Judicial Assistant - Part-Time

Montgomery County Pennsylvania; Norristown (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Montgomery County Pennsylvania is seeking a professional assistant to support a judge’s chambers at the Courthouse. Daily duties include processing legal documents, scheduling, and confidential support to the law clerk for civil, criminal, family, and juvenile matters.

Responsibilities include drafting orders and verdict sheets, maintaining the judge’s calendar, scheduling hearings, handling court correspondence, and ensuring policies are followed.

Qualifications

• General knowledge of legal standards.
• Must convey and present information clearly.
• Shorthand and legible handwriting.
• Ability to use office equipment and computer software.
• Organize materials and develop procedures.
• Communicate effectively in writing and speech.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships.
• Demonstrate initiative and problem-solving.
• Work independently with good judgment.

Responsibilities

• Sign matters through chambers and forward to the proper party.
• Draft orders and verdict sheets; update court records.
• Prepare divorce decrees and return to Prothonotary.
• Type orders, opinions, memos for Judge and Law Clerk.
• Review court orders and schedule needed actions.
• Maintain Judge’s calendar and coordinate hearings.
• Notify Court Services of schedule changes and trials.
• Prepare files for hearings and schedule conferences.
• Keep up-to-date on policies adopted by Judges and Court Administration.
• Process incoming mail and distribute to the right department.
• Ensure supplies are available; file law books; maintain records.
• Perform related work as required.
• Non-remote work required.

Skills

Legal knowledge

Record and convey information

Shorthand

Office software

Organization

Communication

Independent judgment

Education

College degree or related field

Paralegal certificate preferred

Tools

Dictaphone

Job description

This is a professional position working within a judge’s chambers within the Courthouse. Daily administration of Judge’s chambers tasks include processing all legal documents and correspondences; scheduling and follow through to completion all criminal, civil, family and juvenile matters; providing secretarial support to the law clerk; normal administrative duties. Work requires a high degree of confidentiality and discretion.

• Channels signing matters (civil, criminal and family) through the chambers, forwarding to the proper person or department, copying the appropriate parties.

• Drafts miscellaneous orders.
• Drafts and prepares verdict sheets for both civil and criminal trials; replaces appropriate pages in the Judge’s civil and criminal charge book after trial.
• Prepares divorce decrees, returning to the Prothonotary after the judge signs the documentation.
• Drafts miscellaneous civil and criminal orders.
• Types all orders, opinions, letter and memos for the Judge and Law Clerk.
• Reviews all orders from the courtroom; determines if further judicial action is required. Maintains record of action taken.
• Maintains Judge’s calendar; creates chambers schedule ensuring no conflicts; makes necessary adjustments.
• Addresses cancellations, late arrivals or emergencies that may occur. Notifies Court Services of Judge’s schedule (including changes), when trials settle/plea, are rescheduled, etc.
• Readies appropriate files for scheduling of hearings; schedules conferences when necessary.
• Responsible for keeping up to date on policies and procedures adopted by Judges and Court Administration.
• Processes incoming mail – dates and reads all documents; distributes to the appropriate person or department.
• Ensures all supplies are available in chambers.
• Files law books in the appropriate place.
• Maintains records for appeals, outstanding criminal matters, post-trial motions, and appealable and interlocutory civil argument matters.
• Performs related work as required.
• Non-remote work required.

Education and Credentials

• College Degree preferred (not required), or other related field required, or an equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
• Paralegal Certificate preferred (not required), or other related field required, or an equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

Experience and Skills

• General knowledge of legal standards.
• Must possess ability to record, convey and present information, explain procedures and follow instructions.
• Shorthand and clear handwriting.
• Ability to utilize computer software/hardware and other office equipment such as a Dictaphone and phone system, necessary to carry out essential functions.
• Ability to carry out assignments requiring organization of materials and development of procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Must possess initiative and problem-solving skills.
• Must possess ability to function independently and exercise good judgement.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Regularly required to stand; walk; sit; and talk and hear.
• Significant and repeated use of a keyboard.
• Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.