Legal Process Clerk II/III

Superior Court, County of Santa Clara; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Superior Court, County of Santa Clara is seeking an entry-level Legal Process Clerk II to perform a full range of clerical duties in support of court operations. The position is non-exempt and paid hourly, with a starting wage of 26.28 USD per hour (Step A) and 27.59 USD per hour after probation (Step 1).

Incumbents will process legal documents, assist the public, and maintain court records, with opportunities to advance to Legal Process Clerk III after gaining experience and completing

Qualifications

• Requires high school diploma or GED with 2 years of clerical experience.
• Two years of college may substitute for one year of general work experience.
• BA/BS may substitute for two years of general work experience.

Responsibilities

• Receive, examine, and process legal documents for accuracy and conformity; return unacceptable documents; endorse and file documents.
• Assist public, court, and other agencies at counter, website, and phone.
• Accept fines and fees; issue receipts; balance cash drawer.
• File legal documents and related case materials; retrieve and deliver files.
• Assist individuals in locating materials and information.
• Open and sort mail; process outgoing mail; operate court systems.

Skills

Office procedures

English usage

Basic arithmetic

Discretion and judgment

Computer literacy

Education

High school diploma or GED

Two years college substituting for work experience

Tools

Court automation systems

Job description

Definition/Description

Under direct supervision, this entry-level clerical position performs a full range of clerical duties in support of court operations.

Please note, the starting salary for this position is Step A $26.28/hour. Employees shall advance to Step 1 $27.59/hour after successful completion of the probationary period at Step A.

This position is Non-Exempt (Hourly).

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is an alternately staffed position, with the Legal Process Clerk II being an entry-level position. Incumbents perform a variety of legal process duties and are expected to promote to the Legal Process Clerk III level once they meet the necessary experience and qualification requirements and successfully complete the nine-month probationary period. The Legal Process Clerk II class is distinguished from the Legal Process Clerk III class in that the latter performs more difficult and complex work with more independence of action and exercises a greater degree of discretion in completion of tasks.

• Receives, examines, and processes legal documents for accuracy, completeness, and conformity to requirements; returns unacceptable documents; affixes seals and stamps to endorse, certify, and/or file documents;
• Assists the public, Court, and other agencies at the counter, via the Court's website, and on the telephone;
• Accepts fines and fees; issues receipts; balances assigned cash drawer;
• Files legal documents and related case materials; retrieves and delivers files and documents to Court or appropriate parties;
• Assists individuals in locating materials and information;
• Opens and sorts incoming mail; processes outgoing mail;
• May enter and retrieve information from the Court's automated systems via computer;
• Provides court dates and hearings; maintains court records, files, and exhibits;
• Performs other related duties as required.

An educational level equivalent to a high school diploma or GED and at least two (2) years of work experience performing a wide variety of general clerical assignments involving the use of discretion and judgment which would likely produce the required knowledge and abilities listed below. Two (2) years of college may be substituted for one(1) year of general work experience. BA or BS may be substituted for two (2) years of general work experience. Submission to a background investigation upon offer of employment is required.

Knowledge of:

• Office practices and procedures;
• Standard English usage, grammar, punctuation, spelling, style and format;
• Standard office equipment and systems; and basic arithmetic.

Ability to:

• Follow oral and written instructions and communicate effectively orally and in writing;
• Work effectively to meet court deadlines;
• Prepare standardized forms accurately;
• Use discretion in organizing activities and setting priorities;
• Work well under sometimes difficult and stressful conditions;
• Be able to adapt to varying changes within the court system;
• Interact appropriately with judges, court staff, attorneys, and the public;
• Use a variety of computer programs and type with speed and accuracy;
• 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:

Incumbents in this position can work in a number of environments. They include inside or outside a courthouse, inside or outside an office building; or at a warehouse with limited exposure to dust, fumes, odors, and noise. Incumbents will be working under sometimes difficult and stressful conditions with periodic contact with angry and confrontational individuals. The ability to work alone and independently as well as working closely with others is required.

Essential Functions:

• Frequent and ongoing use of a computer terminal to conduct clerical functions and communications;
• Periodic, regular, and/or occasional contact with employees in other court divisions or government agencies, the public, and/or vendors with the ability to converse and respond appropriately to inquiries and requests;
• Periodic to regular lifting and carrying of files, documents, and other court-related materials;

Physical Demands:

• Strength, dexterity, coordination, and ability to use a computer keyboard and ability to read a video display terminal on a regular basis;
• Ability to listen to verbal requests from the public or court staff and 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 is also needed;
• Walking, standing, and sitting for long periods of time are periodically 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.

Benefits:

The Court offered benefits package 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.

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].