The Superior Court of Contra Costa County is conducting an open recruitment to fill Courtroom Clerk I/II positions. Courtroom Clerks perform a wide variety of clerical functions in support of 38 judges and 4 commissioners currently serving the public in various cities in the county, including Martinez, Richmond, Walnut Creek and Pittsburg.
An eligibility list will be established as a result of this recruitment and may be used to fill other Project and/or Permanent vacancies in the future. Only applicants who meet the minimum qualifications by the final filing day may apply. Individuals selected must be available to work at any court location.
Courtroom Clerks attend court sessions and record minutes of court proceedings; mark and maintain exhibits; enter data in the automated case tracking systems; prepare orders, verdicts and judgments; prepare and distribute court forms and notices; examine a variety of documents for correctness of form and format, sufficiency of information and conformance with legal procedures; file and process documents; answer phones and provide direct assistance to the public and court customers; consult with attorneys and calendar clerks; post hearings and continuances; draw jury panels and administer oaths; poll juries; compute and collect jury and reporter fees; review written orders for content and format prior to presentation to the judge for signature; and prepare reports required by the Judicial Council or the court.
Individuals appointed to these positions must be able to work well with others, as well as work independently, have the ability to handle multiple demands and deadlines; have a good understanding of court procedures; be attentive to detail and maintain accurate and neat records. The persons appointed to these positions must be able to maintain a positive and professional attitude and possess good interpersonal and oral communication skills. Regular and punctual attendance is essential.
The IDEAL CANDIDATE should have the following knowledge and abilities:
Knowledge of:
Establishment and maintenance of filing and information retrieval systems;
Courtroom procedures, documents, and terminology used in court cases;
Statutes, regulations, ordinances, and rules pertaining court proceedings;
Preparation and maintenance of court calendars;
Format and procedures to be utilized when preparing minute orders, abstracts, judgments and other court documents;
Personal computers and standard software applications;
Approved standards for financial record keeping;
Fine, bail and sentencing procedures;
Judicial decorum as related to staff support within the courtroom;
Correct punctuation, grammar, spelling and grammar; and
Basic accounting and cash handling practices.
Ability to:
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work;
Learn and perform data entry and typing activity as may be required;
Accurately record court proceedings;
Prepare clear and concise reports and correspondence;
Work independently and follow general instructions;
Make mathematical calculations necessary to carry out assigned functions;
Perform a wide variety of complex and specialized courtroom duties;
Read and understand statutes, rules and instructions related to court proceedings;
Provide assistance and deal with concerns from the public, community organizations, and other agencies in an unbiased, ethical and professional manner;
Follow written and verbal instructions;
Learn to use a personal compute r and software, including word processing, database, and other job-related applications and systems;
Operate basic office equipment, including copiers, printers, 10-key, fax;
Speak and write clearly and professionally in order to explain court procedures, swear in juries and witnesses, read proceedings and judgments, and provide instructions to attorneys and the public;
Perform multiple activities or assignments, often simultaneously, which require attention to detail and accuracy; and
Learn court policies, procedures, documents and terminology affecting assigned functions.
Minimum Qualifications:
Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent.
Possession of a valid California driver’s license.
Courtroom Clerk I: Three (3) years of legal clerical experience in a trial court, clerk’s office or law office preparing and/or processing legal documents.
Courtroom Clerk II: Three (3) years of legal clerical experience in a trial court, clerk’s office or law office preparing and/or processing legal documents AND six (6) months full-time continuous experience as a courtroom clerk.
Or,
Any combination of education and experience that provides the candidate with the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the Courtroom Clerk I/II.
Note: A paralegal certificate can substitute for one (1) year of the required legal clerical experience.
Application and Selection Process:
Interested individuals must complete a Court application on-line and provide a valid email address. To apply, go to: http://www.cc-courts.org: and click on the Job Opportunities tab. After submitting your application all subsequent communications will be via email. Please add contracosta.courts.ca.gov and [email protected] to your email address book to ensure delivery of emails. For additional information email: [email protected].
Depending on the number of applications received, an application evaluation committee may be convened to review and evaluate each candidate’s application, and those deemed best qualified will be invited to a written exam that will likely take place sometime during the last week of January. After the written exam, you may be invited to an oral interview and practical exercise. The court reserves the right to make revisions to the testing process in accordance with the Court Personnel Plan and accepted selection practices.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Conditions of Employment:
Successful completion of fingerprint and a criminal record background check is required prior to appointment and is a condition of employment.
All employees of the court who operate a vehicle on court business must certify they possess a valid California Driver’s License and required levels of automobile insurance.
Convictions:
Felony and misdemeanor convictions MAY BE disqualifying for employment with the court. The court will assess the nature and gravity of the offense, the time that has elapsed since the offense was committed, and the nature of the job duties to be performed.
Employment Eligibility:
In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, all persons hired after November 6, 1986, are required to present to the Court, at the time of appointment, original documents which show satisfactory proof of: 1.) identity and 2.) U.S. Citizenship or a legal authorization to work in the United States.
Union Representative:
This position is represented by AFSCME Local 2700.
Applicants with Disabilities: Reasonable accommodations will be made so applicants with disabilities may participate in the recruitment process. Please advise Superior Court Human Resources of special needs in advance.
The Court is an equal opportunity employer. The Court provides equal employment opportunity at all times and does not discriminate in violation of applicable law.