Clerk IV (Misdemeanor)

Comal County; New Braunfels (TX); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Comal County in Texas seeks a Clerk IV to support misdemeanor prosecutors in all aspects of prosecution while maintaining confidentiality of sensitive data. Duties include intake of cases, evidence verification, docket preparation, discovery organization, and filing of pleadings and motions.

The role requires a high school diploma or GED with 1–2 years of clerical experience; legal knowledge is helpful. Strong writing and communication skills are essential in this on-site position.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; 1–2 years of clerical experience preferred.
• Legal Assistant certification is a plus and may be preferred for the role.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; professional demeanor and discretion a must.

Responsibilities

• Intake criminal cases from law enforcement, verify evidence, obtain histories and certified records.
• Request additional investigations as needed by misdemeanor prosecutors.
• Prepare court and jury dockets with custody status, back time credits, and bond issues.
• Organize and prepare discovery; maintain case management systems and discovery logs.
• Prepare pleadings, dismissals, and non-prosecution forms as directed by prosecutors.
• Prepare motions (e.g., to revoke or adjudicate) and e-file after approval.
• Notify prosecutors of contested matters and prepare documents for hearings.
• Run criminal history reports when requested by prosecutors.
• Accurately maintain case status in the case management system.
• Assist prosecutors in court: update dockets, prepare exhibits, and document sentences.
• Prepare judgments timely if not completed in court.
• Prepare extradition/governor’s warrants or bench warrants as needed.
• Attend work as an essential function of the job.

Skills

Public relations

Communication skills

Professional demeanor

Writing skills

Computer skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Legal Assistant certification (preferred)

Tools

Case management software

Microsoft Office

Job description

SUMMARY

This position provides support to the misdemeanor prosecutors in all aspects of misdemeanor prosecution. The Clerk IV must always maintain confidentiality of privileged and sensitive data or information.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Duties include the following:

Duties include the following:

• Intake criminal cases received from various law enforcement agencies, to include ensuring all evidence has been received, request evidence not initially provided by LE agency, run criminal histories, obtain all prior judgments, certified driving records, and pen packs.
• Request any additional investigation, as necessary or requested by the misdemeanor attorneys, that could assist in the review and prosecution for each case.
• Prepare court dockets and jury trial dockets. Dockets shall include a defendant’s custody status, back time credit, number of failures to appear, bond violations, and offers.
• Organize and prepare discovery on charged cases. Maintain and update appropriate spreadsheets, case management systems, and discovery logs.
• Prepare complaint information and file pleadings with the court for all cases. Prepare dismissals and non-prosecution forms, as directed by the misdemeanor prosecutors.
• Prepare Motions to Revoke or Motions to Adjudicate based on probation violation notice. Communicate with assigned prosecutor on filing decision. E-file motions within a timely manner once approved and signed by the prosecutor.
• Notify prosecutor of contested matters set for docket in a timely manner. Prepare necessary documentation for contested hearings.
• Run criminal history reports when requested by the assigned prosecutor.
• Accurately maintain case status in the case management system.
• Assist misdemeanor prosecutors in court, to include, but not limited to, updating dockets with reset dates and type of hearing, notes regarding follow-up needed by clerk or prosecutor, preparing exhibits for pleas, documenting sentence pronounced by court, and accurate preparation of judgments.
• If judgments are not prepared in court, judgments should be prepared no later than the next business day of court hearing for felony prosecutors to review.
• Prepare any extradition, governor’s warrant, or bench warrants as necessary and in a timely manner to ensure defendant’s presence in Comal County.
• Perform other duties as directed by misdemeanor prosecutors, the Chief Misdemeanor Prosecutor, and First Assistant District Attorney.
• Attendance is an essential function of the job.

Note

The duties listed above are intended as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is assigned by the supervisor.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

A high school diploma or GED equivalent is required. One (1) to two (2) years of experience is required. Should possess a thorough working knowledge of clerical procedures and practices. Other specialized job requirements include good public relations skills, communication abilities, professional demeanor, use of a multi-line telephone, hands-on computer experience, and excellent writing skills. Experience in criminal and civil law would be helpful, but not required.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as statutes, rules, and judicial decisions. Ability to draft legal documents, such as briefs, pleadings, motions, and any discovery. Ability to communicate effectively with the public and persons in the legal system.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Legal Assistant certification preferred, but not required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This is a sedentary position. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The individual will be required to work from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. five days per week – hours could fluctuate depending on court or project. The office closes for lunch at 12:00 p.m. and reopens at 1:00 p.m. When covering for the receptionist the individual will be required to open the office at 8:00 a.m. and return from lunch no later than 1:00 p.m. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.