Judicial Support Specialist - McAllen

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas • McAllen, TX

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The U. S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern District of Texas make up one of the largest and busiest districts among the country's 94 federal judicial districts. The district and bankruptcy courts, combined with the appellate courts and the Supreme Court, make up the judicial branch of the federal government. The Southern District of Texas consists of the following seven divisional offices: Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Houston, Laredo, McAllen, and Victoria. The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas is seeking qualified applicants for its Judicial Support Specialist Program, which is a developmental program designed for individuals interested in a career with the federal judiciary. A fully certified Judicial Support Specialist (JSS) performs a variety of critical duties for the Court, including opening of cases; summarizing case events on the automated docket; assisting with the selection of juries; recording court proceedings electronically; certifying court records; ensuring data quality; and closing cases.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Two years general clerical experience
• At least one year of specialized experience requiring the application of clerical procedures, the routine use of keyboard skills, use of specialized terminology and demonstrated ability to apply a body of rules, regulations, directives or laws
• Ability to handle a large volume of work
• Ability to handle a variety of competing tasks, and prioritize and manage his/her own workload
• Excellent customer service, communication and organizational skills
• United States citizens or able to meet the citizenship requirements

Nice To Haves

• Four-year college degree in related fields
• Experience and judgment with legal documents such as those that might be found in a law office or in another court of any jurisdiction, or prior paralegal experience
• Experience in both civil and criminal law

Responsibilities

• Opening of cases
• Summarizing case events on the automated docket
• Assisting with the selection of juries
• Recording court proceedings electronically
• Certifying court records
• Ensuring data quality
• Closing cases
• Assisting customers with the use of publicly designated computer terminals
• Provide basic non-legal information to the public, bar and the Court
• Limited cashiering and reconciliation duties associated with the collection of fines and fees and mail processing
• Procuring supplies, equipment services, and furnishings through the Citibank Purchase Card Program from both government and non-government sources
• Attending court hearings and producing a clear electronic recording and logs of the proceedings
• Monitor and process requests for transcripts and CDs of recorded hearings
• Makes summary entries of all documents and proceedings on the docket and closes cases upon receipt of terminating documents, such as judgments and closing orders
• Receives, reviews and files incoming documents; collects appropriate fees; verifies attorneys' authority to practice before the Court; and furnishes information to a wide variety of people within and outside of the Court
• Assists in Jury Administration under direct supervision of Supervisor and/or Deputy-in-Charge on an as needed basis
• Receives documents pertaining to a variety of case types and refers them to appropriate personnel with minimum delay
• Serve as back-up to case managers, who act as liaison between the judicial officers and the bar
• Prepare statistical summaries on the status of cases
• Serve as a primary source of information on scheduling and case processes
• Attend proceedings as needed
• Administer oaths
• Assist with the orderly flow of court proceedings including, setting up courtrooms, assuring presence of all necessary participants and managing exhibits
• Ensure that the record reflects any actions taken by the judge

Benefits

• 13 days of paid vacation for the first three years, increasing with service thereafter
• 13 sick days accrued per year
• 11 paid holidays
• Federal pension plan
• One percent automatic contribution and up to 4% employer-matching to the Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K)
• Choice of a variety of employer-subsidized federal health and life insurance plans
• Optional dental, vision, and long-term care coverage
• Flexible spending account to pay out-of-pocket health care, dependent care, and commuter expenses with tax-free dollars
• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED