Court Operations Associate - Kandiyohi County

Minnesota Judicial Branch•Willmar, MN

4d•$25 - $38•Onsite

About The Position

The Eighth Judicial District is hiring a full-time Court Operations Associate in its Central Assignment Area, which serves Kandiyohi, Meeker, and Swift counties. The primary work location is Kandiyohi County Court Administration in Willmar, Minnesota. The posting is an internal promotional opportunity for current Minnesota Judicial Branch employees in the Eighth District’s Central Assignment Area. The expected starting salary for external candidates, depending on experience, is $25.27. The position provides extensive support in processing assigned cases from initiation through disposition. It involves independent work on complex tasks in a fast-paced setting and requires thoroughness and flexibility. Duties include filing documents, opening court files, receiving court fees, scheduling hearings, and assisting the public and other agency personnel in writing, in person, and by telephone. The associate rotates among court-administration specializations and performs work requiring extensive knowledge. Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and at least three professional references. The successful candidate must pass a criminal background check. Current Judicial Branch employees must have satisfactory performance and no documented disciplinary action in the preceding six months.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent; related experience may substitute for education requirements.
At least one year of relevant job experience, such as customer service, administrative, or office work; additional education may substitute for experience.
Experience using electronic applications such as Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat, and ability to learn job-related software.
Experience providing exceptional customer service under pressure in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
Ability to multitask, prioritize duties, and remain flexible and adaptable to change.
Effective verbal and written communication skills, including handling sensitive and confidential matters.
Ability to read, comprehend, and explain rules, statutes, legal documents, policies, and procedures of varying complexity.
Ability to establish and maintain respectful, effective working relationships.
Ability to work in an inclusive, multicultural environment and demonstrate cultural sensitivity.
Ability to begin tasks with little supervision while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
Ability to make independent judgments and decisions.
Strong customer-service and interpersonal skills, including the ability to de-escalate difficult interactions.
Reliability and ability to meet work commitments.
Successful completion of a criminal background check.
For current Judicial Branch employees, satisfactory performance and no documented disciplinary action in the preceding six months.
Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and at least three professional references.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Political Science, Business Administration, or a related field.
Experience working in the legal field or a court setting.
Extensive knowledge of current court policies, procedures, processes, and terminology.
Knowledge and experience with the Minnesota Court Information System (MNCIS) and eFile and Serve (EFS).

Responsibilities

Initiate and schedule new cases.
Use Odyssey eFile to receive, file, and eServe court documents.
Sort mail and receive mail and bail payments.
Review legal documents for completeness, adequacy, accuracy, and compliance with rules.
Determine document security-level codes, image documents into case files, and process documents through the eFile and eServe queue.
Determine appropriate routing of complaints, petitions, and other filings, and notify parties.
Receive payments for case initiations, certified copies, and fines.
Assist judges during court proceedings and respond to requests for documents or information.
Assist the public, attorneys, outside agencies, and law enforcement by answering questions, providing referrals and case-status or court-record information, and helping process applications and documents.
Generate notices, executions, correspondence, court calendars, and orders; review them for accuracy and completeness; and, when assigned, perform jury coordination and processing.
Enter permanent case information into the computer system, including case events, bail information, case activity, dispositions, and sentencing; report information to the Department of Public Safety and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension when applicable.
Perform telephone and counter work, respond to inquiries about court procedures, and manage court records.
Ensure records transferred out of the court jurisdiction meet completeness and accuracy requirements for venue changes, appeals, and certifications.
Perform courtroom clerical duties, including preparing files and forms, checking people in, calling the calendar, swearing in witnesses, taking minutes or operating an electronic recorder, setting future court dates, organizing dockets, recording continuances and case progress, updating cases, and preparing judge orders.
Participate in and coordinate scheduling and calendaring of arraignments, preliminary hearings, pre-trial conferences, continuances, trials, and other matters; send notices, contact attorneys and parties about rescheduling, and make required record entries.
Review Minnesota Court Information System case-exception or operational reports and take appropriate corrective action.