Judicial Assistant or Judicial Assistant to an Appellate Court Justice

Overview

The State of California, Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District located in Fresno, CA is accepting applications for the position of Judicial Assistant or Judicial Assistant to an Appellate Court Justice. Job classification will be determined based on the selected applicant’s work experience.

Broadly, the judicial assistant position provides complex paralegal, legal secretarial, and office administrative support to appellate court justices and attorneys. Specific to the court’s job classifications, the Judicial Assistant serves the entire court while the Judicial Assistant to an Appellate Court Justice works directly with an assigned justice and research attorneys in chambers.

Collegiality, strong work ethic, and dedication to excellence are highly valued. Candidates must have excellent attention to detail and be able to set priorities, organize their own work, and meet deadlines.

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

Responsibilities

• Provides paralegal, legal secretarial, and administrative support to justices, attorneys, and/or other professional staff.
• Edits, proofreads, and reviews opinions and court orders and other related documents, using the electronic case management and document management systems, for correctness and accuracy with respect to grammar, spelling, punctuation, content, and organization; conforms opinions to uniform style using the California Style Manual and other style manuals, ensuring compliance with California Rules of Court.
• Maintains scheduling and tracks cases calendared for oral argument and submission.
• Prepares final opinions by checking cited facts for accuracy against all documents via electronic case management and document management systems, from the lower tribunal such as the clerk’s and reporter’s transcripts, administrative record, exhibits, and correspondence; validates legal authorities cited using resources found in the electronic law library and computer database such as state and federal reporters, state and federal statutes, citators, textbooks, handbooks, restatements, and legislative intent materials.
• Communicates with the Reporter of Decisions regarding stylistic requirements and content of opinions; proofreads and carefully inspects galley proofs of all published opinions for complete accuracy; may transmit opinions and modifications to the Clerk’s Office for submission to the Reporter of Decisions.
• Provides training and guidance to new staff.
• Organizes and routes work using a document management system and follow up to ensure coordination and completion of assigned work; exercises skill in setting priorities; works closely with the Clerk’s Office to ensure that materials are received and sent out in a timely fashion.
• May draft correspondence; independently initiate specified correspondence for signature by appropriate staff, as assigned.
• Maintains, updates, and generates weekly and monthly reports.
• Maintains office equipment and supplies.

WORKING CONDITIONS
The California Courts of Appeal are equal opportunity employers. The California Courts of Appeal comply with obligations under the law to provide equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities.

Light Work: Incumbents generally work in a typical office environment with adequate light and temperature. May occasionally exert up to 30 pounds of force, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Positions in this class typically require sitting for extended periods of time, walking, reaching, standing, grasping, pushing, pulling, lifting, keyboarding, kneeling, crouching, stooping, seeing, hearing, talking, and repetitive motions.

May be required to work overtime; may be required to travel, as necessary.

May be required to substitute during illnesses, vacations, and other absences and/or to assist with added workload assignments and special projects.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• General functions and organization of the judicial system and the roles and functions of other legal and law enforcement agencies.
• Legal and administrative office practices and procedures.
• Complex legal concepts, terminology, principles, and procedures.
• Methods of complex legal research (traditional and electronic).
• Calendar management and scheduling.
• Computers and the use of computer applications.
• Correct business English, including spelling, grammar, and punctuation, with emphasis on legal terminology.

Ability to:

• Learn California trial and appellate court practices and procedures.
• Verify the accuracy of complex legal documents and research (traditional and electronic).
• Understand, interpret, and apply complex legal concepts, terminology, principles, and procedures.
• Operate computers and other standard office equipment, using standard business software and automated case management systems; interpret and apply technical manuals and tutorials.
• Organize, prioritize, and coordinate multiple work activities and meet critical deadlines while maintaining accuracy.
• Use initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
• Maintain confidentiality; use tact, discretion and courtesy in dealing with sensitive materials and situations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work, including justices, court staff, and representatives of other governmental and private agencies.
• Train others in policies and procedures related to work.
• Communicate effectively in English, verbally and in writing; learn the California Style Manual.

Minimum Qualifications:
Equivalent to six (6) years of legal secretarial experience, including four (4) years of technical legal research.

OR

Bachelor’s degree and two (2) years of legal secretarial experience, including technical legal research.

Additional directly related experience and/or college-level coursework may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for either of the paths outlined above.

OR

For Judicial Assistant: One (1) year as a Deputy Clerk OR two (2) years as a Lead Judicial Secretary or Assistant Deputy Clerk III OR three (3) years as a Judicial Secretary II with the judicial branch.

For Judicial Assistant to an Appellate Court Justice: One (1) year as a Judicial Assistant OR two (2) years as a Deputy Clerk OR three (3) years as a Lead Judicial Secretary or Assistant Deputy Clerk III with the judicial branch.

Equivalent years of experience performing the duties of a class comparable in the level of responsibility to the classes listed above in a California Superior Court or California state-level government entity also qualify.

Desirable Qualifications:
Ability to accurately type 55 words per minute

Please note: If you are selected for hire, the Fifth District Court of Appeal will require verification of employment eligibility or authorization to legally work in the United States.

How To Apply

This posting will remain open until filled or until a sufficient number of applications have been received. The recruitment may close at any time.

This position requires the submission of our official application, a resume, and a response to the supplemental questions.

To complete an online application, please click the Apply for Job button.

OR

To obtain a printed application, please download a copy from the Careers page at www.courts.ca.gov/careers under the Tips for Applicants section, and mail, along with your resume, to the following address:

Fifth District Court of Appeal
Re: Job Opening 6545
2424 Cesar Chavez Blvd
Fresno, CA 93721

The Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate Court District provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260. Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is available by dialing 711. Once connected, provide the relay operator with the number for Human Resources: 415-865-4260.

Pay and Benefits

Judicial Assistant: $6,350 - $7,718 per month*

Judicial Assistant to an Appellate Court Justice: $6,665 - $8,103 per month*

*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.

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
• 1 personal holiday per year
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• FlexElect Program
• Free parking
• Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)

Equal Employment Opportunity

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

Supplemental Questions

These questions are intended to provide more detailed information about your work experience. Your answers to the following questions will allow us to better assess your qualifications.

1. Describe your experience with the following:
   • Proofreading legal documents;
   • Cite checking;
   • Writing routine memos and letters.
2. Describe your experience completing tasks by utilizing software such as Microsoft Word, spreadsheets, presentations, shared calendars, and/or database management.
3. Describe your experience using Lexis, Westlaw or law library research.