Court Services Specialist Trainee: Under close supervision, and in a learning capacity, to perform routine legal clerical duties in support of court operations. This is the Trainee level position in the Court Services Specialist flexible classification series.  Court Services Specialist Trainees perform a variety of routine, repetitive legal clerical tasks following established court procedures.  Incumbents who successfully complete one year of employment and meet the employment standards may be promoted to Court services specialist I without further examination.

Court Services Specialist I/II: Under general supervision, this specialized clerical level position performs a full range of clerical duties in support of court operations. Court Services Specialist I is the entry level of the Court Services Specialist series.  Incumbents perform a variety of legal process duties under close supervision.  This class is distinguished from the higher level Court Services Specialist II class in that the latter performs the more difficult work with more independence of action and exercises a greater degree of discretion in completion of tasks. These Court Services Specialist positions may work in any Superior Court Division.

Court Services Specialist Trainee: 

• Learns to receive and examine legal documents for accuracy, completeness and conformity to requirements.
• Assists with the preparation of documents and exhibits; files and sorts legal documents and related case materials; retrieves and delivers files and documents to court or appropriate parties. 
• Assists with providing information regarding court procedures and legal filing processes; explains fees and fines; and assists individuals in locating material and information.
• Learns to verify, enter, retrieve, correct, and update information in a manual or automated recordkeeping system. 
• Learns to accept fines and fees; makes appropriate journal entries; issues receipts and balances cash drawers.
• Assists with duties in support of jury activities such as drawing jury pools, qualifying jurors, and keeping records on juror compensation. 
• Operates a variety of office machines and equipment.
• Prepares and sends a variety of routine correspondence.
• All other job related duties as required. 

Court Services Specialist I/II:

• Receives and examines legal documents for accuracy, completeness, and conformity to requirements; returns unacceptable documents; affixes seals and stamps to endorse, certify, and/or file documents.
• Prepares and maintains documents and exhibits; files legal documents and related case materials; retrieves and delivers files and documents to court or appropriate parties.
• Provides information regarding court procedures; answers inquiries and explains legal filing processes; explains fees and fines; assists individuals in locating material and information.
• Verifies, enters, retrieves, corrects and updates information in manual or automated record keeping systems.
• At the direction of a judge, prepares and issues legal orders such as warrants, writs, orders, subpoenas, abstracts, and other official documents on behalf of the court; recalls warrants, exonerates bail, prepares judgments, and dismisses or seals cases in accordance with established codes and court procedures
• Prepares a variety of documents related to court operations including court minutes, court calendars, notices of hearings, court appearances, or petitions; coordinates the flow of documents necessary for court assignments.
• Accepts fines and fees; makes appropriate journal entries; issues receipts and balances cash drawers.
• Performs duties in support of jury activities such as drawing jury pools, qualifying jurors, and keeping records on juror compensation.
• All other duties as assigned.

Court Services Specialist Trainee: Any combination of training, experience and/or education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be an educational level equivalent to a high school diploma or G.E.D. AND one (1) year of full-time paid clerical experience.  Type at a minimum rate of 35 net wpm.
 
Court Services Specialist I:  Any combination of training, experience and/or education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be would be an educational level equivalent to a high school diploma or G.E.D. AND one (1) year of full-time paid experience performing clerical duties requiring knowledge of legal documents and court processes, and the ability to apply rules and procedures pertaining to legal actions or any equivalent combination of training and experience. Qualifying experience would typically be attained in a court, law enforcement related agency, or in a private attorney's office. Type at a minimum rate of 35 net wpm.
 
Court Services Specialist II: Any combination of training, experience and/or education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be an educational level equivalent to a high school diploma or G.E.D. AND two (2) years of full-time paid experience performing clerical duties requiring knowledge of legal documents and court processes, and the ability to apply rules and procedures pertaining to legal actions, or any equivalent combination of training and experience. Qualifying experience would typically be attained in a court, law enforcement related agency, or in a private attorney's office. Type at a minimum rate of 35 net wpm.

All levels of the Court Services Specialist classifications require:  Type at a minimum rate of 35 net wpm and Possession of a valid Class C California Driver License, required at the time of appointment. 

To view approved agencies to obtain a typing certification visit the link below:
https://www.kern.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/typing_certificates.pdf (Download PDF reader) 
Online typing/keyboarding certificates will not be accepted.

Knowledge of: general clerical and recordkeeping practices and procedures; proper telephone etiquette; alphabetical, numerical and chronological sequences; and proper English usage, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
 
Ability to: learn the following:  legal terminology used within area of assignment; follow procedures for filing and processing Superior Court documents, records and payments within area assigned; maintain accurate records; understand and follow both oral and written instructions; read and comprehend basic legal documents; use tact and poise in dealing with the public, attorneys, staff, and others including under difficult or tense circumstances; effectively communicate in both oral and written forms; type at a minimum rate of 35 net wpm; accurately enter/retrieve data using computerized recordkeeping systems as appropriate to assignment; accurately perform arithmetical calculations; operate standard office equipment including typewriter, computer terminal, printer, calculator, microfiche, telephone, copier and facsimile machine; meet the physical requirements necessary to safely and effectively perform required duties to include typing/entering data, assisting people at a counter, obtaining information from files, and moving boxes of materials and supplies on an occasional basis; and establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS: 
The physical demands of this primarily sedentary indoor office job are: finger/hand/arm/upper body dexterity, repetitive hand/arm movement, pushing, pulling lifting 25 pounds occasionally, mobility (indoors and outdoors) typing, bending, stooping squatting, reaching, and prolonged sitting.  The working environment includes repetitive tasks, reliance on office machinery, interaction with the public and co-workers and limited exposure to dust, odors, fumes, and noise. Mental functions include reading, writing/composition, math computations, problem-solving, decision-making, and multi-tasking.
 
Incumbents are not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work).