Judicial Assistant

State of Nebraska•Omaha, NE

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Judicial Assistant works under limited supervision and provides advanced judicial and/or administrative support for judges and judicial administrators. The role handles sensitive judicial and administrative matters, maintains court calendars, prepares files for hearings and protective orders, screens calls, mail, and visitors, and may perform courtroom clerk duties. These duties can include testing recording equipment, ensuring recordings capture closing arguments and orders, and maintaining transcripts and proceeding recordings. The position performs complex secretarial and clerical work with decision-making responsibilities requiring considerable knowledge and independent judgment. The Judicial Assistant coordinates schedules with court administration and case participants; ensures case files and materials are available and documents are properly signed and distributed; researches and compiles information; prepares reports, legal documents, correspondence, and forms; maintains files and tracks official documents; prepares protective orders and related affidavits; and enters, retrieves, and reports data using computer systems. The position is located at the Douglas County Courthouse in Omaha, Nebraska.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED and four years of progressively responsible experience in legal or other administrative support work, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential duties.
Educational credits must be granted by an institution accredited by an entity approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations; office administrative and secretarial practices; legal terminology, procedures, and concepts; court policies, procedures, forms, and documents; customer service principles; modern office practices; filing systems; and computers and related software.
Ability to maintain records and files; assemble and organize information; compose correspondence independently or from brief instructions; research, compile, and summarize information; operate computers and applicable software; provide customer service; manage case files; process information using established procedures; prepare reports and forms; and use correct English, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Communication and interpersonal skills sufficient to exchange or convey information and receive work direction when interacting with coworkers, supervisors, the public, and others.
Primarily sedentary work; slight physical effort may be required, with lifting or carrying not exceeding 20 pounds.

Responsibilities

Coordinates the judge’s schedule with court administration, attorneys, prosecutor’s staff, law enforcement officials, and other case participants.
Ensures case files and relevant materials are available; reviews documents for proper signatures and distributes them to the appropriate offices or people.
Researches and compiles informational materials, contacts County department representatives to obtain materials, and researches legal information to ensure appropriate documents are prepared for judges’ signatures.
Summarizes information and prepares periodic or specialized court reports.
Composes legal documents, correspondence, reports, and forms from drafts, notes, dictated tapes, or brief instructions; independently prepares standard correspondence and may take and transcribe dictation depending on the assigned judge.
Organizes and maintains files, locates information, tracks official documents, and may purge files or prepare information for long-term storage.
Prepares and coordinates protective orders, including verifying information and preparing orders and affidavits for the judge.
Enters and retrieves data and prepares reports using computer systems; may operate and maintain databases or other automated files and systems.
May screen calls, mail, and visitors and perform courtroom clerk duties, including testing recording equipment, ensuring recordings reflect closing arguments and orders, and maintaining proceeding transcripts and recordings.
Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Benefits

Employer-paid health and prescription insurance (79% employer-paid).
Dental and vision insurance plans available to purchase.
Short-term and long-term disability coverage available to purchase.
Employee Assistance Program for confidential support.
Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts.
State-matched retirement contributions: 156% match on the first 4.8% contribution to the retirement plan.
Free $20,000 life insurance policy; optional life insurance and AD&D available to purchase.
13 paid holidays annually.
Paid vacation and sick leave that begin accruing immediately.
Military leave and funeral/bereavement leave.
Paid training.
Free continuing education credits to maintain professional certifications.
Access to specialized courses through Judicial Branch Education.
Opportunity for bilingual pay.
Potential 2.5% pay increase after successful completion of the probation period for employees starting at the hiring rate.
Annual cost-of-living adjustments, subject to State Legislature approval.