Staff Attorney/Mediation Coordinator

City of Cleveland; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Cleveland's Municipal Court seeks a Staff Attorney/Mediation Coordinator to provide mediation services, legal research and administrative support to the Judge and Magistrates. The role requires strong organizational skills and the ability to manage complex caseloads with independence and discretion.

Responsibilities include conducting civil pretrials, settlement conferences and mediations, training Law Clerks, maintaining mediation statistics, and preparing memoranda and monthly

Qualifications

• Law degree from accredited college or university.
• Licensed attorney with Ohio preferred or bar admission from other states.
• Practicing attorney for 3-5 years preferred.
• Completion of mediation training courses approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform legal research for Judges as requested.
• Prepare memoranda, draft opinions, judgment entries, and decisions for Judges, Administration and Magistrates when assigned.
• Conduct civil pretrials, settlement conferences and mediations on Judge’s civil dockets.
• Coordinate all mediations with the Law Clerks including training of Law Clerks and supervision of Law Clerk mediations to ensure the mediation process is complied with.
• Keep all mediation statistics.
• Complete special projects as requested by Judges and Magistrates.
• Prepare the monthly Law updates for all Magistrates and Judges.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Court.

Skills

Legal research

Legal analysis

Legal writing

Court procedures

Organization

Caseload management

Computer skills

Video conferencing

Education

Law degree

Bar admission (Ohio preferred)

3-5 years practicing attorney

Mediation training courses (Ohio Supreme Court)

Job description

Staff Attorney/Mediation Coordinator

POSITION SUMMARY

The Staff Attorney/Mediation Coordinator should be a highly organized and energetic individual with impeccable time management skills, exceptional interpersonal skills, problem solving skills as well as considerable initiative and independent judgment, and the competence to multitask several ongoing projects without Court oversight or undue delay. The Staff Attorney/Mediation Coordinator is responsible for providing mediation services, legal research and administrative support to the Judge and Magistrates of Cleveland Municipal Court.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Perform legal research for Judges as requested.
2. Prepare memoranda, draft opinions, judgment entries, and decisions for Judges, Administration and Magistrates when assigned.
3. Conduct civil pretrials, settlement conferences and mediations on Judge’s civil dockets.
4. Coordinate all mediations with the Law Clerks including training of Law Clerks and supervision of Law Clerk mediations to ensure the mediation process is complied with.
5. Keep all mediation statistics.
6. Complete special projects as requested by Judges and Magistrates.
7. Prepare the monthly Law updates for all Magistrates and Judges.
8. Perform other duties as assigned by the Court.

KNOWLEDGE, QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS and ABILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and or ability required. Alternative qualifications may be substituted if sufficient to perform the duties. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Excellent legal research and legal analysis skills.
2. Well-developed expedient legal research and writing skills.
3. Knowledge of the methods, techniques, and procedures used in court proceedings.
4. Highly organized work habits with the ability to prioritize duties.
5. Ability to maintain high volume caseloads.
6. Solid computer skills and the ability to navigate case management systems.
7. Video conference platform knowledge and experience preferred.
8. Previous experience working in the Court system preferred.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Law degree from accredited college or university.
• Licensed attorney with Ohio preferred or bar admission from other states.
• Practicing attorney for 3-5 years preferred.
• Completion of mediation training courses approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio preferred.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None

Additional Qualifications

1. Strong analytical and organizational skills and the ability to function at a high level within a large, complex organization.
2. Ability to prioritize work, work independently without daily direct supervision, and manage a variety of projects simultaneously in a high-pressure atmosphere under severe time constraints. Must have good time-management skills and be highly organized and detail-oriented.
3. Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with judges, Court employees, lawyers, outside agencies, businesses, and the general public
4. Ability to maintain sensitive and confidential information.
5. Creativity and ability to conceive and implement innovative approaches to solve problems and meet objectives.
6. Ability to recognize the need for change and respond with flexibility to changing program demands, propose solutions, and ensure that solutions are implemented.
7. Must be conscious of and sensitive to the diversity within the Court’s jurisdiction and be able to interact professionally with this diverse population of people from many different geographic, socioeconomic, religious, racial, and ethnic backgrounds on a regular basis.
8. Must have patience, objectivity, professional maturity, effectiveness under stress, initiative, adaptability, and sound judgment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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

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 essential functions.

COURT EXPECTATIONS of EMPLOYEE

The Court expects all members of its staff to uphold the interest of the Court and to adhere to all Court policies, guidelines, practices and procedures; maintain high professionalism both inside and outside the Court; perform all duties as workload necessitates in a timely, accurate and thorough manner; be conscientious about meeting Court’s productivity standards; and communicate regularly with supervisor about department issues. Additional requirements for employment with the Court include the following.

Qualified applicants will be required to submit to testing and may be required to provide writing samples. Proof of education and employment references will be required before final interview. Employment predicated upon successful completion of criminal record check, drug testing and. 180-day probationary period.

The City's guiding principles are as follows: Placing Clevelanders at the Center, Empowering Employees to Do Purposeful Work, Defining Clear and Pragmatic Objectives, Leading with Trust and Transparency, Striving for Equity in All We Do, and Embracing Change. All City employees are responsible for embracing and carrying out these principles in all that they do.