Bankruptcy Docket Clerk

Iowa Southern Bankruptcy Court; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave (vacation)

Sick leave

Federal holidays

Medical coverage with government plan

Vision and dental insurance (optional)

Life insurance (government)

Flexible Spending Program

Thrift Savings Plan

Public transportation subsidy or paid

Background check and security review

Job summary

The United States Courts seeks a Bankruptcy Docket Clerk for the Southern District of Iowa. The role is based in Des Moines and involves docketing, maintaining case information, and guiding cases through disposition under internal controls and rules. Strong writing and verbal skills are required.

The position emphasizes accurate data entry, attention to procedural steps, and the ability to work under pressure with a team. Federal court experience is helpful but not required.

Qualifications

• Requires a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Paralegal certificate or associate’s degree in a related area is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Docket, maintain, and process case information.
• Manage progression of cases to final disposition per procedures.
• Review filed documents for conformity and docket appropriate entries.
• Make court user entries on the docket for certain documents and proceedings.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Integrity

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Paralegal certificate or Associate's degree (preferred)

Job description

Overview of the Position The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa is seeking a motivated and capable Bankruptcy Docket Clerk. This position is located in the Bankruptcy Clerk’s Office in Des Moines, Iowa and reports to the Chief Deputy. As a member of the court’s operations team, the Docket Clerk is responsible for docketing, maintaining and processing case information, and managing the progression of cases to final disposition, in accordance with approved internal controls, procedures, and rules. Incumbents perform noticing, manage the progression of cases, maintain official case records, and monitor the completion of required procedural steps. The Docket Clerk reviews filed documents to determine conformity, takes appropriate action, ensures all orders and automated entries are appropriately and accurately docketed, and makes court user entries on the docket related to certain documents and proceedings.

To qualify for this position, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen or eligible to work in the United States. The applicant must be a high school graduate or equivalent. A paralegal certificate or an associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related area is preferred.

The successful candidate must also possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal and customer service skills, and unquestioned integrity with a positive ‘can do’ attitude.

General Experience

The prospective candidate should have a minimum of two years of specialized experience requiring the regular and recurring application of clerical procedures involving the routine use of keyboard skills and use of specialized terminology, and demonstrated ability to apply a body of rules, regulations, directives or laws during the course of performing his or her duties. Such experience is commonly encountered in law firms, legal counsel offices, banking and credit firms, educational institutions, social service organizations, insurance companies, real estate and title offices, and corporate headquarters or human resources/payroll operations.

Applicable experience should also include positive customer service orientation, record-keeping, and regular use of a computer and other office equipment. The ability to professionally represent the court in communications with attorneys, trustees, debtors, and the public is required. Candidates must have a performance history that demonstrates the ability to work well under pressure, learn diverse procedures, and to effectively organize work, problem solve, and work independently and with a team. The ability to handle a large volume of work is desired, as are accurate data entry skills and skill in the use of automated systems. Good proofreading skills are essential. Experience in a federal court or legal setting is desired, but not required.

Employee Benefits

• Thirteen days of vacation per year for the first three years of service, 20 days of vacation per year after three years of service, 26 days of vacation per year after 15 years of service.
• Thirteen days of sick leave per year.
• Eleven federal holidays per year.
• Medical coverage with a government contribution (choose from a variety of plans, health premiums may be deducted as pre-tax dollars, optional participation).
• Vision and dental insurance (optional participation).
• Life insurance program with a government contribution (optional participation).
• Flexible Spending Program (pre-tax contributions for health/dependent care/transportation expenses, optional participation).
• Thrift Savings Plan (employer matching, similar to 401K, optional participation).
• Public transportation subsidy or parking privileges (dependent on fiscal year funding).

This position is subject to mandatory participation in electronic funds transfer (direct deposit) for payroll.

Candidates must be U.S. citizens or eligible to work in the United States.

Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees, which is available to applicants to review upon request.

Employees will be hired provisionally pending the results of a complete background investigation, which will include a criminal history and fingerprint check. As a condition of employment, employees may be subject to an updated background check every five years.

All positions in the Clerk’s Office are Excepted Service Appointments and are “at will” and may be terminated with or without cause by the court.

Application Info

To be assured consideration for this position, qualified applicants must submit the following:

• Cover letter addressing qualifications and relevant experience.
• Resume with three professional references.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.