JUDICIAL ASSISTANT I (FLEX)

San Bernardino Superior Court; California; On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

San Bernardino Superior Court is seeking a Judicial Assistant I to provide high-level administrative support to a judicial officer and assist with courtroom and chambers operations.

This entry-level role trains under direct supervision, learning courtroom clerical duties and case management responsibilities while developing knowledge of court procedures and calendar management.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent, and at least three (3) years of increasingly responsible clerical experience in a court or legal office preparing or processing legal documents for court filing and processing.
• Completion of college-level course work is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Prepares, examines, and maintains calendars; posts information on court calendar and reviews files for necessary documents.
• Attends trials, hearings, and conferences; documents actions and prepares brief summaries.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

High school diploma or GED

College coursework desirable

Tools

Case management system

Standard business software

Job description

WE ARE HIRING: JUDICIAL ASSISTANT I

The San Bernardino Superior Court is seeking a Judicial Assistant I to join our team. In this role, you will provide high-level administrative support to a judicial officer and play a critical role in ensuring the efficient operation of courtroom and chambers functions. A strong candidate will possess excellent organizational and communication skills, demonstrate professionalism and discretion, and thrive in a fast-paced environment where accuracy and attention to detail are essential.

RECRUITMENT DEADLINE

The Court will accept applications until a sufficient number of qualified candidates have applied, and this recruitment may close at any time without notice.

• The recruitment is anticipated to close November 30, 2026.
• This recruitment will include an online testing component. The assessment is anticipated to be available from Wednesday, December 2, through Sunday, December 6, 2026. *Dates are subject to change*.

Résumés will not be accepted in place of the required application or the responses to the supplemental questions.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Under general supervision, support judicial officers and perform specialized clerical work as the clerk in attendance in a courtroom and in the processing of a variety of legal documents; and performs related duties as required both in the courtroom and back office supporting court processes, hearings and trials.

Judicial Assistant I is the training-level class in this series. Initially under direct supervision, incumbents learn and perform a variety of courtroom clerical and support duties. Incumbents are expected to acquire and demonstrate knowledge of case law, code sections and court procedures through observing and participating in the work of a Judicial Assistant II under immediate supervision.

A Judicial Assistant II is the skilled, journey-level class of this series and performs the full range of assigned duties with a significant degree of independence and sound judgment involving a variety of difficult, specialized and highly responsible courtroom support functions that require a thorough knowledge of the terminology, procedures and practices for their case type/calendar, with a significant degree of accountability for results. They provide on-the-job training for Judicial Assistant I's and input to their supervisors for evaluating purposes.

For additional details about the role, please review the full job description: JUDICIAL ASSISTANT.

1. Prepares, examines, and maintains a variety of court-related calendars, reviews files to post information on court calendar; reviews files for necessary documents; maintain records for statistics/backlog.
2. Attends trials, courtroom hearings, and conferences; documents court actions and procedures by handwritten minute order or entry in the court's case management system with "point of event" entry; prepares brief summaries including but not limited to court attendance, court findings, court orders and continuances.
3. Reviews and received legal documents for completeness, conformity, jurisdiction and validity with code and court procedures; accepts documents or rejects if requirements are not met; receives and prepares legal documents/orders to support court orders; completes and distributes a number of computer-generated orders and documents.
4. Maintains records of jury selection process and attendance; administers oath to jury, witnesses, interpreters and bailiffs; reads verdicts, and polls jury; calculates and collects jury fees and court reporter fees.
5. Advises attorneys, general public, local and state agencies regarding status or cases and explains legal processing procedures; researchers and reviews new legislation and changes in case law; acts as liaison between attorneys, other court related agencies and the judicial officer.
6. Coordinates courtroom activity and needs with document processing unit, jury services and other court units as well as legal counsel, law enforcement representatives and others involved with court operations and execution of orders; manages the courtroom making sure that it is run efficiently and effectively; assures the correctness of the court orders and procedures.
7. Takes custody of, marks, and keeps written records of all physical exhibits presented to the court as evidence.
8. Assists in training other Judicial Assistants.
9. Assists in document processing units when services are not required in the courtroom.
10. Provides vacation and temporary relief as required.
11. Performs other duties as assigned.

