Attorney Supervisor of Investigations – FOC

Ingham County•Lansing, MI

21h•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general supervision of the Assistant Friend of the Court/Legal, the Attorney Supervisor of Investigations supervises investigative and support staff in the Parenting Time and Investigative Units. The role ensures timely investigations and facilitative and information-gathering conferences, and conducts conferences and investigations concerning child custody, parenting time rights, and financial reviews at pre- and post-judgment levels. The supervisor represents the Friend of the Court (FOC) in court proceedings and recommends, establishes, and implements policies and procedures for the investigative unit and related processes. The position provides legal and procedural guidance to staff and interested parties, serves as a liaison on unit policies and concerns, and acts as a statutorily mandated mediator for the FOC. It also prepares legal documents, presents parent education and informational programs, and maintains statistical data for reporting to the State Court Administrator’s Office. The role works in an indoor environment, encounters individuals in crisis, and requires travel for meetings and appointments, which may take place at personal residences. The employee must adhere to departmental HIPAA and other privacy standards and may be assigned similar duties during a public health emergency.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited law school.
At least five years of family law or Friend of the Court work experience.
Extensive familiarity with court proceedings.
Licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan.
Effective communication skills and ability to engage and work with individuals to ensure clarity and understanding.
Ability to travel for meetings and appointments.
Ability to communicate and respond to inquiries in person and by phone.
Ability to operate a PC or laptop and enter and retrieve information from a computer.
Ability to handle varying and often high levels of stress.
Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, including medium work requiring exertion of 20–50 pounds of force and continuous stamina for sitting, standing, climbing, typing, and repetitive wrist, hand, or finger movements.

Nice To Haves

Prior supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

Supervises investigative and support staff, including participating in hiring, training, work assignment, scheduling, performance evaluation, and employee relations matters.
Assigns cases to Facilitators and Investigators and ensures timely, appropriate work product and workflow.
Screens calls to the Parenting Time helpline for assignment or responds directly.
Provides assistance with case handling and answers substantive and procedural legal questions.
Recommends, establishes, and implements policies, procedures, and forms for investigations, conferences, parenting time, and financial reviews.
Reviews post-judgment petitions and referral orders to determine appropriate case routing.
Attempts to resolve problem cases.
Serves as a liaison for parties, private counsel, FOC staff, and court personnel regarding policies, procedures, and unit-related problems or complaints.
Conducts overflow conferences, parenting time matters, and investigations as needed.
Serves as the statutorily mandated mediator for the Friend of the Court.
Researches and keeps current on statutes, court rules, and case law related to the Friend of the Court.
Provides legal advice to staff, including interpretation of court orders, pleadings, statutes, and applicable case law.
Appears in court on FOC motions, orders to show cause, and other actions; may travel to other courts to represent the FOC.
Presents testimony and makes recommendations to the court.
Drafts or prepares legal documents for modification and enforcement of court orders, including stipulations and petitions for liens, garnishment, and license suspensions.
Presents orientation programs about FOC operations, services, policies, and children’s needs during parental separation.
Conducts informational classes for self-represented litigants seeking to modify existing custody, parenting time, or support orders.
Maintains unit statistical data for reporting to the State Court Administrator’s Office.
Performs other duties as assigned and adheres to departmental HIPAA and other privacy requirements.