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Job Details for Intake/Docket Clerk

Court Name/Organization California Northern District Court
Overview of the Position Whether launching or continuing a career in public service, the U.S. District Court is a great place to work with competitive salaries and benefits, a work schedule that promotes a work-life balance, and the opportunity to work with colleagues committed to fulfilling the important mission of administering justice in an efficient and effective manner. This position offers an excellent opportunity to advance a career in Federal court service. (Priority consideration to applicants who apply by July 21, 2025)
Location San Francisco, CA
Opening and Closing Dates 07/08/2025 - Open Until Filled
Appointment Type Permanent
Classification Level/Grade CL 25
Salary $61,119 - $99,314
Link to Court Careers Information https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/career-opportunities/
Announcement Number FY25-29
Link to Job Announcement

Position Description

The Intake/Docket Clerk plays a crucial role in the court's operations by seamlessly combining customer service and case management responsibilities. This position is responsible for processing court documents filed either in-person or electronically and ensures the accurate handling and progression of cases through the legal system.

Key Responsibilities
Intake Duties: 

  • Serve as the primary point of contact for customers, assisting them at the front desk, over the phone, and via email. 
  • Manage the assignment of judges to new attorney case openings, reassign cases, refer cases, and assign judges for newly filed criminal proceedings. 
  • Act as the main cashier for the office, processing payments and handling financial transactions. 
  • Become familiar with district-wide contacts as coordinator for call distribution inquiries

Docketing Duties: 

  • Docket, maintain, and process case information, ensuring that case progression is managed accurately and efficiently in accordance with internal controls and procedures. 
  • Notice, monitor, and manage the progression of cases to final disposition. 
  • Maintain official case records and review filed documents for conformity, taking appropriate action as necessary. 
  • Ensure that all orders and automated entries are accurately docketed. 
  • Make summary entries on the docket for all documents and proceedings. 

Additional Duties for the Intake/Docket Clerk include the following: 

  • Make summary entries of documents and proceedings. Receive and docket terminating document. Perform quality control on chambers and attorney-docketed entries. Prepare and distribute clerk's notices and deficiency notices. Set schedules for briefing and record preparation. 
  • Accept, review and process documents. Review filed documents to determine conformity and take appropriate action and follow up with rules, practices and filing requirements. Prepare correspondence regarding file inquires, docket sheets, and other file request information. Check for prior or prohibited filing. Monitor for release of exhibits and sealed documents. Verify and issue summons. 
  • Process notices of appeal payments and distribute appeal-related documents to docket clerks.
  • Receive incoming mail packages over the counter. Record and manage log for outgoing mail packages. When available, collect and distribute packing slips for procurement.
  • Perform criminal and civil docketing making summary entries on all documents and proceedings. 
  • Provide information to public, bar, and the court. 
  • Transmit records to appropriate court. Ensure event codes are entered accurately. 
  • Operate a variety of copying and records equipment. Answer and route incoming calls.
  • Provides case opening, cashiering, and other assistance as needed.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: The successful applicant must have two years specialized experience, including at least one year specialized experience at or equivalent to CL-24.  For placement at salary levels above minimum up to and including step 25, (considering court-preferred skills and an evaluation of quality of experience), the successful applicant must have at least two years specialized experience equivalent to work at CL-24. 

Specialized Experience

Specialized experience is progressively responsible clerical experience that is in, or closely related to, the work of the position and which has demonstrated the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and involves the routine use of automated software and keyboarding for word processing, data entry and report generation.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of people with a positive, upbeat manner.
  • Ability to do detail-oriented work with limited supervision.
  • Experience which reflects the ability to work under pressure and deal with change.
  • Demonstrable ability to successfully manage multiple competing priorities.
  • Knowledge of and skill in working with databases and other typical office software programs.
  • Knowledge of the case assignment process. Knowledge of procedure for public access to court files. 
  • Skill in checking for prohibited filings and unpaid fees on prior filings. 
  • Knowledge of how to process, issue, and certify documents.
  • Proven analytical reasoning skills and sound judgment.
  • Prior federal court experience.
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
  • Excellent organization and time management skills.
  • Excellent spelling, grammar, and proofreading skills.
  • Cashiering experience.
  • Bachelor's Degree

Employee Benefits

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California is part of the federal Judicial branch of government and is independent of the Executive and Legislative branches. The court sets its own employment policies including remote work and performance management, while also valuing employees' individualism and continuing to strive towards a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace.

