Judicial Secretary I, Judicial Secretary II or Judicial Assistant

Equal Employment Opportunity

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

Department Overview

The California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, located in San Francisco, is accepting applications for a full-time regular Judicial Secretary I, Judicial Secretary II, or Judicial Assistant position in Central Staff. Starting salary and classification will be commensurate with the qualifications of the selected individual. 

Under the supervision of the Managing Attorney, the individual in this position will provide a variety of administrative, paralegal, and legal secretarial support services to a specified appellate court justice and the justice’s research attorneys. Applicants invited to an interview will be required to complete a timed, in-house assessment.

The successful candidate is expected to work at the court in San Francisco. Remote work options for part of the workweek may be considered.

How To Apply

In order to be considered, please submit an application and a response to the supplemental questionnaire. The First Appellate District requires that you include a resume with your application.  To ensure earliest consideration, please apply by February 18, 2025.

1.  Please click the Apply for Job button below 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, Clerk’s Office, 350 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 between the hours of 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM, or
• 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. #: 6352

     350 McAllister Street

     San Francisco, CA 94102

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 or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf at 415-865-4272.

Pay and Benefits

Judicial Secretary I:  $4,871 - $5,921 per month (Starting salary may vary between $4,871 and $5,115 per month)

Judicial Secretary II:  $5,361 - $6,513 per month (Starting salary may vary between $5,361 and $5,629 per month)

Judicial Assistant:  $6,498 - $7,899 per month (Starting salary may vary between $6,498 and $6,823 per month)

Benefits:

Highlights of our current benefits package include:

• Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 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
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• FlexElect Program
• Long Term Disability (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)

Qualifications

Judicial Secretary I: Equivalent to graduation from high school and two years of general secretarial or legal processing experience; OR One year as an Appellate Court Records Assistant or two years as an Office Assistant II in the judicial branch.

Judicial Secretary II: Equivalent to graduation from high school and three years of legal secretarial experience; OR Two years as a Judicial Secretary I in the judicial branch.

Directly related college-level course work may be substituted for required experience on a year-for-year basis for either classifications listed above.

Judicial Assistant: Equivalent to graduation from high school and six 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 One year as a Deputy Clerk OR two years as a Lead Judicial Secretary or Assistant Deputy Clerk III OR three years as a Judicial Secretary II 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.

Judicial Secretary I and II Knowledge and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Basic legal concepts, terminology, practices, and procedures.
• Basic methods of legal research, traditional and computerized.
• Pertinent California trial and appellate court practices and procedures.
• Secretarial and standard office practices and procedures, including filing, business letter writing, and the standard format for memoranda, briefs, drafts, opinions, and other typed materials.
• The operation of standard office equipment.
• The operation of personal computers and the use of specified computer applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, legal applications, and desktop publishing.
• Correct business English, including spelling, grammar, and punctuation, including knowledge of legal terminology and punctuation.
• Information management and record-keeping principles and practices.
• Organizational policies and procedures.

Ability to:

• Provide varied secretarial assistance to managerial and executive staff.
• Apply basic legal concepts, terminology, practices, and procedures.
• Conduct limited legal research, traditional and computerized.
• Use initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
• Organize, prioritize, and coordinate multiple work activities and meet critical deadlines.
• Diplomatically communicate with executive-level individuals both within and outside the agency; demonstrate proper protocol when dealing with government officials.
• Type at a net rate of 55 words per minute.
• Accurately take minutes and transcribe dictation.
• Safely operate a variety of standard office equipment.
• Operate personal computers and use specified computer applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, legal applications, and desktop publishing.
• Communicate effectively in English, verbally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.

Judicial Assistant Knowledge & Abilities:

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.

Responsibilities

Judicial Secretary I is the entry-level class in the Judicial Secretary series. Initially under close supervision, the individual will learn word processing and other computer applications applicable to the work situation. As experience is gained, the individual will function with increasing independence and responsibility.

Judicial Secretary II is the journey-level class of the Judicial Secretary series. The individual is fully competent to independently perform the full range of administrative and judicial secretarial duties and demonstrate an increasing knowledge of organizational structure and protocol.

Judicial Assistant performs varied, complex and confidential paralegal, legal secretarial, and office administrative assistance.

Judicial Secretary I, Judicial Secretary II, or Judicial Assistant responsibilities include:

• Provide support to appellate court justices, court attorneys, and/or other professional staff in the processing of appeals and writs;
• Prepare final opinions by verifying that all facts referenced in draft opinions are supported by the clerk’s and reporter’s transcripts, administrative record, exhibits, or other documents;
• Verify legal authorities cited in draft opinions using resources found in the law library and computer data bases;
• Edit, proofread, and review draft opinions and court orders for correctness with respect to grammar, spelling, punctuation, content, and organization; conform draft opinions to uniform style using the California Style Manual;
• Organize, maintain, and route work, set priorities and follow up to ensure coordination and completion of assigned work; exercise skill in setting priorities that accurately reflect the importance of assigned responsibilities;
• Work closely with Clerk's Office staff to ensure that materials are received and sent out in timely fashion;
• Communicate with the Reporter of Decisions regarding stylistic requirements and content of opinions;
• Track cases for timeliness and coordinate case deadlines with staff attorneys and justices;
• Use word processing programs to prepare and edit documents, including draft opinions;
• Proofread and inspect galley proofs of published opinions for accuracy;
• Answer and screen telephone calls and deliver messages; open and distribute mail;
• May need to transport boxes weighing up to 30 pounds; and
• Perform other related work as assigned.

Supplemental Questions

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

1. Please indicate why you believe your experience and skills qualify you for the position. In addition, explain why you are interested in this position.
2. What directly related college-level course work have you completed?
3. Do you have knowledge of legal terminology and cite checking? If so, briefly describe how you acquired this knowledge and how you applied it in your work experience.
4. Have you used Lexis, Westlaw, or law library research? Please specify:
5. Describe your knowledge or experience with the California Rules of Court, Standard California Codes and the California Style Manual.
6. Describe your training and experience in proofreading legal documents.
7. Do you have experience with Word or other word processing software? Please specify:

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.