Assistant Deputy Clerk I, II, III, or Deputy Clerk

Responsibilities

Assistant Deputy Clerk I, Assistant Deputy Clerk II, and Assistant Deputy Clerk III: Assistant Deputy Clerk I is the entry-level and Assistant Deputy Clerk II and Assistant Deputy Clerk III are the apprentice level classes in the Deputy Clerk series. Initially under close supervision, the incumbent gains experience and learns clerical, procedural, and legal processing functions of the Clerk’s Office. As experience is gained, there is greater independence and complexity of duties within established guidelines.

Deputy Clerk: The Deputy Clerk is the journey-level class in the Deputy Clerk classification. The incumbent is fully competent to independently perform the full range of varied and complex duties with little supervision.

The responsibilities for the deputy clerk classifications include:

• Prioritizes and analyzes incoming court documents and materials for compliance with the California Rules of Court, appellate court procedures, and local rules;

• Determines appropriate codes and files documents into a case management system; examines and routes documents to the appropriate party;

• Evaluates, drafts, and issues detailed and complex court orders, letters, etc.; reviews and files opinions; may collaborate with legal staff in preparation of complex court orders and letters;

• Monitors, communicates, and coordinates with trial courts, counsel, and self-represented litigants on overdue documents and records; prepares and sends out default notices and other notices relating to cases;

• Answers inquiries from court staff, the public, attorneys, and other courts regarding cases, California Rules of Court, and other procedural and legal processing issues;

• May serve as courtroom clerk, including recording, teleconferencing, and/or video conferencing, and entry of court proceedings into minutes;

• May assist in preparing oral argument calendar;

• Manages active court files in a document management system;

• Manages financial transactions for case filings;

• May provide training and guidance to less experienced staff;

• Manages and processes incoming and outgoing mail;

• May need to transport boxes weighing up to 30 pounds; and

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Assistant Deputy Clerk I: Equivalent to an associate’s degree; OR equivalent to graduation from high school and two years of legal clerical processing experience; OR one year as an Appellate Court Records Assistant OR two years as an Office Assistant II with the judicial branch.

Assistant Deputy Clerk II: Equivalent to an associate’s degree and one year of legal clerical processing experience; OR equivalent to graduation from high school and three years of legal clerical processing experience; OR one year as an Assistant Deputy Clerk I with the judicial branch.

Assistant Deputy Clerk III: Equivalent to an associate’s degree and two years of legal clerical processing experience; OR equivalent to graduation from high school and four years of legal clerical processing experience; OR one year as an Assistant Deputy Clerk II OR two years as an Assistant Deputy Clerk I with the judicial branch.

Deputy Clerk: Equivalent to an associate’s degree and three years of legal clerical processing experience; OR equivalent to graduation from high school and five years of legal clerical processing experience; OR one year as an Assistant Deputy Clerk III OR two years as an Assistant Deputy Clerk II with the judicial branch.

Additional directly related experience or education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for any of the above.

Knowledge and Abilities for all Deputy Clerk Classifications

Knowledge of:

• Jurisdictional requirements associated with the trial courts and with appeals and original proceedings before an appellate court.
• Legal terminology and legal source materials, including pertinent California Rules of Court, Standard California Codes, and the California Style Manual.
• Office and court clerical practices, including filing and the operation of office equipment and telephone systems.
• The operation of personal computers including data entry and preparation of spreadsheets, and the use of specified computer applications, such as case management systems, document management systems, and e-filing systems.
• Record keeping principles and practices.
• Customer service principles and practices.
• Business English, including composition, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and professional telephone etiquette.

Ability to:

• Understand and apply policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the Clerk’s Office.
• Understand complex procedures, legal terminology; prepare accurate materials from such procedures; organize and maintain accurate files and records.
• Perform a variety of clerical and legal processing support activities accurately; safely operate a variety of office equipment and telephone systems.
• Make sound decisions in accordance with laws, rules, regulations, codes, internal policies, and procedures in a variety of work situations in the Clerk’s Office.
• Operate personal computers including inputting data, preparing spreadsheets, and using computer applications, such as case management systems and document management systems.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work; consistently maintain confidentiality.
• Provide customer service to people with diverse socio-economic backgrounds in difficult situations.
• Effectively organize work, set priorities, and meet critical deadlines.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, with tact and courtesy, orally and in writing.

Pay and Benefits

Assistant Deputy Clerk I: $4,793- $5,824 per month (Starting salary may vary between $4,793 and $5,033 per month)

Assistant Deputy Clerk II: $5,268 - $6,406 per month (Starting salary may vary between $5,268 and $5,531 per month)

Assistant Deputy Clerk III: $5,794 - $7,046 per month  (Starting salary may vary between $5,794 and $6,084 per month)

Deputy Clerk: $6,372 - $7,749 per month (Starting salary may vary between $6,372 and $6,691 per month)

BENEFITS

Highlights of our current benefits package include:

• Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• FlexElect Program
• Long Term Disability (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• 1 personal holiday per year
• Transit pass subsidy
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program

Overview

Please note: Due to statewide fiscal conditions, state-level judicial branch employee pay is temporarily reduced by 3% through June 30, 2027. In exchange for this reduction, employees accrue an additional 5 hours of paid personal leave each month.

The California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, located in San Francisco, is accepting applications for a regular full-time position in the Deputy Clerk classification. Starting salary and classification level will be commensurate with the qualifications of the selected individual. The Court offers a hybrid work schedule.

Under supervision of the Assistant Clerk/Executive Officer and the Clerk/Executive Officer, this position is responsible for handling a variety of clerical, procedural, and legal process support activities in the Clerk’s Office. Applicants invited to an interview will be required to complete a timed, in-house assessment.

Supplemental Questions

This supplemental questionnaire is intended to provide more detailed information about your work experience and training.  Your answers will allow us to better assess your qualifications. 

1. Describe your knowledge or experience with the California Rules of Court, Standard California Codes, and the California Style Manual.  

2. Describe your experience with word processing and data entry software. 

3. Describe your experience in the legal processing environment.

4. What directly related college-level course work have you completed?

5. Please indicate why you believe your experience and skills qualify you for the position.  In addition, explain why you are interested in this position.

How To Apply

In order to be considered, please submit an application, a response to the supplemental questionnaire, and a resume. To ensure earliest consideration, please apply by April 17, 2026.

1.  Please click the Apply for Job button to apply online. Please include your response to the supplemental questionnaire and attach your resume.

OR

2.  Options for obtaining the employment application:

• Please download a copy from the Careers page on our website under the Tips for Job Applicants section, or
• Visit the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Reception, 350 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 between the hours of 9:00 AM
• Contact the First District Court of Appeal, Human Resources at 415-865-7369.

Please submit your completed application, response to the supplemental questionnaire, and resume to the following address:  

            First District Court of Appeal

            Attn: Human Resources, Req. #: 6625

            350 McAllister Street

            San Francisco, CA 94102-3600

The Court of Appeal, First Appellate District provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at 415-865-7369. Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is available by dialing 711. Once connected, provide the relay operator with the number for Human Resources: 415-865-7369

Equal Employment Opportunity

The First District Court of Appeal is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Other Information

Please note: If you are selected for hire, verification of employment eligibility or authorization to work in the United States will be required.