Deputy Court Clerk I/II - Superior Court of California (Open and Promotional)

Description

The Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo is seeking Deputy Court Clerks to perform a variety of legal office support duties for the court's various divisions.

Under general supervision, Deputy Court Clerks receive, prepare, process, and file a variety of legal documents for the family law, records, appeals, probate, criminal, civil, traffic, small claims, and other divisions of the court. They also perform responsible office support duties adhering to legal codes and court procedures. There are currently several vacancies to be filled in the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Exceptional customer service skills.
• Proven knowledge of general clerical practices and procedures.
• Familiarity with legal processes and procedures.
• Familiarity with basic word processing programs (e.g., Microsoft Word).
• Strong organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• The ability to understand, interpret, and apply court procedures while maintaining flexibility and resiliency in a challenging and changing work environment.
• The ability to work as a team member with co-workers in a cooperative, collegial, and supportive manner.
• Experience working in a court setting.

Deputy Court Clerk I is an entry-level classification. Under close supervision, the Deputy Court Clerk I will learn departmental and court policies and procedures, legal terminology, and court processes and practices. Incumbents may advance to a Deputy Court Clerk II after gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency that meets the qualifications for Deputy Court Clerk II. The annual salary range for Deputy Court Clerk I is $57,636.80 - $71,843.20.

Deputy Court Clerk II is the journey or experienced-level classification and is fully competent to independently perform a variety of complex and detailed office and court support duties. Incumbents are expected to perform the day-to-day work with minimum supervision and to exercise sound judgment in applying legal codes and court policies and procedures. The annual salary range for Deputy Court Clerk II is $62,524.80 - $77,875.20.

If you are interested in working for the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo as a Deputy Court Clerk, you are strongly encouraged to apply now!

Note: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Receive, review, prepare, process, and file a variety of legal documents for the family law, records, appeals, probate, criminal, civil, traffic, small claims, and other divisions of the court.
• Perform varied, responsible, and detailed office support duties adhering to legal codes and court procedures.
• Research and respond to inquiries by plaintiffs, defendants, attorneys, government agencies, and the public in person, by email, or by telephone following established procedures.
• Compute and accept payment of fees, fines, and bail; accept routine filings; issue appropriate receipts; and account for monies received daily.
• Prepare, process, sort, file, and calendar cases; make docket entries; and issue legal forms.
• Organize workload, set priorities, and ensure critical deadlines are met.
• Operate standard office equipment, such as a computer, copier, desk top scanner, printer, fax machine, calculator, telephone, and cash register.
• Organize and maintain various files; initiate new filing systems; purge files as required; maintain tickler files; and follow up as necessary.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

The work environment for a Deputy Court Clerk is a "typical" office space that is generally clean with limited exposure to dust, fumes, odors, and noise. A video display terminal/computer monitor is used daily. Conditions can at times be difficult and stressful with frequent deadlines and the expectation to produce high-quality work under time constraints. Periodic, regular, and/or occasional contact with employees in other court divisions, government agencies, the public, and/or vendors will require the ability to communicate appropriately with diverse populations regarding inquiries and requests. The ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively with others, is essential.

The position has some physical demands, which include working at a computer terminal for extended periods of time; sitting or standing for long periods of time; stooping and reaching above shoulder level; climbing on ladders to access files on shelves; bending, lifting, and carrying items weighing up to 25 pounds; working in a fast-paced environment; utilizing normal manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination; repetitively using hands and arms; moving from one location to another; having corrected hearing and vision to normal range; communicating verbally; and using office equipment, including computers, telephones, calculators, copiers, and fax machines.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.

A typical way to qualify is:

• Deputy Court Clerk I: One year of experience as a general clerical office assistant and/or related education or course work.
• Deputy Court Clerk II: One year of experience in receiving, preparing, processing, and filing a variety of legal documents such as found in the court or similar legal office setting.

Knowledge of:

• Court office practices and procedures, legal codes, processes, and terminology and the operation of standard office equipment.
• Principles and techniques for dealing with the public, including maintaining a positive public image under stressful situations.
• Basic personal computer usage, including keyboarding and word processing.
• Standard business correspondence.
• The English language, including correct use of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• Business arithmetic.

Skill/Ability to:

• Apply and explain a variety of legal terminology, concepts, and technical court procedures related to office support work.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Maintain flexibility in a challenging and changing work environment.
• Establish and maintain effective, professional, and cooperative relationships with co-workers.
• Provide and promote a high level of public service.
• Organize, research, and maintain accurate files and records.
• Prioritize and organize work in an effective and efficient manner.
• Operate standard office equipment, including a word processor and/or a personal or online computer.
• Make accurate arithmetic calculations.
• Maintain attention to detail and perform office work accurately despite frequent interruptions.
• Exercise initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Understand and execute oral and written instructions.
• Maintain the necessary level of confidentiality.
• Type/keyboard at a rate of 30 net words per minute or more.

Application/Examination

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score.

The examination process will consist of the following:

• Application Pre-screening to ensure the instructions for completing the application have been followed and the minimum qualifications are met (pass/fail)
• Computer-based examination (pass/fail)
• Panel Interview (weight: 100%).

Candidates whose applications pass the pre-screening will be invited to take the Computer-Based Examination. The top candidates with a passing score on the computer-based examination will be invited to the Panel Interview.

Computer-based Examination
The computer-based examination is a basic civil service / government examination. It is a 94 - question multiple-choice test with five subject areas including: Filing/Record Keeping; Office Math; Grammar, Spelling, Word Usage, Reading Comprehension; and Legal Terminology. Applicants must achieve a passing score on the computer-based examination to move forward to the interview.

Most libraries and bookstores stock study guides for civil service/government examinations. Applicants are encouraged to review these resource materials prior to taking the examination. While the Court does not recommend or endorse specific books, job seekers can ask librarians or store employees for guidance when selecting appropriate study aids.

Panel Interview
The panel interview is a standard component of most Civil Service selection processes. Each candidate will be interviewed individually by a panel of three (or more) subject matter experts from the Court. All candidates will be asked the same questions, in the same order, for approximately the same amount of time. Responses to each question will be scored based on pre-determined scoring criteria. Each candidate will receive an overall interview score. Candidates that achieve a passing score on the panel interview will be placed on the eligible or hiring list ranked according to their interview score.

Depending on the number of applicants, a screening committee may select those applicants whose education and/or experience appear to best meet the needs of the position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please apply at https://jobs.smcgov.org.

Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The anticipated dates of the recruitment and examination processes are listed below. Please make plans to be present for these opportunities. Applicants will be notified of the final date, time, and place of the examinations with as much advance notification as possible.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE:
Final Filing Date: May 20, 2026, at 11:59 PM
Computer-based Examination Window: May 21-May 27, 2026
Panel Interview Dates: June 17, 18, and/or 19, 2026

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The Court seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

The Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we encourage applications from candidates who will contribute to our diversity.

Analyst: Chet Overstreet (05072026) (Deputy Court Clerk I/II - X046/X047)

Please Note: The County of San Mateo Human Resources Department is conducting this recruitment for the Superior Court. This position is with the Superior Court of California.

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• County of San Mateo Human Resources Department

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