We're Hiring!
IMMIGRATION SECRETARY (LEGAL SECRETARY)
DEADLINE EXTENDED!
The Immigration Representation Unit of the Office of the Alameda County Public Defender is seeking to hire a full-time Immigration Secretary to provide support to Public Defender Immigration Removal Defense Attorneys.
DESCRIPTION
Under general supervision, provide administrative support by performing a wide variety of secretarial and clerical duties; and perform other related duties as required, including a variety of legal secretarial duties.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
This classification is dedicated entirely to administrative and legal support of the Immigration Defense Attorneys or Attorneys of the Office of the Alameda County Public Defender.
The Immigration Secretary is responsible for scheduling attorneys’ calendars, composing correspondence of a general and confidential nature through oral directions, answering phone calls for the attorneys, and relaying accurate information to staff, court personnel, judges, witnesses, and clients.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Note: The following are duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.
1. Answer telephone, screen calls and receive clients; exercise judgment in providing information requested.
2. Screen, prioritize, and route mail received by immigration attorneys and upload necessary mail to office database system (JCATS).
3. Set up client files and index for quick reference; close completed cases, notify all concerned parties and prepare for storage.
4. Check legal documents for correctness and completeness; file legal documents with court clerks and serve opposing counsel (usually the Department of Homeland Security) by mail, courier, or in-person delivery.
5. Send necessary copies of pleadings by mail to clients and other persons involved, and keep clients informed of upcoming interviews, fingerprint appointments, attorney meetings, and court appearances.
6. Schedule attorneys’ calendars for meetings, conferences, speaking engagements, court hearings, document deadlines, and interviews with immigration officers.
7. Compose routine correspondence regarding the status of a particular case or action.
8. Communicate with clients to obtain specific information identified by attorney.
9. Prepare documents to be submitted to the Immigration Court in compliance with the Immigration Court Practice Manual, including tabbing, indexing exhibits, pagination, hole punching, and copying.
10. File documents with local immigration courts, or arrange for delivery of documents, where applicable, by special couriers, including UPS, Federal Express or other mail carrier used by the office to ensure certain and timely deliveries of significant documents.
11. Complete requests for contract services, communicate with vendors to arrange services, and assist vendors in securing compensation for services.
12. Request and obtain copies of police records, conviction records, FBI Rap Sheets, and other documents related to a client’s full criminal history.
13. Gather letters of support and other necessary documentation from clients, family members, and community members in timely manner.
14. Prepare and submit other records requests as needed, including Freedom of Information Act Requests with immigration agencies, medical records, school records, prior attorney files, etc.
15. Assemble and submit attorney reimbursement requests.
16. Fill out immigration forms.
17. Scan documents as needed for electronic record keeping and upload documents as needed to JCATs.
18. Translate documents from Spanish to English for use immigration proceedings. Assist with interpretation when necessary.
19. Communicate professionally with jails and immigration detention centers regarding various needs of detained clients, including arranging attorney calls and in-person visits with detained clients.
20. Keep updated records of client contact information and timely submit Change of Address Forms to the Immigration Court and USCIS as needed.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Experience:
EITHER I
The equivalent of two years of full-time experience in the class of Specialist Clerk II or an equivalent or higher classification, working with legal documents and supporting a team of managers in the Alameda County classified service.
OR II
The equivalent of three years of full-time experience in the class of Specialist I, or an equivalent or higher-level clerical classification, working with legal documents and supporting a team of managers in the Alameda County classified service.
OR III
The equivalent of two years of full-time experience performing complex or responsible legal, clerical or administrative, supporting work in a legal environment.
Substitution:
The equivalent of an associate degree from an accredited college or university may be substituted for six months of the required experience in either pattern I, II, or III.
The equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one year of the required experience in either pattern I, II, or III.
Special Requirement:
• Must be fluent in speaking, reading, and writing Spanish.
• Must be able to type into a word processor at a minimum of 50 words per minute from clear copy.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Experience as a paralegal, administrative assistant, or legal secretary in a public defender office, law firm, court, or legal non-profit.
• Experience working in an immigration-law related environment
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Knowledge of:
• Modern office practice and procedures, including business correspondence, record keeping systems, and standard office equipment operations.
• Business English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary and punctuation.
• Business letter writing and proper format for typed materials
• Proper telephone etiquette and procedures
• Ability to comply with confidentiality requirements
• Microsoft Outlook, Word, Powerpoint, and Excel
• Applicable practice terminology, statutes, and court rules
Ability to:
• Identify and correct Basic English usage errors in documents
• Prepare legal documents from general instructions
• Organize and maintain legal files and records
• Plan and organize
• Make decisions and use good judgment
• Analyze and problem solve
• Work independently in the absence of specific instructions
• Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Compose correspondence independently.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and the general public.
• Organize and prioritize workload; complete work under time deadlines.
Starting salary is $37.28 hourly, $2,796.00 biweekly, $72,696.00 annually.
Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging healthcare options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discounts, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well-being.
This position is classified as a “project provisional” position in Alameda County. Additional information is available upon request.
