Assistant Judicial Case Manager - Hampden Probate & Family Court
About The Position
The Assistant Judicial Case Manager performs complex professional legal and case management work to support the First Justice, Associate Justices, and Judicial Case Manager in their legal and administrative duties under state statutes, court rules, standing orders, and court policies. The position is a management position covered by the Trial Court Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual. The employee is appointed by the Division’s First Justice pursuant to G.L. Chapter 217, Section 23D, with approval from the Chief Justice of the Probate and Family Court Department. The role supports the daily operation of the court division, including judicial sessions, case calendar management, caseflow improvement, legal and procedural support, and implementation of court policies and programs. The Assistant Judicial Case Manager provides legal expertise in probate and family law, supports judges and court staff, and helps attorneys and self-represented litigants access the court by providing legal and procedural information.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a relevant field, such as criminal justice, public administration, or business administration, and knowledge, skills, and abilities acquired through 6 or more years of relevant work experience; OR a law degree and admission to the practice of law in Massachusetts, or a relevant graduate degree from an accredited college or university, and knowledge, skills, and abilities acquired through 2 or more years of relevant work experience.
- Thorough knowledge of relevant state statutes, court rules, and case law governing the court’s authority, and ability to interpret and apply them to cases.
- Thorough knowledge of court procedures, legal documents, and laws pertaining to the court.
- Thorough knowledge of the court’s organization, functions, jurisdiction, and authority.
- Thorough knowledge of caseload management principles and practices.
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships with judges, court officials, attorneys, court employees, and the public.
- Ability to identify and resolve caseflow issues.
- Ability to use automated case management systems for input, retrieval, and tracking.
Nice To Haves
- Five or more years of probate and/or family law experience preferred.
- Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities
- Assist with the daily judicial operation of a court division.
- Assist judges in courtroom sessions and manage Individual Judicial Assignment case calendars and Departmental Time Standards.
- Conduct case management conferences and Pathways mediations as assigned by the First Justice, and handle uncontested sessions as assigned.
- Assist the Local Dispute Resolution Coordinator with referrals to approved ADR providers.
- Assist with implementation and use of the MassCourt case management system; enter case data into the automated system.
- Administer oaths, approve bonds, and review requests for determination of indigency.
- Participate in regular meetings with judicial case management team members, including judges, the Judicial Case Manager, Sessions Clerks, and Judicial Secretaries.
- Review case management reports and assist justices with work and caseflow changes, statistics, and reports to improve case management and achieve departmental and Trial Court goals.
- Provide legal and procedural information to attorneys and self-represented litigants to help them access the court.
- Ensure proper issuance of specified writs, discharges, executions, attachments, and trustee summonses at the Register’s request.
- Implement work and caseflow policies, new laws, court mandates, and processes intended to expedite work and improve case management; follow applicable checklists, protocols, procedures, and memoranda.
- Provide legal expertise to judges in technical areas of probate and family law.
- Assist with implementation of Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:07 regarding fee-generating appointments.
- Review case files, legal documents, and case papers submitted to the court or court sessions; review the legal sufficiency of subpoenas and transmit records when properly requested.
- Provide legal and technical support to court staff as requested.
- Represent the court division on committees, task forces, and working groups as designated; implement and participate in designated pilot projects.
- Attend meetings and training at the request of the Chief Justice or First Justice to assist in developing uniform court policies and procedures.
- Perform related duties as required.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
