Part-Time Self Help Center Eviction Prevention Coordinator

City of Columbus Careers•Columbus, OH

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Franklin County Municipal Court is the largest and busiest municipal court in the state, with fourteen judges in the General Division and one judge in the Environmental Division. The Court handles civil, criminal, and traffic cases, including jury and non-jury trials. Its jurisdiction covers traffic cases, misdemeanor criminal cases, and civil cases up to $15,000. The Environmental Division specifically enforces local codes and regulations related to real property. The Court's geographic jurisdiction is all of Franklin County and parts of Columbus outside Franklin County. Despite its name, it functions as the judicial branch of the City of Columbus government. The Franklin County Municipal Court Self-Help Center was established in 2015 to address Ohio's access to justice challenges. The Center provides legal information, not legal advice, on civil matters such as sealing criminal records, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims, general claims lawsuits, and commercial debt collection. Its mission is to improve court filings, increase access to justice, and foster positive community relations with the Court. Under the direction of the Managing Attorney, the Eviction Prevention Coordinator will assist individuals attending eviction hearings at the Court. This role involves helping both self-represented and represented litigants access resources, navigate the court building, and obtain basic court information. Additional duties will be assigned by the Center’s managing attorney and social worker.

Requirements

High School diploma or equivalent.
Experience in working with low-income individuals, especially related to landlord/tenant disputes.
Ability to serve as a strong advocate for the court and court programs to the public.
Ability to assist the court in providing services to self-represented litigants.
Knowledge of Ohio judicial branch operations; court policies, procedures, and processes; Ohio Rules of Court; and Franklin County Municipal Court local rules.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with judges and court staff and/or customer service experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides wayfinding information to assist litigants with checking in to court, finding hired counsel, and other similar questions.
Provides basic information on resources available to landlords and tenants outside Eviction Court.
Reduces the harmful impact of eviction by connecting individuals in crisis with the Center’s social worker.
Assists with triage of court users to ensure that all users are aware of and able to access all services available outside Eviction Court.
Works closely with the Social Worker to ensure that all court users are given the opportunity to access the necessary resources to avoid or lessen the impact of an eviction judgment.
Assists in the preparation of a variety of correspondence, periodic and special reports, narrative and statistical reports, informational publications, program documentation, policies, procedures and other written materials; and may access varied databases or use information from various sources to prepare such materials.
Operates a variety of modern office hardware and software.
Maintains effective working relationships with judicial officers, court staff, and justice partners engaged in the provision of services to Eviction Court users.
Assists with the creation and implementation of surveys and other program evaluation methods.
Performs other related duties as assigned.