Legal Technician Senior chez City of Bremerton, WA

About the Department

The salary indicated above includes longevity (1% earned after five years and increases to a maximum of 4% after 20 years). Additionally, a cost of living adjustment of 2.70% has been approved for 2026.

Under general direction, performs technical clerical work needed to support Bremerton Municipal Court operations, serves as lead worker and provides primary support to the Court’s general administrative staff and functions. Tracks and maintains financial records.

Position Duties

(Note – this list is intended only to illustrate the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements does not exclude them from the position.)

• Assists in monitoring office and court clerical operations, record keeping procedures and systems, assuring accuracy.  Answers questions from staff and assists them when they have a difficult customer.
• Helps monitor quality and accuracy of overall work performed by clerical staff and makes recommendations for change if necessary to ensure efficient workflow.    
• Provides essential backup to administrative staff, acts as supervisor to support staff.
• In the absence of the administrator and assistant administrator, completes administrative tasks such as payroll, accounts payable, order supplies and assists the Judge.  
• Prepares memos notifying staff of policy or procedural changes, work corrections or as directed by the court administrator.
• Verifies financials and prepares daily deposits.  
• Tracks all monies owed to Municipal Court, taking proper action on delinquent accounts by adding late penalties, initiating Department of Licensing suspension action and collections actions.  
• Tracks all restitution payments and issues victim checks, maintains and tracks individual victim accounts.  Issues refund checks on overpaid accounts.  
• Exonerates bonds and bail, issuing refund checks when necessary.  
• Takes payments on all types of accounts, including parking, at front counter, internet or by mail.
• Provides assistance to staff and general public on court procedures, case processing and status.  
• Maintains and interprets statistical data on cases and initiates correspondence in response to inquiries.  
• Coordinates information between various law enforcement agencies.  
• Disseminates information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.
• In court clerk back up. Front counter back up. To include filling out court forms, obtaining signatures, routing or emailing documents to other agencies as required, setting hearings, properly updating the court case management system and logging the hearings into the recording system.  
• Assists the Judge and attorneys in retrieving information and interpreting it. 
• Assists in training new employees and provide guidance as directed.  
• Prepares end of month remittance and audit reports.
• Audits open court files to identify cases eligible for write offs.
• Orders and audits various reports weekly, including compliance and case flow management.
• Reviews incoming documents for completeness according to established procedures.

Other Duties 

• Regular attendance is an essential requirement
• Performs related work as assigned and/or required

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES (Entry Requirements)

Knowledge of:

• Criminal justice system court processing procedures. 
• Judicial case file organization methods, maintenance and retrieval systems. 
• Principles and practices of supervision, case and workload monitoring.  
• Business English, composition, spelling, grammar, punctuation and general legal terminology.

Skill in:

• Effectively operate office equipment with sufficient speed and accuracy to produce proper output as scheduled.

Ability to:

• Write clear and concise drafts and produce final copy of legal and administration materials independently and from brief, general instructions.  
• Organize, prioritize and coordinate office work processes to assure operational efficiency.  
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those encountered, and to demonstrate effective public service principles in an environment often more volatile than the normal business office.
• Read, comprehend, speak and write the English language. 
• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies and procedures distinctly to specific circumstances.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a High school diploma or G.E.D. and five (5) years of full-time work experience in a legal setting, at least three (3) of which were in a court office involving the processing of legal court case documents and maintaining related records. An equivalent combination of education, experience, and training sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above must be demonstrated by the applicant.

Must complete the Institution for Court Management - Court Management Program within 7 years.  (Class will be paid for when funding or coverage are sufficient within the Court’s budget).

• Climbing. Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.
• Stooping. Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Kneeling. Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Walking. Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Lifting. Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Fingering. Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Grasping. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Feeling. Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
• Talking. Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing. Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.
• Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes.

• The worker is subject to environmental conditions. Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.

Other Qualifications

The City of Bremerton is committed to integrating diverse perspectives into our workplace culture and encourages our employees to bring their whole, authentic selves to work. We strive to create a diverse team that allows us to effectively connect to the community we serve.
 
Applicants can apply on-line at http://www.BremertonWA.gov/169/Current-Jobs, or application packets may be obtained from the Human Resources Department, or by calling (360) 473-5348.
 
Required Application Materials: City application and personal résumé are required. Incomplete application packets will not be considered. Required application materials must be returned to the Human Resources Office by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. The City of Bremerton is NOT responsible for errors of any kind with faxed or e-mailed application packets. Original signature is required on paper application forms. It is the responsibility of the applicant to carefully list all pertinent experience and training.

Important Application Note: Please do not attach copies of certifications to your application unless they are listed as a requirement for the position. You are welcome to mention relevant certifications on your resume. 
 
Appraisal of Experience and Education/Training: At this initial review, application packets may be evaluated entirely on the basis of information you provided in the completed City application form. Applicants should include all relevant information on the City application. Applicant’s education, training, and experience will be assessed. The passing score is 70%. The top qualifying candidates will be invited to participate further in the examination process. Meeting or exceeding qualifications does not guarantee the applicant will be invited to participate in the oral examination process.
 
Oral Examination: A panel will evaluate the applicant’s training, experience, and ability to perform the job. Placement on the eligibility list is determined by weighted examination scores as follows:
 
Appraisal of application packet regarding Experience and Education/Training - Passing Score 70% - Weight 40% Oral Examination - Passing Score 70% - Weight 60%

Applicants must achieve a score of 70% or better on each portion of the exam in order to be placed on the hiring list.
 
Employee Preference: Regular City employees applying for and passing an Open Examination will have seven point five (7.5) percent of their PASSING score added to establish their final score.
 
Veteran's Preference: Veterans, who have passed an examination, shall be entitled to preference pursuant to Chapter 41.04 RCW.
 
NOTE TO APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES: Applicants with disabilities who will need special accommodation for examination must advise Human Resources no later than one (1) week prior to the scheduled examination so that appropriate arrangements can be made. (360) 473-5348.
 
LEGAL and REGULATORY EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS

Fair Labor Standards Act: The classification is non-exempt under the laws of Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wage and overtime provisions.

Representation: The classification is included in the bargaining unit pursuant to the Recognition Article of the current labor agreement between the City of Bremerton and the Teamsters Local 589.

Civil Service: The classification is excluded from the City's Civil Service System.

Appointment and Removal Authority: The position is filled by appointment by the Department Head.  Removal is by action of the Department Head in conformance with Human Resources Policies.  

This classification specification does not constitute an employment agreement between the City and employee.  It is subject to change by the City, with the approval of Human Resources, as the needs of the City and requirements change.