At the Judicial Assistant II level

1. Provides guidance, assistance and mentoring to new Judicial Assistants, Court Attendants and other clerical staff; provides on-the-job training to Judicial Assistants including mentoring on courtroom protocol, proper public contact techniques, legal terminology, rules, documents, pleadings, use of case management systems, administration of appropriate oaths and procedures for specific types of hearings/cases including trial procedures; reviews work product for accuracy and completeness; provides input to supervisor on work performance.
2. Researches and reviews new legislation and changes in case law; assists with policy and procedure development.
3. Assists in document processing units when services are not required in the courtroom; provides vacation and temporary relief as required, including travel to other court districts and divisions to provide courtroom calendar coverage.
4. May participate on various task forces and committees; attends meetings and participates in training.
5. Performs other duties as assigned.

Judicial Assistant I - Graduation from high school or GED equivalent, and at least three (3) years of increasingly responsible clerical experience in a court or legal office preparing or processing legal documents for court filing and processing, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Completion of college-level course work is desirable.

There is no permanent status as Judicial Assistant I. Incumbents must pass probation and be capable of meeting the proficiency criteria to promote to the full journey-level Judicial Assistant II within twelve (12) months or be terminated or returned to a position allocated to a classification in which the employee has passed probation.

Judicial Assistant II - Two (2) years of equivalent or higher-level experience in another California trial court.

Knowledge of

• General functions and organization of the judicial system, including the various divisions of the court and the roles and functions of other legal and law enforcement agencies;
• State and local statutes and Rules of Court that govern court operations;
• Courtroom protocol;
• Legal procedures, terminology, forms and documents;
• Calendaring rules and procedures;
• Policies, procedures and rules governing the intake, maintenance, safeguarding and disposal of exhibits;
• General office procedures including recordkeeping and filing;
• State regulations and court policies and procedures regarding jury service, including attendance and empanelment;
• Standard business software and automated case management system for all areas of court operations;
• Regulations and procedures governing the maintenance and disclosure of public records;
• Case and file records research methods and techniques;
• Customer service, proper public contact and telephone etiquette;
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation;
• Safety policies and safe work practices applicable to the work.

Ability to

• Understand, interpret, explain and apply detailed, specialized information, including codes, rules, policies, procedures, forms and legal terms in carrying out job assignments accurately and efficiently;
• Perform official actions that require high attention to detail and application of code, rule and specific procedural requirements, including recording minutes of court proceedings;
• Read, interpret, explain and apply statutory and legal requirements applicable to the preparation of cases for trial and the processing of associated legal documents;
• Read, comprehend and verify legal documents;
• Interpret judicial orders correctly and explain case and procedural information to litigants, attorneys and other agencies;
• Establish effective communication with defendants, county agency staff and attorneys to clearly explain the court's order/position and gain cooperation, often under contentious circumstances;
• Independently exercise good judgment in answering questions and releasing sensitive information;
• Perform multiple activities or assignments, often simultaneously, requiring attention to detail and accuracy;
• Perform research in a timely manner and meet legally established deadlines;
• Maintain confidentiality of Court documents and records;
• Tolerate exposure to disturbing testimonies, unpleasant odors, graphic photographs of traumatic events, or any other disturbing evidence;
• Use tact and diplomacy when dealing with sensitive, complex and/or confidential issues and situations;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with judges, commissioners, attorneys, media representatives, co-workers and the public including dealing with diverse people in a courteous and tactful manner;
• Ability to work in high-volume, fast paced courtrooms.

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk and stand; talk and hear; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; perform repetitive movements of hands or wrists; and stoop, kneel, bend at the waist, crouch or crawl. The employee is frequently required to lift up to twenty-five (25) pounds unaided.

Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, use of eyes, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this class, an employee uses written and oral communication skills; reads and interprets data, information and documents; analyzes and solves problems; uses math and mathematical reasoning; observes and interprets people and situations; learns and applies new information and skills; performs highly detailed work; deals with changing deadlines, constant interruptions and multiple concurrent tasks; and interacts with others encountered in the course of work, including frequent contact with the public, staff and dissatisfied individuals.

Work Environment

The employee works in an office, hearing room or courtroom environment where the noise level is usually moderate, except in fast-paced large heavy calendar departments.

Special Requirements

A valid California Class C driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the Court's vehicle insurance program.