Courtroom Clerk

Superior-Court-of-California,-County-of-Santa-Clar; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays

CalPERS retirement

Job summary

Superior-Court-of-California,-County-of-Santa-Clar seeks a specialized clerical professional to support courtroom operations, create the official record, and assist judicial officers. This role requires prior court or legal clerical experience and knowledge of procedures and terminology.

The position emphasizes minute-taking, processing orders, scheduling hearings, and maintaining calendars under tight deadlines while interacting with judges, attorneys, and court staff.

Qualifications

• Educational background meets court/legal clerical requirements.
• Experience with court procedures and legal terminology is preferred.
• Ability to organize records and meet deadlines under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Attends court sessions and records actions for the official court record.
• Interacts with judges, attorneys, and courtroom staff to process orders.
• Schedules appearances and hearings; maintains court calendar.
• Locates files for calendars and ensures readiness and completeness.
• Maintains confidentiality and handles legal documents per protocol.

Skills

Courtroom procedures

Legal terminology

Record keeping

Computer literacy

Education

High school diploma or GED

3 years clerical experience in court/legal setting

2 years college may substitute for 1 year court work

BA/BS may substitute for 2 years court work

Job description

DEFINITION/DESCRIPTION:

Under direction, this specialized clerical level position performs a variety of complex legal and administrative duties related to court hearings and courtroom proceedings. This position is responsible for creating the permanent record of the proceedings.

This recruitment will also lead to establishing an eligibility list for future Regular Full-time and Limited Term opportunities at the court.

Limited Term - Individual is hired for a specific term subject to an extension at the end of the term at the Court's discretion.

This position is Non-Exempt (Hourly).

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is a journey/advanced journey level position that works independently to perform complex clerical and administrative courtroom support work. This class is distinguished from the Legal Process Clerk classification in that these duties are performed primarily within the Courtroom setting in support of Judicial Officers to facilitate court operations. This class is required to have specialized, thorough, and advanced knowledge of office skills, legal terminology, legal procedures and processes, court operations, and court policies and procedures. Duties are performed primarily within the Courtroom setting in support of assigned Judicial Officers to facilitate court operations. This class is also distinguished from the Legal Process Supervisor in that the latter has supervisory authority of assigned clerks and other staff.

• Attends court sessions and takes minutes of actions and proceedings, requests clarification to properly note the official court record;
• Interacts and communicates with judges, attorneys, and courtroom staff in the processing of orders;
• Schedules court appearances and hearings;
• Locates and reviews files for calendars to ensure readiness and completeness;
• Conducts empanelment of juries, records juror excuses and challenges by counsel; maintains juror attendance of records and provides records and statistical information to the Jury Commissioner; polls juries and calculates costs of juries; calculates, collects, and records all jury and per diem fees;
• Administers oaths;
• Accepts, marks, and records exhibits;
• Schedules special hearings and maintains the court calendar;
• Works with court and counsel in the preparation of verdict forms; maintains statutory time limits for rulings on submitted matters; prepares orders for judge's signature and executes proof of service regarding mailing orders and rulings; reviews written orders for content and format prior to presentation for judge's signature;
• Communicates with other departments and agencies to coordinate services and tracking of defendants;
• Prepares bench warrants, body attachments, and other legal process documents per judge's instructions;
• Prepares DMV abstracts;
• May provide secretarial support to judicial officers;
• May retrieve information from the court's automated system as needed;
• Maintains records, files, and basic statistics;
• Performs other related duties as required.

Education

An educational level equivalent to a high school diploma or GED and a minimum of three years of increasingly responsible clerical experience in a court or legal setting. Sufficient administrative or advanced legal/clerical experience that demonstrates possession and direct application of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would likely produce the required knowledge and abilities listed below. Two (2) years of college may be substituted for one (1) year of court or legal work experience. BA or BS may be substituted for two (2) years of court or legal work experience.

Knowledge of

• Rules of Courts; California laws, codes, and statutes applicable to the Courts;
• Functions, procedures, services, and jurisdiction of the Court; legal terminology, forms, and related documents used in the Superior Court;
• Court operations, policies, procedures, statutes, and office procedures;
• Standard English usage, grammar, punctuation, spelling, style, and format; standard office equipment and systems;
• Basic arithmetic.

Ability to

• Maintain sensitive confidential information and document according to statutory protocol and procedure;
• Use independent judgment to resolve problems and make appropriate decisions;
• Organize work effectively to meet Court and statutory deadlines;
• Work well under sometimes difficult and stressful conditions;
• Use discretion in organizing activities and setting priorities;
• Understand the meaning and intent of a variety of legal documents;
• Interact appropriately with judges, court staff, attorneys, and the public;
• Use a variety of computer programs and type with speed and accuracy;
• Professionally represent the court as a liaison to attorneys, clients, and the public in general;
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions;
• Work with time restraints on several tasks simultaneously;
• Be able to adapt to varying changes within the court system;
• Independently perform an array of functions as described in the representative duties of this job specification to coordinate assigned responsibilities within a large facility or operational unit of the court.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work environment is generally clean, inside buildings, with limited exposure to dust, fumes, odors, and noise. Incumbents will be working under sometimes difficult and stressful conditions, with frequent deadlines and expectations to produce high quality work under limited time constraints as well as periodic contact with angry and confrontational individuals. The ability to work independently is required. Some positions may require travel to different facilities within the County. A California Driver's license may be required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Frequent and ongoing sitting and listening during court proceedings;
• Regular use of a computer terminal to conduct a variety Courtroom Clerk functions and communications;
• Periodic, regular, and/or occasional contact with employees in other court divisions, government agencies, the public, and/or vendors with the ability to converse and respond appropriately to inquiries and requests;
• Periodic to regular lifting, walking and carrying of files, documents, and other court related materials;
• Maintain sensitive and confidential information and documents according to statutory protocol and procedure.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Strength, dexterity, coordination, and/or ability to use a computer keyboard and read a video display terminal on a regular basis;
• Ability to listen to verbal requests from the public and court staff, then respond appropriately;
• Dexterity and coordination to handle files and single pieces of paper; occasional lifting of objects weighing up to 10 lbs. such as: files, stacks of paper, reference books, and other materials;
• Frequent need to reach for items above and below desk level, sometimes with the assistance of a ladder or step-stool;
• Sitting for long periods of time is often required.

EXAMINATION

A screening panel will be convened to select those applicants deemed most qualified to participate in a written and/or oral examination. The examination process will include one or more of the following: application appraisal; written examination; oral examination.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

This recruitment requires the submission of an on-line application. No paper applications will be accepted. An electronic copy of your Resume must also be submitted as an attachment to this application submission.

The Court is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status. The Court provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If you are disabled as defined by the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act or the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and will be requesting an accommodation, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] or call [phone], to discuss your request. TDD communication is available by calling [phone].

The Court must verify the identity and employment authorization of all new employees to comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform & Control Act. This verification is required only after an offer of employment has been made. For further information regarding the required verification, please contact Human Resources at [phone].

BENEFITS

The Court offers a benefits package which includes a choice of health, dental and vision plan, membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) as permitted by law, life insurance, paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.