Family Court Mediator (0655) chez Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, CA

About the Department

FAMILY COURT MEDIATOR

(Class Code 0655)

Spanish, Cantonese/Mandarin speaking in addition to English is desirable.

The Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco (the Court), invites applications from qualified individuals interested in the Family Court Mediator position to conduct mediations in Family Law and Juvenile matters; investigate factual issues related to child custody and visitation disputes; prepare written reports; and perform other job-related duties as required. Many of the families seen are monolingual speakers of Spanish, Chinese or Mandarin. Therefore, we encourage applications by individuals who are skilled in Spanish, Chinese or Mandarin in addition to English.

This selection process is being conducted in accordance with San Francisco Superior Court Personnel Rule 4. An eligibility list will not be established.

FINAL FILING DATE:        12:00 PM, November 7, 2025

COMPENSATION:            $4,120.70 to $4,769.46 biweekly ($107,138 to $124,006 annually)*

*Plus a bilingual premium of $100 to $150 biweekly. 

The Court offers a generous benefits package including a variety of health and dental insurance plans, life insurance, a contributory retirement plan, a deferred compensation savings program, paid vacation, sick leave, floating holidays, and holiday pay.

Position Duties

POSITION OVERVIEW

An employee serving in this classification mediates a variety of juvenile, child custody, and visitation disputes which includes writing stipulations or dispositions indicating the outcome of mediated cases; conducts fact finding investigations related to parenting plans and writes reports for the court regarding the facts gathered; coordinates referrals to private evaluators; prepares and organizes data; conducts group/parent orientations which include information about court procedures pertaining to child custody, the mediation process, and child development issues related to making parenting plans and the impact of domestic violence on children; makes referrals to community resources; consults with other Court staff, supervisors, judicial staff, and community resource personnel regarding case issues and problems; answers a variety of questions from parents, attorneys, Court staff, and the general public regarding the mediation process; and performs other Court duties as assigned. Work is performed in an office and courtroom environment; continuous contact with other staff and the public.

Physical Requirements: Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; lift and move objects weighing up to 25 lbs.; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment, including computer, telephone, calculator, copiers, and FAX.

Minimum Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver’s License.

Any combination of training and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Education equivalent to a Master of Arts Degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, social work, marriage, family and child counseling or other behavioral science substantially related to marriage and family interpersonal relationships plus substantial experience in mediation and custody investigations, family counseling, child protective services, or family conciliation.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

In addition to the required qualifications stated above, the following qualifications are desirable:

• Oral and written skills in Spanish, Chinese or Mandarin in addition to English.
• Possession of a California license in clinical social work, marriage, and family therapy, or psychology or eligible for licensure.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and theories of adult and child psychology.
• Functions and operations of the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco.
• Laws, rules, regulations, policies, and legislation related to Court operations and functions, particularly those related to family law, probate, and court mediation.
• Principles, techniques, and practices of crisis intervention and court mediation.
• Investigation methods and counseling techniques.
• Legal terminology, legal documents, and court procedures.
• Principles of effective public and community relations.
• Conflict resolution techniques.
• Available community resources.

Ability to:

• Interpret, explain, and apply a variety of codes, statutes, policies, rules, procedures, instructions, and regulations related to mediation and Family Court functions.
• Negotiate mediation agreements.
• Analyze complex problems and evaluate alternatives.
• Prepare clear, concise, and accurate records and reports.
• Conduct mediation investigations and hearings, maintaining composure and neutrality when working with upset and hostile clients.
• Testify in court.
• Maintain confidential information when required by legal or ethical standards.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationship with individuals from varying socioeconomic backgrounds, often under difficult and stressful circumstances.

Other Qualifications

HOW TO APPLY

Interested individuals must apply online and include a valid email address where the applicant can receive future correspondence regarding the position. To be considered for the position, applicants must submit ALL the following items:

• San Francisco Superior Court online employment application (fully completed).
• Resume.
• One-page cover letter explaining why the applicant is interested in the position, and briefly describing the relative experience and education applicable to the position.

The application, resume, and cover letter are very important to the selection process. It is recommended that applicants review the information in this announcement and on the application very carefully. Once the application has been submitted, it cannot be corrected, changed or resubmitted. All applications must be submitted by the final filing date and time indicated in this announcement.

SELECTION PROCESS

Initial Screening

Complete application packages received by the final filing date and time will be evaluated to determine if applicants meet the minimum qualifications. The Court will further evaluate these documents and may interview only those applicants it deems may best meet the needs of the Court. Not all applicants will receive an interview.

Oral Interview

If necessary, selected applicants may be interviewed to determine their relative knowledge, abilities, and skill levels in job-related areas. If interviews are scheduled, it is anticipated that they will be conducted in November/December 2025.

Qualified applicants with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection process should complete the relevant section of the employment application.

OTHER APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Employment is subject to security clearance. Any false statement or omission of material fact may cause forfeiture of employment. Information presented on employment applications, resumes, and attachments, and during the selection process is subject to verification. Employees are prohibited from engaging in activities which conflict with the interests of the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. 

Immigration laws require that all employees hired after November 6, 1986, must provide proof of work eligibility. At the time of appointment to a position, all applicants must possess a valid Social Security number, and will be required to present original documents which verify citizenship or legal alien status as well as identity (such as a social security card and driver's license, or a green card and a driver's license, or a valid U.S. passport).

THE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. APPLICANTS SHALL NOT BE FAVORED OR DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, GENDER, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, CITIZENSHIP, AGE, MARITAL STATUS, PHYSICAL DISABILITY, MENTAL DISABILITY, MEDICAL CONDITION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENETIC INFORMATION, UNION ACTIVITY, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, OR OTHER NON-MERIT FACTOR.

For questions on the above information, contact the Human Resources Office of the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, (415) 551-0381.