Assistant Deputy Clerk I/II/III - Deputy Clerk

Overview

The California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One, located in downtown San Diego, is accepting applications for the position of Assistant Deputy Clerk – Deputy Clerk. The successful candidate will be a self-motivated professional and a reliable individual who is interested in working in a team environment where personal initiative, high attention to detail, and excellent organizational and interpersonal skills are highly valued.

The Court strives for employee work-life balance and includes substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package including pension, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending accounts, $130 monthly stipend towards public transit commuting costs, and retirement savings plans.  
 

Responsibilities

Under supervision, the incumbent performs a variety of clerical, procedural and legal processes supporting activities in the Clerk’s Office. Duties include prioritizing and examining incoming court documents and materials for conformance to the California Rules of Court, appellate court procedures and local rules; coding, scanning and entering documents into a Case Management System (CMS); electronically filing and processing documents through an eFiling System (EFS); routing documents; evaluating, preparing and issuing detailed and complex court orders, letters and memos; reviewing and filing court opinions; preparing oral argument calendars, serving as courtroom clerk; answering incoming telephone calls, email communication, and in-person questions from court staff, the public, attorneys and other courts regarding cases, knowledge, interpretation and application of the California Rules of Court and California Style Manual, e-filing and other procedural and legal proceedings. The successful candidate will also receive and prepare financial transactions receipts, deposits, and other duties as assigned to meet operational needs.

This is an in-person position. Hybrid work options may be considered once the employee is fully trained and with ongoing supervisor approval. 
 

Qualifications

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; understand and follow oral and written instructions.

WORKING CONDITIONS
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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Assistant Deputy Clerk I: Equivalent to an associate’s 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’s 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’s 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.

Deputy Clerk: Equivalent to an associate’s degree and three (3) years of legal clerical processing experience OR equivalent to graduation from high school and five (5) years of legal clerical processing experience.
OR
One (1) year as an Assistant Deputy Clerk III OR two (2) 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.
 

How To Apply

To complete an online application, please click the “Apply to Job” button. For earliest consideration, apply by 5:00 p.m. on November 20, 2026. This position will remain open until filled.

The following items are required:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Completed online employment application

The Fourth District Court of Appeal 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

Assistant Deputy Clerk I      $4,656 - $5,660 per month
Assistant Deputy Clerk II     $5,120 - $6,227 per month
Assistant Deputy Clerk III    $5,632 - $6,850 per month
Deputy Clerk                       $6,194  - $7,532 per month

Monthly Salary is based on qualifications and experience.

Please note due to statewide fiscal conditions, the posted salary range is subject to a temporary 3% reduction. In exchange for this temporary reduction, judicial branch employees accrue an additional 5 hours of paid personal leave per month through June 30, 2027.

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
• Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• FlexElect Program
• Pretax Parking
• Public Services Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
   

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.