Judicial Support Specialist

U.S. Courts, Southern District of Texas; Brownsville (TX); On-site; USD 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern District of Texas are seeking candidates for the Judicial Support Specialist Program.

This developmental program trains individuals to perform essential court duties, including case openings, docket summaries, jury guidance, and electronic recording. Starting salaries are CL 23 ($40,346 - $50,460) with promotional opportunities to CL 25 ($49,361 - $80,265).

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Two years of general, progressively responsible clerical work.
• One to three years experience using clerical procedures and keyboard skills.
• Legal document familiarity and ability to apply rules or directives is preferred.
• Strong customer service, communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Electronic Court Recording Operator duties: attend hearings, produce recordings, log proceedings.
• Docketing: prepare summaries for filings and close cases with terminating documents.
• Intake: review and file documents, collect fees, verify authority to practice before the Court.
• Jury: assist in Jury Administration under supervision as needed.
• Appeals: process documents for various case types with minimal delay.
• Cashiering: collect fines/fees and perform mail processing as assigned.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

High school diploma

Four-year college degree

Job description

The U. S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern District of Texas make up one of the largest and busiest districts among the country's 94 federal judicial districts. The district and bankruptcy courts, combined with the appellate courts and the Supreme Court, make up the judicial branch of the federal government. The Southern District of Texas consists of the following eight offices: Brownsville, College Station, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Houston, Laredo, McAllen, and Victoria.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas is seeking qualified applicants for its Judicial Support Specialist Program, which is a developmental program designed for individuals interested in a career with the federal judiciary. A fully certified Judicial Support Specialist (JSS) performs a variety of critical duties for the Court, including opening of cases; summarizing case events on the automated docket; assisting with the selection of juries; recording court proceedings electronically; certifying court records; ensuring data quality; and closing cases.

Total Compensation

The starting salary grade for this position is CL 23 ($40,346 - $50,460). There are promotional opportunities up to salary grade CL 25 ($49,361 - $80,265), for those fully trained in the program, with tenure and successful performance.

In addition to the opportunity to serve your country in a rewarding public service position, the federal judiciary provides a generous benefits package which, in addition to salary, is an important component of total compensation:

• Time off: 13 days of paid vacation for the first three years, increasing with service thereafter, 13 sick days accrued per year, 11 paid holidays.
• Federal pension plan.
• One percent automatic contribution and up to 4% employer-matching to the Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K).
• Choice of a variety of employer-subsidized federal health and life insurance plans. Optional dental, vision, and long-term care coverage.
• Flexible spending account to pay out-of-pocket health care, dependent care, and commuter expenses with tax-free dollars.
• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

More information on benefits and working for the Judiciary may be found here. Employees are expected to assist customers with the use of publicly designated computer terminals and provide basic non-legal information to the public, bar, and the Court.

Employees are also expected to regularly perform duties in these areas:

• Electronic Court Recording Operator (ERO): Attends court hearings and produces a clear electronic recording and logs of the proceedings. Monitors and processes requests for transcripts and CDs of recorded hearings.
• Docketing: Prepares summary entries for all documents and proceedings filed on the docket and closes cases upon receipt of terminating documents, including judgements and closing orders, for cases throughout the district.
• Intake: Receives, reviews, and files incoming documents; collects appropriate fees; verifies attorneys' authority to practice before the Court; and furnishes information to a wide variety of people within and outside of the Court.
• Jury: Assists in Jury Administration under direct supervision of Supervisor and/or Deputy-in-Charge on an as needed basis.
• Appeals: Receives and processes documents pertaining to a variety of case types with minimum delay.
• Cashiering, as assigned, duties associated with the collection of fines and fees as well as mail processing are required.

JSS personnel will also be trained to serve as back-up to case managers, who act as liaison between the judicial officers and the bar; prepare statistical summaries on the status of cases; serve as a primary source of information on scheduling and case processes; attend proceedings as needed; administer oaths; assist with the orderly flow of court proceedings including, setting up courtrooms, assuring presence of all necessary participants, and managing exhibits; and ensure that the record reflects any actions taken by the judge.

Qualified candidates will possess a high school diploma or equivalent, as well as two years of general and progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates the possession of, or the ability to acquire, the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position. Additionally, a qualified candidate will possess one to three years experience requiring the application of clerical procedures, the routine use of keyboard skills, use of specialized terminology, and demonstrated ability to apply a body of rules, regulations, directives, or laws.

Applicants should be able to handle a large volume of work and possess the ability to multi-task, prioritize, and manage his/her own workload. Excellent customer service, communication, and organizational skills are also required.

Preference will be given to applicants who have a four-year college degree in related fields; experience and judgment with legal documents such as those that might be found in a law office or in another court of any jurisdiction, or prior paralegal experience.

Strong preference is given to candidates who have experience in both civil and criminal law. Internal Applicants- Please ensure that you inform your supervisor of your application to this position.

Applicants must be United States citizens or able to meet the citizenship requirements. Go to https://www.uscourts.gov/careers/search-judiciary-jobs/citizenship-requirements-employment-judiciary for more information on the citizenship requirement

Participation in the interview process is at the applicant's own expense. Applicants may be asked to take a proficiency test. The Court will only communicate with those qualified applicants who are selected for an interview. If you are not notified, another applicant was selected. Employees of the United States Courts are not included in the government's Civil Service classification. They are, however, entitled to the same benefits as other federal government employees.

Employees who work for the Court are considered "at-will" and work at the pleasure of the Court. As a condition of employment, successful applicants will be subject to a background check, credit check, and/or records check with law enforcement agencies. Also, this position is subject to mandatory electronic funds transfer participation for payment of net pay.

The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this announcement, withdraw the announcement, or fill the position at any time before the closing date, any of which may occur without prior written notice.