Volunteer Program

If you are an individual who wishes to learn more about the Justice System, and at the same time make a significant contribution to your community, we invite you to check out the available Volunteer Placement Opportunities indicated below, that best match your area of interest and personal needs.

If you are interested in one or more of the following volunteer opportunities, please fill out both the Volunteer Interest Form (PDF File) and Background Check Authorization Form (PDF File), which are available by clicking on the hi-lighted links. Please fax or mail the completed forms to:

          Superior Court of California, County of Ventura
          Volunteer Coordinator
          P.O. Box 6489
          Ventura, CA 93006-6489

          Fax number 805-339-2945.

If you have any questions please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at (805) 339-2922.

Volunteer Placement Opportunities -

Children's Waiting Room
(Three Court Locations)

Ventura Hall of Justice
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, California 93009
Tel. (805) 654-2261

East County Courthouse
3855F Alamo Street
Simi Valley, California, 93063
Tel. (805) 582-8086

Juvenile Courthouse
4353 Vineyard Avenue
Oxnard, California, 93036
Tel. (805) 981-5977

The children's waiting room was established as a safe haven for children 2½ (toilet trained) to 14 years of age who must accompany their parents to court. We are looking for volunteers in both the Ventura and Simi Valley locations.

As a volunteer in the children's waiting room, you will be responsible for guiding child's play and activities, interacting with court personnel, and seeing that proper registration and log record procedures are being met. Your presence will bring a sense of calm to children who may feel anxiety in the face of a strange and sometime emotionally charged environment.

Volunteers must provide proof of current certification in CPR (Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation), and a negative T.B. (Tuberculin) test within 60 days of beginning service. Fingerprinting will also be required.

Superior Court Volunteer Auditor - Ventura Courthouse
The Superior Court of California, County of Ventura seeks volunteers to assist the court in monitoring the financial assets of children, seniors and others in guardianship and conservatorship matters. The volunteer auditor reviews filed financial statements to verify the accuracy of accounts, fees charged to the estate, the appropriateness of such things as sales and purchases, and the depletion rate of the estate’s assets. The volunteer auditor’s report will assist the court in determining if the estate is being managed in the best interest of the ward or conservatee.

Desirable backgrounds for Auditors include work as a CPA or Enrolled Agent in Corporate accounting, or similar training and experience.

Training in law and procedure relating to these specific types of audits is provided. Assistance with basic skills in Word is also available.

The Self-Help Legal Access (SHLA) Center
Located on the 4th Floor of the Ventura Hall of Justice in Room 400, the Ventura County Superior Court's Self-Help Legal Access Center was established in December 1997 to assist the growing number of self-represented litigants (parties to a lawsuit) in the court. The center is part of a creative public outreach project undertaken by the court to improve access to justice for all members of the community.
The center provides informational assistance in areas of law other than family law and civil harassment restraining orders. It helps self-represented litigants navigate the court system and refers people to community-based resources that can help them with a variety of needs. Because the SHLA Center sees both sides in cases, and must remain neutral, it cannot give legal advice, nor is there any attorney-client relationship developed in the center. Those needing legal advice are referred to State Bar approved lawyer referral services and non-profit legal services programs.

Volunteers in the SHLA Center include attorneys, law students, paralegal students, undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in social work, and occasionally, others who have a background or interest in the legal field. Depending on their level of experience, volunteers assist with intake, directing people to the resources in the center, and referrals to outside resources.

Simi Valley Courthouse

The East County Courthouse is located at 3855-F Alamo St., Simi Valley, CA 93062. The courthouse offers a wide-variety of volunteer opportunities to fit your level of interest and schedule.

While increasing your familiarity and understanding of the legal process you will be satisfying a need for help in areas such as Civil, Small Claims, Records, Collections, Criminal/Traffic and Family Law.

Whether your valuable contribution includes organizing documents, applying your computer and/or people skills, you will be mentored through your assignment to maximize your volunteer experience.

Guidelines -

The Volunteer Coordinator maintains a volunteer file for each participant that maintains hours of service in each assignment and notes unusual achievements for use in writing letters of recommendation.

To maintain courthouse security, prospective volunteers must pass a background check before acceptance into the program. Background check fees are to be paid by the volunteer.

All volunteers are trained in the services they will perform on a one-to-one basis.

Sincere Appreciation

The court is deeply indebted to those public-spirited individuals who provide the essential service in the volunteering of their time and talent. Their generous personal contributions have enhanced the way their fellow citizens experience the Justice System.

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