County Judicial Assistant (Lee County)

Twentieth Judicial Circuit of Florida; Fort Myers (FL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Administrative Office of the Courts for the 20th Judicial Circuit in Fort Myers, FL seeks an organized administrative assistant to support a County Court Judge. Responsibilities include calendar management, document preparation, and confidential handling of court procedures. Strong knowledge of court rules and MS Office is essential.

This position requires discretion, ability to work with diverse stakeholders, and travel within the circuit for coverage and training as assigned.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED with two years of college or vocational study in paralegal, secretarial skills, computer operations or related field.
• Four years of responsible experience as a legal secretary or paralegal.
• Additional relevant experience/education may substitute for the recommended educational/experience on a year-for-year basis, excluding supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage the judge's calendar; coordinate and schedule hearings, trials, conferences, and committees; assign courtroom support personnel.
• Prepare, review and monitor reports and cases for time standards compliance; request files and review for accuracy and completeness.
• Provide receptionist duties; greet and inform litigants, attorneys, law enforcement personnel, witnesses, etc., regarding court procedure and policy.
• Transcribe from dictation equipment and efficiently operate a computer with Microsoft Office Suite.

Skills

Court procedures

Legal terminology

Spelling & grammar

Microsoft Office

Office equipment

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Two years college or vocational studies in related field

Four years experience as legal secretary/paralegal

Job description

WHY SHOULD YOU APPLY TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS FOR THE 20TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT?

• Great working environment
• Competitive Benefits Package
• Paid Time Off (Vacation and Sick)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Qualifying Employer
• Tuition Assistance
• Paid Holidays
• Retirement Plan Options
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

SUMMARY

This is significantly responsible work performing a variety of complex administrative and secretarial duties for the purpose of managing the office of a County Court Judge. A person assigned a position in this class is required to have a working knowledge of County Court (including civil traffic, criminal traffic, domestic violence, misdemeanor, small claims and county court) rules and procedures. Working contacts are made with Judges, Offices of the Clerk of Court, Court Administration, State Attorney, Public Defender, private attorneys, Staff Attorneys, state and local law enforcement agencies, the news media, and the general public. The purpose of these contacts is to receive, convey, and explain detailed information regarding county court procedure and policy. Work is often of a confidential nature. Extensive contact with persons involved in litigation may create stressful work situations. Work requires independent judgment and is performed under general supervision of a County Court Judge.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.

Managing the judge's calendar

• Coordinate and schedule pre-trial hearings, trials, conferences, and committees
• Determine the type of case or hearing and allotted time required to be scheduled and review calendar for available times
• Coordinate and schedule courtroom assignment and support personnel such as court reporters, bailiffs, and clerks

Prepare, review and monitor reports and cases to insure compliance

• Review for time standards compliance and prepare reports concerning this data
• Request files from Clerk's Office, and review for accuracy, format compliance, and completeness before scheduling hearings
• Monitor status of cases assigned to judge

Receptionist duties

• Provide quality service to internal and external customers by providing prompt and accurate case information, document preparation, and customer contact
• Act as judge's liaison and receptionist for the purpose of greeting, assisting, and informing litigants, attorneys, law enforcement personnel, witnesses, etc., regarding court procedure and policy

Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge of:

• Court procedures and understanding of basic legal terminology
• Spelling and grammar
• Good listening skills
• Microsoft Office software applications and Windows
• Office equipment

Ability to:

• Represent Judge in a professional and positive manner
• Handle matters with integrity and confidentiality
• Work with minimal supervision and recognize and establish work priorities
• Communicate clearly both verbally and in writing
• Read, analyze and interpret detailed instructions, correspondence, and memos
• Handle emotionally upset, and demanding individuals with courtesy and patience
• Concentrate and perform job duties in a stressful working environment
• Organize and coordinate various individuals and/or groups on the court calendar
• Transcribe from dictation equipment
• Efficiently operate a computer and utilize Microsoft Office Suite and various other software programs and databases
• Type 35 correct words per minute
• Travel throughout the 20th Circuit for coverage and/or training as assigned

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• High School Diploma or GED, and two years of college or vocational school education in paralegal, secretarial skills, computer operations or a closely related field.
• Four years of responsible experience as a legal secretary or paralegal.
• Additional relevant experience/education may substitute for the recommended educational/experience on a year-for-year basis, excluding supervisory experience.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

None

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None