Judicial Branch employees are "at will” employees and are not subject to the employment regulations of competitive service. However, full-time judiciary employees are entitled to:

  • A minimum of 11 paid holidays per year
  • Paid annual leave in the amount of 13 days per year for the first three years, 20 days per year after three years, and 26 days per year after 15 years.
  • Paid sick leave in the amount of 13 days per year
  • Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS)
  • Optional participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (with up to 5% employer matching contributions), the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), the Flexible Benefits Program, the Commuter Benefit Program, (Public Transportation subsidy up to $130 per month), Long-Term Care Insurance, and Professional Liability Insurance Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Work Life Services

Miscellaneous

The Intake/Docket Clerk plays a crucial role in the court's operations by seamlessly combining customer service and case management responsibilities. This position is responsible for processing court documents filed either in-person or electronically and ensures the accurate handling and progression of cases through the legal system.

Key Responsibilities
Intake Duties: 

  • Serve as the primary point of contact for customers, assisting them at the front desk, over the phone, and via email. 
  • Manage the assignment of judges to new attorney case openings, reassign cases, refer cases, and assign judges for newly filed criminal proceedings. 
  • Act as the main cashier for the office, processing payments and handling financial transactions. 
  • Become familiar with district-wide contacts as coordinator for call distribution inquiries

Docketing Duties: 

  • Docket, maintain, and process case information, ensuring that case progression is managed accurately and efficiently in accordance with internal controls and procedures. 
  • Notice, monitor, and manage the progression of cases to final disposition. 
  • Maintain official case records and review filed documents for conformity, taking appropriate action as necessary. 
  • Ensure that all orders and automated entries are accurately docketed. 
  • Make summary entries on the docket for all documents and proceedings. 

Additional Duties for the Intake/Docket Clerk include the following: 

  • Make summary entries of documents and proceedings. Receive and docket terminating document. Perform quality control on chambers and attorney-docketed entries. Prepare and distribute clerk's notices and deficiency notices. Set schedules for briefing and record preparation. 
  • Accept, review and process documents. Review filed documents to determine conformity and take appropriate action and follow up with rules, practices and filing requirements. Prepare correspondence regarding file inquires, docket sheets, and other file request information. Check for prior or prohibited filing. Monitor for release of exhibits and sealed documents. Verify and issue summons. 
  • Process notices of appeal payments and distribute appeal-related documents to docket clerks.
  • Receive incoming mail packages over the counter. Record and manage log for outgoing mail packages. When available, collect and distribute packing slips for procurement.
  • Perform criminal and civil docketing making summary entries on all documents and proceedings. 
  • Provide information to public, bar, and the court. 
  • Transmit records to appropriate court. Ensure event codes are entered accurately. 
  • Operate a variety of copying and records equipment. Answer and route incoming calls.
  • Provides case opening, cashiering, and other assistance as needed.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Application Info

Applicants must submit the following:

  1. Cover letter
  2. Resume
  3. Three professional references.

To be considered for this position, visit our agency website at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/uscourtscand to submit the online application, along with the above-listed documents. Please be sure to fully complete your application by providing all work history from the past 10 years. Attachments should be submitted as Microsoft Word (DOC) or Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files. Other formats are not acceptable. 

Applications will be considered complete when the online application and all required attachments, in the appropriate format, are received by the Human Resources Unit. 

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.