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 polices 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.

Other Duties:

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, Skills and Abilities: 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 (with or without reasonable accommodation):

• 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 effectively in English. Some positions may require the same in Spanish.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Type documents from instructions, drafts, dictation, or transcripts.
• Understand and respect limits of authority.
• Move office locations without prior notice

Physical Requirements with or without Reasonable Accommodation:

• Ability to use a personal computer and its peripherals including keyboard, mouse and monitor for extended periods of time.
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
• Ability to work in an environment that includes frequent interruptions and simultaneous attention to multiple tasks.
• Ability to grasp and/or manipulate files, binders, pieces of paper or small objects. Ability to prepare or inspect court records, documents or office equipment with ordinary visual acuity.
• Frequent hand, fingers and/or wrist motion.
• Ability to reach at or above shoulder level.
• Ability to communicate effectively, by phone or in person, to understand and/or convey detailed important information, instruction, and/or ideas.
• Ability to work alone or closely with others.
• Occasional bending and stooping.
• May require movement throughout the courthouse delivering and/or retrieving forms, files, materials and information to and from other departments.
• May require occasional lifting of files and books weighing up to 25 lbs.

Work Environment:

• Shared office environment with varying degrees of hot and cold air and lighting condition.
• May be required to travel to other court locations for work or training.
• Must be able to traverse indoors and outdoors, over uneven surfaces and pavement in all types of weather.
• Constant interruptions and various office noises, with high volume of telephone and personal interaction.
• Exposure to dust, copier and printer toners.
  

This recruitment may be used to establish an eligibility list for full time, part time, regular, extra-help or fixed term positions.

APPLICATION EVALUATION: All applications received will be evaluated based on the requirements of the position. A comparative screening will be conducted to determine which of the applicants will be selected for invitation to the next step of the screening and selection process. Those individuals who are invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process will be contacted via the email address they provided in their application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE: If applicable, all applicants are required to complete the Supplemental Questionnaire for this examination. The Supplemental Questionnaire shall be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and eligibility for this position.

WRITTEN ASSESSEMENT: A job-related assessment will be administered. Tentative Date: 12/16/25

PRACTICAL ASSESSEMENT: A job-related practical assessment will be administered. Tentative Date: 12/22/25

SELECTION INTERVIEW: The interviews may be consolidated into one process or expanded into multiple interviews contingent upon the size and quantity of the candidate pool. Following the evaluation of the applications, the most qualified candidates may be invited to an oral board panel interview or directly to the selection interview. If an oral board panel interview is conducted, top candidates from the oral board panel interview will be invited to the selection interview with the hiring executive and/or members of the court executive management team. Date TBD

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS: All applicants must possess the personal qualifications generally recognized as essential to being an outstanding public employee, including integrity, initiative, dependability, courtesy, good judgment and ability to work with others as a team and follow instructions.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Working in any of the Ventura Superior Court facilities requires employees to be subject to security screening by security personnel who use a combination of walk-through and handheld screening devices.