Judicial Assistant - 5th District Court of Appeal; Fresno

The State of California, Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District located in Fresno, CA is accepting applications for the position of Judicial Assistant or Judicial Assistant to an Appellate Court Justice. Job classification will be determined based on the selected applicant’s work experience.

Broadly, the judicial assistant position provides complex paralegal, legal secretarial, and office administrative support to appellate court justices and attorneys. Specific to the court’s job classifications, the Judicial Assistant serves the entire court while the Judicial Assistant to an Appellate Court Justice works directly with an assigned justice and research attorneys in chambers.

Collegiality, strong work ethic, and dedication to excellence are highly valued. Candidates must have excellent attention to detail and be able to set priorities, organize their own work, and meet deadlines.

The Court is willing to consider the option of hybrid or remote work for qualified applicants.

Responsibilities

• Provides paralegal, legal secretarial, and administrative support to justices, attorneys, and/or other professional staff.
• Edits, proofreads, and reviews opinions and court orders and other related documents, using the electronic case management and document management systems, for correctness and accuracy with respect to grammar, spelling, punctuation, content, and organization; conforms opinions to uniform style using the California Style Manual and other style manuals, ensuring compliance with California Rules of Court.
• Maintains scheduling and tracks cases calendared for oral argument and submission.
• Prepares final opinions by checking cited facts for accuracy against all documents via electronic case management and document management systems, from the lower tribunal such as the clerk’s and reporter’s transcripts, administrative record, exhibits, and correspondence; validates legal authorities cited using resources found in the electronic law library and computer database such as state and federal reporters, state and federal statutes, citators, textbooks, handbooks, restatements, and legislative intent materials.
• Communicates with the Reporter of Decisions regarding stylistic requirements and content of opinions; proofreads and carefully inspects galley proofs of all published opinions for complete accuracy; may transmit opinions and modifications to the Clerk’s Office for submission to the Reporter of Decisions.
• Provides training and guidance to new staff.
• Organizes and routes work using a document management system and follow up to ensure coordination and completion of assigned work; exercises skill in setting priorities; works closely with the Clerk’s Office to ensure that materials are received and sent out in a timely fashion.
• May draft correspondence; independently initiate specified correspondence for signature by appropriate staff, as assigned.
• Maintains, updates, and generates weekly and monthly reports.
• Maintains office equipment and supplies.