Family Law Specialist

King County•Kent, WA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

King County Superior Court is seeking qualified applicants for a full-time Family Law Specialist. The Court is Washington state’s largest general jurisdiction trial court, handling civil matters, domestic matters, felony criminal cases, juvenile matters, and appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction. The court’s mission is to equitably serve the diverse public by administering justice through accessible, inclusive, and unbiased forums for the fair, understandable, and timely resolution of legal matters. The responsibilities of this position include assisting pro se litigants in a variety of ways. Assigned tasks include staffing the Family Law Information Center (FLIC) as assigned, interviewing self-represented litigants, reviewing draft documents, providing legal information regarding court processes and procedures, presenting final orders for judicial signature, and facilitating appointments in person and via Zoom. The position supports the Family Court Operations Department. It is the vision of King County Superior Court (KCSC) to be open to all, trusted by all, and to provide justice for all. To fulfill Superior Court's Mission, Values, and Vision, employees at all levels serve the complex needs of a diverse population of Court users. Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation. At KCSC, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging.

Requirements

An associate degree and five years of experience in court procedures and processes, or bachelor's degree and two years’ experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Experience working with diverse populations and dealing with volatile clients.
Knowledge of interviewing and de-escalation techniques.
Ability to disseminate complex information to litigants of various educational and social levels.
Proficient with various computer software applications including Microsoft Office programs and database management.
Knowledge of and ability to learn specialized software applications.
Ability to reliably travel throughout the county is required.
Finalists are subject to the Washington State Patrol criminal background check and a reference check.

Nice To Haves

Court-related experience, specifically in the area of Family Law is preferred.
Knowledge of court rules, procedures, and processes in all aspects of domestic relations and guardianship law is desirable.

Responsibilities

Interview a high volume of self-represented litigants to determine what steps are necessary to establish, pursue and/or complete their family law or guardianship case.
Review Pro Se court files, proposed documents and provide legal information relevant to the issues.
Provide procedural information regarding King County Superior Court Family Law and Guardianship matters.
Perform child support calculations as needed.
Work with telephonic interpreters to serve litigants who do not speak English.
Review proposed documents from Pro Se litigants for the Guardianship Review Calendar.
Use discretion to assist in drafting proposed court orders in guardianship cases for judicial officer review.
Review litigants’ documents to check for compliance with state and local court rules.
Draft, review, and update Pro Se litigant instructions and create and develop alternative methods for the presentation of instructions/information.
Facilitate communication between judicial officers, court staff, and the public.
Participate in various Superior Court committees and/or network with various legal programs in the county, state, and nationwide as assigned.
Perform other duties of a similar nature and level.