Judicial Secretary

Job Title

Court Judicial Secretary

Ventura Superior Court is accepting applications to establish a list for future vacancies. Under general supervision, provides general and confidential administrative and clerical support to Superior Court judges and judicial officers, processes judicial decisions and other specialized clerical services in support of the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura. Incumbent may also perform other duties as dictated by the business need of the court.

Incumbents in this class receive general supervision from a court supervisor and perform a variety of secretarial tasks in accordance with pre-established policies, procedures, and standards. Distinguishing Characteristics:
The Court Judicial Secretary class provides general, confidential administrative and clerical services to several judges and judicial officers, which is distinguished from a Judicial Assistant classification. The latter attends court sessions to record proceedings and provide staff assistance to the judicial officer in case processing and courtroom documents review.

Organize, set priorities and exercise sound judgment, tact, discretion, and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive situations and concerned customers. Composes, types, formats, edits, revises, proofreads and prints a variety of legal correspondences; prepares other court related documents and materials, such as jury instructions, opinions, rulings and decisions. Reviews documents for clerical accuracy, completeness and compliance with court requirements; copies documents for filing and/or distribution.

Maintains calendars for judicial officers; makes and confirms travel and other arrangements for training and business trips. Opens and reviews mail or internal correspondence; determines priority and routes accordingly, or as required by court's standard policies and procedures. Answers, screens and directs telephone calls; maintains a high level quality of customer service while assisting customers by telephone and in person;

receives, responds to inquiries from the public, media, authorized parties, bailiffs, attorneys, and/or refers them to appropriate staff or supervisor. Serves as liaison with judicial officers, management, other departments, agencies and the public to facilitate the resolution of a variety of issues. Appropriately handles confidential information regarding court related matters based on a thorough knowledge and understanding of court policies and standards.

Establishes and maintains professional and effective working relationship with judicial officers, court employees, members of the public and others encountered in the course of work. Maintains and updates case management systems; law books; judicial time off requests, and various judicial lists and logs. Provides backup support to other judicial secretarial or administrative support staff. Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience :
Completion of high school education or its equivalent - AND- two (2) years of legal secretarial or legal assistant experience acquired within the last ten years that will satisfy the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the classification. Keyboarding proficiency of at least 50 net words per minute in a five-minute timed test. Applicant must provide at the time of the written examination an original keyboarding certificate and a copy of the certificate for our records.

The certificate must have been issued in the past twenty-four (24) months prior to the application filing deadline date from by one of the authorized testing locations, as provided through this link:
The Superior Court of California
- County of Ventura
- Career Opportunities, under Typing Certificate Information section. Knowledge of:
Computerized and standard office secretarial practices and procedures. Computer and its peripherals, and other office equipment. Courtroom protocol and procedures; legal terms; general and specific legal format such as California Style Manual; legal processing and procedures. Principles and practices of business communication; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation. Court's functions, rules, policies and procedures applicable to assigned areas of responsibility.

Regulations and procedures governing the maintenance and disclosure of sensitive and confidential information and public records. Principles and practices of customer service and telephone etiquette. Ability to:
Operate a computer, its peripherals and other standard office equipment. Refer to Rules of Court and local rules and be familiar with them. Work in an environment that includes frequent interruptions, simultaneous attention to multiple tasks and meeting legally established deadlines. Prepare clear, accurate and concise pleadings, correspondence, records and reports. Follow procedures and take actions within established authority limits.

Communicate clearly and…