Assistant Deputy Clerk I, II, or III

Overview

The Court of Appeal for the Fifth Appellate District in Fresno is accepting applications for an Assistant Deputy Clerk I, II, or III. The individual selected will be hired at a level commensurate with their qualifications. The Clerk’s Office is looking for a team player who is interested in working in a legal environment that requires a high degree of accuracy, initiative, multi-tasking, and independent judgment within established guidelines. The ideal applicant will possess integrity, excellent interpersonal skills, personal adaptability, and be able to meet established deadlines.

Under general supervision, the Clerk’s Office handles a variety of legal procedures related to the preparation and processing of appellate court cases. The staff of the Clerk’s Office also provides information and assistance to justices, staff, counsel, and the public regarding cases on appeal and provides information regarding rules governing appellate procedure. The Clerk’s Office is divided into teams based on case type (e.g., criminal, civil, etc.). All deputy clerks periodically rotate from team to team to meet the operational needs of the court.

The Court is willing to consider the option of hybrid work for qualified applicants.

Responsibilities

• Prioritizes and analyzes incoming 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 appropriate parties using a document management system and electronic folders.
• Evaluates, drafts, and issues court orders, letters, remittiturs, etc.; reviews and files opinions; and may collaborate with legal staff in preparation of detailed and 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.
• Communicates with court staff, the public, attorneys, and other courts, including answering incoming calls or in-person inquiries regarding cases, California Rules of Court, and other procedural and legal processing issues.
• May assist in preparing assignment and oral argument calendars.
• Manages active court files in a document management system.
• Opens, reviews, separates, and distributes mail, as well as processes outgoing mail.
• May serve as courtroom clerk, including recording, coordinating telephonic and video appearances, and making appropriate entries to the case management system of the court proceedings.
• Processes credit card, check, and cash payments for fees and prepares financial transaction receipts.
• The position may require occasional light lifting, such as handling boxes or files, as well as the movement or organization of paperwork.

Qualifications

All levels require the equivalent to graduation from high school. A bachelor’s degree is not required but is desirable. Directly related college-level course work may be substituted for required experience on a year-for-year basis.

ASSISTANT DEPUTY CLERK I:
Equivalent to an associate degree; OR equivalent to graduation from high school and two (2) years of legal clerical processing experience; OR one (1) year as an Appellate Court Records Assistant; OR two (2) years as an Office Assistant II with the judicial branch.

ASSISTANT DEPUTY CLERK II:
Equivalent to an associate degree and one (1) year of legal clerical processing experience; OR equivalent to graduation from high school and three (3) years of legal clerical processing experience; OR one (1) year as an Assistant Deputy Clerk I with the judicial branch.

ASSISTANT DEPUTY CLERK III:
Equivalent to an associate degree and two (2) years of legal clerical processing experience; OR equivalent to graduation from high school and four (4) years of legal clerical processing experience; OR one (1) year as an Assistant Deputy Clerk II; OR two (2) years as an Assistant Deputy Clerk I with the judicial branch.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of jurisdictional requirements associated with the trial courts and with appeals and original proceedings before an appellate court.
• Knowledge of legal terminology and legal source materials, including pertinent California Rules of Court, Standard California Codes, and the California Style Manual.
• Knowledge of office and court clerical practices, including filing, the safe operation of office equipment and telephone systems, and principles and practices for accurate record keeping.
• Ability to 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.
• Ability to effectively organize work, set priorities, and meet critical deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work; consistently maintain confidentiality.
• Experience providing customer service to people with diverse socio-economic backgrounds in difficult situations.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, with tact and courtesy; understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Proficiency in the operation of personal computers including data entry and preparation of spreadsheets; use of case management systems, document management systems, and e-filing systems; and use of Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.), Adobe Acrobat Pro, and Adobe Reader.
• Knowledge of business English, including composition, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and professional telephone and email etiquette.
• Ability to understand and apply policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the Clerk’s Office.
• Ability to understand complex procedures and legal terminology, and prepare accurate materials from such procedures.
• Ability to perform a variety of clerical and legal processing support activities accurately.

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.

How To Apply

To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by Monday, April 21, 2025. This position requires the submission of our official application, cover letter, resume, and responses to the supplemental questions.

To complete an online application, please click the Apply for Job button. To obtain a printed application, download a copy from the Careers page at www.courts.ca.gov/careers under the Tips for Applicants section and mail, along with your cover letter, resume, and answers to the supplemental questions, to the following address:

Fifth District Court of Appeal
Re: Job Opening 6389
2424 Cesar Chavez Blvd.
Fresno, CA 93721

The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation.  Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260.

Pay and Benefits

Salary Range for Assistant Deputy Clerk I:  $4,413 – $5,364 per month
Salary Range for Assistant Deputy Clerk II:  $4,850 – $5,900 per month
Salary Range for Assistant Deputy Clerk III:  $5,336 – $6,490 per month

Some highlights of our benefits package include:

• Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
• One personal holiday per year
• $130 transit pass subsidy per month
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• FlexElect Program
• Long Term Disability (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)
• Free parking

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Court of Appeal of the Fifth Appellate District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Supplemental Questions

Supplemental Questionnaire
For
Assistant Deputy Clerk I/Il/IlI
Job Opening 6389

The supplemental questions are intended to provide more detailed information about your work experience which will allow us to better assess your qualifications. Responses to these questions must be completed and submitted with your application and resume in order for your application to be considered for review.

1. Please describe your experience dealing with the public, providing information to customers, and dealing with diverse populations.
2. What key behaviors or actions have you found to be essential for a team to function successfully? Provide an example where you demonstrated these behaviors or actions in a team setting.
3. Describe your experience performing legal research using the California Rules of Court, Government Codes, etc. Give an example of a time when you were required to research a legal issue and explain how you interpreted and/or applied the information you obtained.