Court Clerk

Salary: $29.90 Hourly
Location : City of Bellingham, WA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 26-Court Clerk (July)
Department: Municipal Court
Opening Date: 07/17/2026
Closing Date: 7/31/2026 4:30 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Local 1937


Nature of Work
Have you always thought that working in the Court system was only for judges and attorneys? There are many interesting opportunities and challenges available to you as a Court Clerk at Bellingham Municipal Court . Join our team providing access to justice and excellent service to our community.

JOB SUMMARY:

As a Court clerk you will perform courtroom operation functions which include scheduling and docketing; coordinating cases with the law and justice community and the public; and arrangements for bench and jury trials. Probation tracking functions include acting as the judge's liaison and compliance officer for court-ordered probation or evaluation processes, pre- or post-trial, involving misdemeanor offenders. Accounting functions include booking and adjusting court and parking fines, fees, time payment agreements, collection accounts, and Department of Licensing releases. Mail and counter receipting of cash, credit cards, and checks; daily reconciliation and preparation of bank deposits; intake of bail bonds and trust fund deposits. The Court Clerk works to minimize errors in court processes and procedures or identifies ethical breaches which may impact case disposition and involve substantial liability and judicial consequences for the citizen, City, or Court Clerk. The clerk ensures compliance with Washington State and local court rules and procedures by following designed procedures, processes and systems.
For more information, please review the
WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?
Joining the City of Bellingham means becoming a part of a team that believes our greatest impact comes from working together with purpose, humility and a shared commitment to our community. Every employee contributes to delivering meaningful results for the people who live, work and visit here. We value people who approach challenges with curiosity, respect and collaboration. If you are motivated by building a career in public service, we encourage you to apply.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:

This position will start at Step 1 ($29.90/hour). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the and City policy. The full hourly range for this position is $29.90 - $39.01. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.
At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here's a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our and

• 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Closing Date/Time: Fri. 7/31/2026 4:30 PM Pacific Time

Experience and Training

• Two years of clerical experience working in a court, probation, police record services or legal environment.

OR

• Three years progressively responsible clerical experience with a focus on complex data entry, scheduling, recordkeeping and bookkeeping including two years of experience providing support directly to the public or external customers. Two years of college level education in criminal justice, sociology, paralegal, business administration/accounting may be substituted for two years of general clerical experience.
• Ability to type 45 wpm NET

Necessary Special Requirements

• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions and local background check (see Fair Hiring Practices below).
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.
• Some assignments may require access to law enforcement databases. Access to these databases requires fingerprinting and a more extensive examination of an individual's criminal history.
• Must be willing to sign confidentiality agreements with the State of Washington and the Court in regard to ethical standards and database access and use.
• May be required to work overtime as required for jury trials or to process materials with legal deadlines.

Selection Process
All applications will be forwarded to the Bellingham Municipal Court for review. Candidates selected to participate in further assessment will be notified directly by the Bellingham Municipal Court.

Equal Opportunity:
The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
• The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.

There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our for additional information.

This position is represented by The Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 bargaining unit. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the


This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems PERS plan. PERS requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the for more information on PERS.
01


Thank you for your interest in this position at the City of Bellingham! To ensure a consistent review, only the City of Bellingham job application and required supplemental documents will be reviewed. Cover letters and resumes are not reviewed unless they are required as part of the process. When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete each section of your application, and provide a thorough response to each of the supplemental questions. Please do not indicate "see resume" or copy content that is unrelated to the position being applied for from your resume when answering these questions.
Have you read and understood the information listed above?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you have two years of clerical work, bookkeeping or customer service?

• Yes
• No

03


If you answered YES to question #1, please list employer(s) and date(s) of employment where you gained the experience.
04


Do you have two years of related college level education?

• Yes
• No

05


If you answered YES to question #3, please list the degree or courses completed and dates of completion.
06


This position requires the ability to type at a minimum of 45 wpm net. Do you meet this requirement?

• Yes, I can type 45 wpm NET.
• No, I cannot type 45 wpm NET and understand my application does not meet minimum qualifications.

07


Some assignments may require access to law enforcement databases. Are you willing to submit to fingerprinting and an extensive examination of your criminal history?

• Yes
• No

08


Are you willing to sign a confidentiality agreement with the State of Washington and the Court in regard to ethical standards and database access and use?

• Yes
• No

09


Are you willing and able to work overtime as required for jury trials or to process materials with legal deadlines?

• Yes
• No

10


Describe your experience managing concerns from the public or other external customers that demonstrate your ability to maintain professional interactions during difficult situations.
11


Describe an example in your work history that required that you make quick judgments and problem solve under stress.
12


Describe an example in which you managed concerns from the public or other external customers that demonstrated your ability to provide outstanding customer service.
Required Question