To Apply: Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume (indicating language fluency), and at least 3 references to raha.jorjani@acgov.org by the deadline.
NEW Deadline to Apply: January 23, 2026 5:00 PM
Working for the Alameda County Public Defender's Office
The Public Defender’s practice consists predominantly of litigation and defense of adults and juveniles charged with crimes ranging from misdemeanors to capital murders. The Office also defends individuals subject to involuntary psychiatric commitments and conservatorships. All Public Defender attorneys rotate through the various assignments available in the office.
The Public Defender employs roughly 110 trial attorneys across our six branch offices in Alameda County.
The Alameda County Public Defender's Office is one of the oldest public defense offices in the United States. Our reputation for exceptional legal representation to indigent clients is due to its historically rigorous professional and ethical standards. The Alameda County Public Defender’s Office is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity.
Alameda County is a large, geographically diverse area with a growing population of nearly 1.7 million. The patterns of crime and the community responses to criminal justice issues vary dramatically within the county, which makes Alameda County a fascinating and rewarding place to practice criminal law.
Over the past few years our office has grown to be the preeminent provider of holistic defense in California. Our client-centered practice gives a voice to those whose voices have been silenced by poverty and systems of oppression. We ensure that no one faces the government alone. We protect the wrongfully accused, the homeless, the poor, the unfortunate and the neglected. We fight for those who cannot afford to fight for themselves and we help them navigate a complex and daunting legal system. By fighting for them, we protect the constitutional rights of everyone in our community.
Legal Position Descriptions
Entry Level Attorney Positions
Appointments to all vacant Associate Deputy Public Defender positions are made by the Public Defender from a civil service hiring list prepared after an examination coordinated by the Alameda County Human Resources Department. The HR Department receives applications during an open period of 25 days. Applications for Associate Deputy Public Defender are generally accepted once a year, from mid-November to mid-December following the summer bar exam results.
All Associate Deputy Public Defenders initially work in a branch office where they are assigned cases of increasing difficulty. By the end of the third year most lawyers are assigned their first felony jury trial case load. After demonstrating proficiency in the trial of felony cases, Associate Deputy Public Defenders are promoted to the position of Deputy Public Defender. The Office provides ongoing in-house training for all attorneys; the Alameda County Public Defender is approved as a provider of Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) by the State Bar of California.
Click here to view the Associate Deputy Public Defender Job Description and to sign up to be notified when the position opens.
Deputy Public Defender Positions
The Deputy Public Defender position is the general litigation attorney position in the Public Defender’s Office. By the assignment of the Public Defender, Deputy Public Defenders are the attorneys for defendants in criminal and juvenile cases, and represent litigants in certain civil proceedings, as appointed to or accepted by the Public Defender. Deputy Public Defenders must be in good standing with the State Bar of California and have a valid California motor vehicle operator’s license, and should have experience in the practice of criminal law and demonstrated competence in the handling of all phases of felony cases, including substantial felony trial experience. Substantial felony trial experience is deemed to include the trial to verdict of at least three felonies for which the possible penalty exceeds seven years.
The Office provides ongoing in-house training for all attorneys; the Alameda County Public Defender is approved as a provider of Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) by the State Bar of California.
Appointments to all vacant Deputy Public Defender positions are made by the Public Defender from a Civil Service hiring list promulgated after an examination coordinated by the Alameda County Personnel Department.
Click here to view the Deputy Public Defender Job Description and to sign up to be notified when the position opens.
Post-Bar Legal Assistants
Post-Bar Legal Assistants perform legal research and writing, conduct client intake interviews, litigate motions, conduct evidentiary hearings and assist attorneys in case preparation for trial or disposition. All legal assistants are compensated and must be certified under the Rules Governing the Practical Training of Law Students by the State Bar of California or admitted to the State Bar. Applications for post-bar legal assistants are accepted year-round but the recruitment period generally lasts from July to November. All inquiries should be directed to the Public Defender Recruitment Officer at acpdrecruitment@acgov.org. Please include a cover letter, resume and writing sample.
Law Clerk Positions
The Alameda County Public Defender’s Office offers law students the opportunity to gain the traditional experience in research and writing, as well as practical “hands on” experience of assisting Public Defenders in court. In general, law clerks perform legal research and writing, conduct client intake interviews, litigate motions, conduct evidentiary hearings and assist attorneys in case preparation for trial or disposition. All law clerk work is done under the supervision of a senior Public Defender attorney. Law students who are exploring a career in criminal defense work will find their experiences with the Alameda County Public Defender an invaluable step in their career development.
We encourage 1L, 2L, and 3L students to apply and we accept interns on a year-round basis. We encourage law students seeking this position to complete courses in Criminal Procedure and Evidence. For some positions, law students must be eligible for certification under the Rules Governing the Practical Training of Law Students by the State Bar of California. If your school does not provide funding to you, we can provide funding to law clerks working full-time during the summer. While applications are accepted continuously, the bulk are received during On-Campus Interviews in the fall. All inquiries should be directed to the Public Defender Recruitment Officer at acpdrecruitment@acgov.org. Please include a cover letter, resume and writing sample.