Family Law Referee: Custody, Support & Enforcement

Ingham County; Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Ingham County seeks a Referee under the Friend of the Court to handle domestic relations matters including child support, custody, and spousal support. The role includes hearing sworn testimony, issuing recommendations, and preparing enforcement and modification documents.

The candidate must be a Michigan-licensed attorney with at least five years of family law experience and must obtain certification as an Electronic Operator within six months of hire.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited law school.
• At least five years of progressive experience as an attorney in family law with familiarity with court proceedings.
• Active license to practice law in Michigan.
• Must become a Certified Electronic Operator within six months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Conduct evidentiary hearings on modification or enforcement of child support and custody orders.
• Hears sworn testimony and applies applicable rules and statutes.
• Prepare findings of fact and conclusions of law; issue written Recommended Orders.
• Draft modifications and enforcement documents, including petitions and judgments; handle LEINs and licenses where applicable.
• Participate in administrative hearings on tax intercepts and related matters.
• Advise staff and assist in formulating enforcement strategies.
• Respond to legal questions and interpret court orders and statutes for staff.

Education

Graduation from an accredited law school

Job description

**Applications are accepted until there are sufficient numbers of qualified applications or qualified candidate has been identified. The position could possibly close at any time.***

Under the general direction of the Friend of the Court, serves as a Referee for a variety of domestic relations matters involving child support, custody, parenting time, medical support, spousal support, show cause and change of domicile cases. Hears sworn testimony from witnesses of various ages. Conducts enforcement hearings at the County jail on lodged persons who have been arrested on bench warrants. Provides legal advice to FOC staff and researches, analyzes, and prepares recommendations on other related matters. Operates electronic recording equipment during hearing to capture sworn testimony of witnesses and parties on the record.1. Conducts evidentiary hearings concerning modification or enforcement of child support orders, parenting time orders, custody orders, medical orders, spousal support, show cause hearings and bench warrant hearings.
2. Hears sworn testimony from witnesses of various ages and parties on the record. Applies court rules, relevant Acts and other statutes and case law as may be applicable.
3. Makes findings of fact and conclusions of law concerning the testimony and evidence submitted and renders written rulings in the form of Recommended Orders.
4. Prepares legal documents for the modification and enforcement of Court Orders, including stipulations, approval of judgments, and petitions for non-traditional enforcement mechanisms sought from the Court including LEINS, garnishments, and license suspensions.
5. Conducts administrative hearings on tax intercepts, delinquency notices, account adjustments, and related matters.
6. Assists in formulating enforcement strategies with casework staff and management. Establishes procedures and forms for new enforcement techniques or modifications to existing methods.
7. Responds to legal questions from the staff, private attorneys, and other interested parties. Provides legal advice to staff including the interpretation of court orders, pleadings, statutes, and applicable case law. Prepares staff for subpoenas and provides assistance in other legal matters.
8. Researches, analyzes and remains abreast of statutes, court rules and case law related to areas of the law impacting FOC operations.
9. Performs supervisory and management functions and responsibilities as assigned or delegated by the Friend of the Court.

Other Functions:

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Must adhere to departmental standards in regard to HIPAA and other privacy issues.
• During a public health emergency, the employee may be required to perform duties similar to, but not limited, to those in his/her job description.

(An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the above tasks. These examples do not include all of the tasks which the employee may be expected to perform.)

Education:Graduation from an accredited law school

Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of progressively more responsible experience as an attorney in the practice of family law and with extensive familiarity with Court proceedings.

Other Requirements:

• Licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan
• Required to become a Certified Electronic Operator within six (6) months of date of hire.

Demonstrates effective communication skills by engaging, interacting and working with all individuals to ensure clarity and understanding in all interactions.

(The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description.The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria)

Working Conditions:

1. This position works in an indoor environment. There is no planned exposure to prominent lights, noises, odors, temperatures or weather conditions.
2. This position is exposed to communicable diseases, blood, other body fluids, etc.
3. This position is exposed to individuals in crisis. These individuals may suffer from mental or emotional illness, have violent tendencies or be unconcerned with their personal safety and hygiene.
4. This position is required to travel for meetings and appointments. Some appointments may be held at personal residences where levels of cleanliness and safety vary.

Physical Requirements:

• This position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, traverse, climb, balance, twist, bend, stoop/crouch, squat, kneel, crawl, lift, carry, push, pull, reach, grasp, handle, pinch, type, endure repetitive movements of the wrists, hands or fingers.
• This position's physical requirements require periodic stamina in climbing, balancing, twisting, bending, stooping/crouching, squatting, kneeling, crawling, pushing, pulling, reaching, grasping, handling and pinching
• This position's physical requirements require regular stamina in walking, traversing, lifting, and carrying
• This position's physical requirements require continuous stamina in sitting, standing, typing and enduring repetitive movements of the wrists, hands or fingers
• This position performs light work requiring the ability to exert 20 pounds or less of force in the physical requirements above.
• This position primarily requires close visual acuity to perform tasks within arm's reach such as: viewing a computer screen, using measurement devices, inspecting and assembling parts, etc.
• This position requires the ability to communicate and respond to inquiries both in person and over the phone.
• This position requires the ability to operate a PC/laptop and to enter & retrieve information from a computer.
• This position requires the ability to handle varying and often high levels of stress.

(This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description.These include, but are not limited to, the requirements listed above. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements.)


December 27, 2018
MCF 13