Juvenile Center - Law Clerk II

Allen County

Job Description

LAW CLERK II

Under the direction of the Allen Superior Court Judge, the Law Clerk II serves and assists the Judge and two Magistrates situated at the Allen County Juvenile Center by performing duties and responsibilities of the judicial office.  This position is covered under the Superior Court Employee Handbook.  This is an employee-at-will position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Substantively reviews and analyzes pleadings and litigant filings and assists in determining appropriate jurisdiction, legal merit, issues involved, basis for relief, and priority requirements.
• Assists with coordinating a monthly court coverage calendar.
• Schedules senior judges and tracks senior judge usage.
• Communicates with attorneys on behalf of the court.
• Conducts legal research and drafts legal memoranda to ensure that the presiding judicial officer’s ruling is based upon relevant statutues, controlling precedent, published case law, and other relevant authority.
• Performs as a sounding board for the judicial officer(s) in preparation for, or following a hearing held which requires that the Law Clerk be well-briefed on the legal issues and particular facts of specific cases. 
• Drafts and recommends pre- and post- hearing court orders, including findings of fact and conclusions of law, consistent with the judicial officer’s ruling in contested and complex matters involving dissolution of marriage, paternity and delinquency cases.
• Reviews invoices submitted for services authorized by the Court, on a case-by-case basis, including the costs of Guardian Ad Litems and Pauper Attorneys, ensuring the itemized request for quasi- pro bono payment comports with the Court’s record of services provided and the Court’s standard procedures.
• Serves as Judge Pro Tem to cover and preside over hearings when needed (generally Case Management Conferences, IV-D support enforcement hearings, or financial review hearings).
• Acts as back-up to Court Reporters and judicial assistant as needed.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Juris Doctor, preferably with three years or more experience in the practice of law in the areas of family law and/or juvenile law
• Superior and meticulously accurate legal research capabilities
• Excellent written and verbal skills and analytical skills
• Ability to objectively assimilate contested and complex facts and apply relevant statutory and case law
• Demonstrate and maintain thorough familiarity with civil and criminal procedural and substantive law (pre- and post- hearing) regarding custody, juvenile delinquency, visitation/parenting time, support, et al
• Strong computer skills with the ability to use or learn Quest, Odyssey, Outlook, Microsoft Office, and other programs
• Exhibit and uphold the highest compliance to the spirit and letter of the law, including ethical codes and canons, for attorneys and judicial office

DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

The Law Clerk II performs work that is broad in scope and of great intricacy involving many complex and significant variables when drafting and recommending pre- and post- hearing court orders.  Sound judgment is needed in complex situations when conducting legal research and drafting proposed orders to ensure that the Judicial Officer’s ruling is based upon the facts of the specific case, relevant statutes and case law.

RESPONSIBILITY:

The Law Clerk II must demonstrate the highest compliance to the spirit and letter of the law, including ethical codes and canons, for attorneys and judicial officers.  In addition to the work performed concerning court litigants and attorneys, the Law Clerk II may be called upon to analyze and make recommendations regarding the legalities and soundness of internal policies and practices.  Work is reviewed for soundness of judgment and conformance.

PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

The Law Clerk II maintains frequent communication with other County employees, judges, magistrates, attorneys and their professional staff, pro se litigants and third parties and the general public when performing the duties and responsibilities of the judicial office.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This position is situated at the Allen County Juvenile Center where the case types are family relations and juvenile delinquency.  The Law Clerk II works primarily from a personal/private office space located in the secure/non-public area of the building, but will spend time in the courtrooms observing and/or presiding over hearings.  Due to the nature of the cases heard at the Allen County Juvenile Center, the court hearings may involve potentially violent parties or juveniles.

SUPERVISION:

None

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR:

Allen County Superior Court Judge

HOURS:

8:00 am – 4:30 pm and as needed

EEO CATEGORY:

0102