Court Clerk Trainee/Court Clerk

Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado•Placerville, CA

17h•Onsite

About The Position

Under close or general supervision, the Court Clerk Trainee/Court Clerk performs clerical duties supporting Court operations inside and outside the courtroom. Work includes legal processing, public contact, clerical support, records management, courtroom duties, and jury-related functions. A Court Clerk Trainee performs moderately difficult tasks under close supervision, with increasing independence as proficiency develops. Trainees generally advance to Court Clerk after completing a 12-month probationary period with satisfactory performance. A Court Clerk is the journey-level classification and performs the full range of duties with general supervision. The role may be filled through advancement from the trainee classification or, for external candidates, by applicants with prior clerical experience in a court or legal office setting. The position may involve travel between Court facilities. Work is generally performed in an office environment during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, with work outside those hours potentially necessary in certain circumstances. Candidates must pass FBI and DOJ fingerprint clearance, and all Court employees must take the Oath of Allegiance. A valid driver’s license may be required depending on the position, or an alternate means of transportation must meet job requirements.

Requirements

Court Clerk Trainee: High school diploma or equivalent GED and one year of experience performing clerical duties; or high school diploma or equivalent GED and one year of work experience requiring customer-service skills likely to support sound judgment, tact, initiative, and effective performance under pressure; or an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university in a field related to the classification.
Court Clerk: High school diploma or equivalent GED and one year of experience as a Court Clerk Trainee in El Dorado County Superior Court service; or high school diploma or equivalent GED and two years of experience performing duties requiring knowledge of legal documents and court processes and the ability to apply rules and procedures related to court actions.
For Court Clerk, a related associate degree or higher, or an accredited legal assistant or paralegal certificate program, may substitute for required experience, up to a maximum of one year.
Ability to keyboard and type accurately and promptly; listen and take note of important points in court proceedings; and process courtroom workflow accurately and on time.
Ability to work under deadlines, conflicting demands, and emergencies; follow established policies and procedures; prepare clear and accurate written materials; and accurately enter and retrieve data from case management systems.
Ability to organize and prioritize work, meet deadlines, coordinate multiple tasks, work independently, make decisions under pressure, and exercise initiative and sound judgment within established guidelines.
Ability to perform detailed, complex courtroom support work quickly and accurately; maintain accurate records and confidentiality; and understand and follow oral and written instructions.
Knowledge of the legal system, Court procedures and terminology, legal document processing, records management, applicable statutes, courtroom, appellate and jury processes, business arithmetic, basic accounting, training practices, modern office technology, and sound business communication.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including clear oral and written communication and the ability to maintain effective working relationships with Court staff, public officials, and the general public.
Ability to use work-related computer applications such as email, word processing, and the internet.
Pass FBI and Department of Justice fingerprint clearance; convictions may be disqualifying depending on type, number, and date.
Take the Oath of Allegiance as a Court employee.
Possess a valid driver’s license if required for the position, or provide an alternate method of transportation that meets job requirements.
Meet the physical requirements of the position, including using a keyboard and monitor, communicating with the public and staff, sitting for extended periods, moving within Court facilities, reading and writing, lifting or moving materials up to 25 pounds, and stooping, kneeling, squatting, or crouching.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of legal documents and court processes and the ability to apply rules and procedures pertaining to court actions (Court Clerk Trainee).
Experience working in a court setting or the legal field.

Responsibilities

Review, file, conform, and process documents; enter data or scan documents into case management systems; and update hard-copy case files.
Interpret and apply policies, rules, procedures, regulations, statutes, court terminology, and instructions related to court proceedings; explain filing processes and Court policies to the public, justice partners, and staff.
Perform daily accounting as required, accept fines and routine filing fees, calculate fees, make journal entries, issue receipts, and balance cash drawers.
Maintain case statistics and grant timesheet reporting to support Court reporting requirements.
Perform calendaring duties, including preparing and updating calendars, locating case files, ensuring relevant documents are available, routing files, updating tentative ruling systems, and processing hearing, trial, continuance, and appearance requests.
Schedule hearings, prepare and send notices to litigants, post fees, contact Court-appointed counsel regarding availability, and update appointments in case management systems.
Support bench officers during courtroom proceedings; manage exhibits; swear in witnesses and jurors; track jury-related proceedings; maintain jury paperwork; take notes and prepare minute orders; calculate and track court reporter and jury fees; and prepare, review, and distribute court documents and correspondence.
Process appeals filed with the Court.
Perform jury administration duties, including preparing jury payroll and reports, processing juror check-ins and requests, preparing notices and Orders to Show Cause, managing summons, answering jury-line calls, coordinating with the jury management system vendor, and updating the Elections Department regarding voter-status changes.
Provide formal or informal training to Court staff in areas of proficiency, assist with procedure development and changes, and perform specialized assignments or projects.
Maintain effective working relationships with judicial officers, Court staff, members of the public, parties, and others encountered during work.
Provide backup coverage for a variety of technical Court operations duties.
Travel between Court facilities as required and perform other related duties as assigned.