About This Role
This role involves stenotyping or voice writing a verbatim record of courtroom proceedings and providing general support to the assigned judge related to the official record. The ideal candidate has experience transcribing proceedings, is familiar with real-time reporting, and possesses excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Responsibilities
- Attend Superior Court sessions and provide computer-aided reporting and transcription of proceedings through the use of specialized equipment including stenography machines or voice writing systems
- Read back testimony to courts and juries
- Prepare transcripts within prescribed deadlines
Requirements
- Knowledge of computer-aided transcription systems
- Knowledge of legal procedures and specific rules and precedents
- Knowledge of legal terminology, phraseology, documents, forms, and procedures
- Knowledge of medical terminology
- Knowledge of business English including vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation
- Knowledge of common office machines and their operation
- Ability to operate a computer-aided transcription system
- Ability to perform difficult, responsible, and complex legal court reporting duties with speed and accuracy and within deadlines
- Ability to identify, use, and correct a wide variety of legal forms, documents, and terminology
- Ability to make verbatim records of court proceedings
- Ability to interpret and apply laws, rules, and written and oral directions to specific situations requiring the use of good judgment and minimal supervision
- Ability to use good judgment in recognizing the scope and limit of authority delegated
- Ability to follow oral and written directions
- Ability to work cooperatively with those contacted in the course of work
- Must possess a computer-aided transcription system
- Must possess a California License to practice as a certified shorthand reporter issued by the Certified Shorthand Reporters Board
- May be required to possess or obtain by appointment date a valid California operator's license issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles
- Pass a criminal history background check
- Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license may be required or the ability to provide alternate transportation that meets job requirements
Benefits
- Up to a $5,000 hiring incentive for full-time Court Reporters, paid in increments of $1,250 for every three months of continuous employment for a maximum of $5,000 after 12 months of employment
- Up to a $2,500 hiring incentive for part-time Court Reporters (half-time or greater capacity), paid in increments of $650 for every three months of continuous employment for a maximum of $5,000 after 12 months of employment
- Student loan repayments for eligible new hires until the maximum amount of $25,000 is distributed to the employee or the loan reaches maturity, whichever comes first (maximum annual loan repayment will be $5,000, distributed evenly across twenty-six pay periods and only issued for each full pay period the employee is on payroll as an official court reporter)
- Longevity pay: 3% pay differential above base salary at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years of service
- 14 paid Court holidays, including one floating holiday per year
- Accrued paid sick leave based on hours worked (full-time accrual is 12 days per year)
- Accrued paid vacation leave based on hours worked and years of service (full-time accrual starts at 15 days per year)
- Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) with a benefit formula of 2% at age 55 for classic members and 2% at age 62 for new members (employees pay 100% of the employee contribution and the Court pays 100% of the employer contribution)
- Multiple health insurance plans (HMO and PPO plans), including options for employees and their dependents that are 100% employer-paid under current court contributions, or a cash-in-lieu benefit for opting out
- Dental and vision insurance plans, which may also be 100% employer-paid for the employee under current Court contributions
- Group term life insurance policy of $25,000 (additional coverage for the employee, spouse, and/or dependents may be elected at the employee's cost)
- Tax-deferred long-term savings plan (457) that employees may elect to make contributions to
- No-cost employee assistance program that offers a wide range of confidential services
- Flexible spending account that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for out-of-pocket medical and/or dependent care expenses to reduce taxable gross wages
Important Details
- Schedule: Normal court business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; may require occasional long hours or weekend work; alternate work shifts may occur
- Employment type: Full-Time, Part-Time, or Daily (Pro Tem)
- Daily (Pro Tem) Court Reporters are considered extra-help employees and paid as an employee of the Court rather than as an independent contractor
- Physical requirements: Ability to sit for extended periods; dexterity and coordination to handle files and single pieces of paper; frequent lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling of objects weighing up to 50 pounds; strength, dexterity and coordination and/or ability to use a computer keyboard and read a video display terminal daily; vision corrected to a level sufficient to read handwritten, typed and computer generated information and data; hearing and speech ability sufficient to enable communication by telephone and in-person; ability to frequently reach for and/or twist for items above and below desk level, sometimes with the assistance of a ladder or stepstool; frequently moves from place to place within the office; frequently walks short distances; vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus to enable incumbent to decipher color coded files, forms, complete data entry and read operating instructions and procedures
- Work environment: Office environment with little exposure to outdoor temperatures, dirt, or dust; typically quiet, but may be loud at times at some locations; noise level and traffic level similar to a busy office; routinely uses standard office equipment; travel to visit other branches within the county and travel to attend professional meetings and trainings in and outside of the county may be required on a frequent basis
Application Process
- Submit a complete online application, including responses to the required supplemental questions
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis
- Qualified applicants will be invited to interview
About the Company
The Superior Court of California, County of Butte, is a unified superior court operating two facilities: one courthouse in Chico and another in the county seat of Oroville. It has thirteen judicial officers (eleven judges and two commissioners) and approximately 135 support staff. Butte is recognized throughout the state as a leader in many court collaborations, including self-help services, case management system consortiums, and civic outreach programs. The court continually adapts to provide effective and reliable access to justice for a community with diverse needs.