephone. Greets and directs those who approach front window. Answers telephone, screens and directs calls. Takes and relays messages.
Prepares routine correspondence and legal documents, such as summonses, orders, complaints, petitions, motions and subpoenas. Compiles and maintains court records and case files for criminal, juvenile and civil charges and proceedings; files documents with the courts; schedules appointments and depositions; performs computer data entry of case file information.
Prepares trial notices, distributes and communicates regarding scheduling updates with officials and parties involved in official proceedings.
Processes criminal documents and reports. Closes court cases and records in accordance with established policies. Maintains official court calendar. Prepares Judgment and Sentence records for distribution. Processes Trial Information data, Minutes of Testimony and law enforcement reports to the appropriate State agency.
Receives, organizes, and requests media related to criminal and/or juvenile matters at attorney request in accordance with required timelines. Downloads, reviews, and disseminates media to appropriate parties. Copies, edits, and documents media transmission on office database. Utilizes professional guidelines, policies, and confidentiality regarding review and disclosure of related media and reports.
Maintains database records and files. Provides support and assistance to office staff utilizing the database records.
Clears files and disposes of closed files and documents as directed.
Performs other related duties as required.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
None
Qualification Requirements:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements listed as follows are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required.
Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may require ability to utilize principles of fractions and/or interpret graphs.
Ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data and/or information. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.
Ability to utilize a wide variety of references, advisory, descriptive data and/or information and forms such as County policy/procedure manuals, Code of Iowa statutes, law reference books, legal dictionary, legal documents, criminal reporting forms, computer and software manuals, and time records.
Ability to compile, assemble, copy, record and/or transcribe data and/or information according to a prescribed protocol. Includes judging whether readily observable functional, structural or compositional characteristics are similar to or divergent from prescribed standards, procedures or routines.
Ability to produce reports and correspondence with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Ability to communicate with and before others using correct English.
Ability to provide guidance, assistance, and/or interpretation to others on how to apply procedures and standards to specific situations.
Ability to communicate efficiently and effectively with others and to understand the varied functions of the County Attorney’s office in order to meet the various needs of the general public, business and professional contacts, county employees and law enforcement officials doing business with the office or courts;
Ability to utilize available resources to assist clientele or make appropriate referrals to meet the needs of those seeking assistance.
Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving evaluation of information against measurable or verifiable criteria.
Ability to use discretion, maintain confidentiality, and disseminate information in an appropriate and professional manner related to sensitive case information.
The requirements and duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
Education and Experience:
High school diploma or GED; preferred two (2) years of previous secretarial experience and/or training involving general/legal secretarial skills, data processing or spreadsheet skills or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this position.
Language Skills:
Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and the general public.
Ability to deal with the general public in a tactful and courteous manner.
Ability to properly and effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
Reasoning Ability:
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions in written, oral, or diagram form.
Ability to apply common sense to solve problems or achieve work objectives.
Ability to recognize work situations that require special attention.
Ability to deal with problems involving several variables in standardized situations.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
None
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be physically able to start, stop, operate and monitor a variety of automated office machines and equipment used.
Must be able to move or carry job-related objects or materials. Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds).
Physical demand requirements are at levels of those for sedentary or office environment work. Some tasks require visual perception and discriminations.
Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to physical harm caused by an emotional consumer or the general public.
Tasks are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.
While in the course of reviewing work material, the employee may be exposed to graphic or sensitive depictions of criminal events.
Work is normally performed in an office environment. Headaches, eyestrain, carpal tunnel and related occupations hazards associates with computer work reflect most common potential for injury.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Comments:
Must have a valid Iowa Driver's License and have reliable transportation. Must be insurable for driving under county insurance company policies.
- Ability to obtain automobile insurance if personal vehicle is ever used for county business for which mileage reimbursement would be received. To be reimbursed for mileage, must provide proof of auto insurance with the following minimum limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury for each person
- $300,000 bodily injury for each occurrence
- $100, 000 property damage
- $300,000 single limit for all liability
Applicant will be subject to post offer, pre-employment drug and physical testing, reference checks, as well as a criminal background check.
Cerro Gordo County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Cerro Gordo County is subject to and has adopted a policy in compliance with the 2008 Smokefree Air Act.
The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Apply for this position
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