POSITION SUMMARY:
This is advanced secretarial work at the full performance level, assisting the Circuit Court Magistrates. Work focuses on child support cases and includes organizing and maintaining office routines, court reporting, contacts with the public and providing general office secretarial support.

STARTING SALARY HIRING RANGE: $53,394.00 - $69,950 
CLASS DESCRIPTION:Performs senior secretarial or routine paralegal work, under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work typically involves independent and confidential secretarial work. Work may involve writing, court reporting and providing other paralegal support to a legal staff.Provide all office support for the child support office, including but not limited to:
 

• Provides case management support for child support cases under the Magistrate’s Cooperative Reimbursement Agreement with the Department of Human Services Child Support Administration.
• Assists in the processing and completion of administrative duties for the assigned judge or magistrate, including monitoring and processing tasks in the Odyssey case management queue.
• Receives requests for hearing from the local CSA office, reviews electronic case files and computer-generated reports to determine when cases are ready to set for hearing.
• Schedules cases for hearings, prepares and issues hearing notices.
• Handles telephone inquiries from CSA, the public, litigants and attorneys.
• Provides courtroom support including setting up the courtroom, meeting with litigants and attorneys prior to the start of the day’s proceedings to organize the docket for maximum efficiency, recording and transcribing the proceedings.
• Arranges the production of incarcerated litigants for hearings.
• Works with other departments within the courthouse, such as the Offices of the Sheriff and the Clerk Offices, to ensure personnel are available for support proceedings.
• Types a variety of legal documents which may include opinions, reports, decrees, memoranda, correspondence, orders and other materials.
• Maintains offices, files, and official records which may include arrival, departure and bench times; and notes on hearings held, reset, held sub-curia, dismissed, or completed.
• Prepares dockets and case summaries for the child support docket.
• Assists in the processing and completion of administrative duties for assigned judges and magistrates. 
• Works closely with all judicial departments, specifically, calendar management and family law, the Bar, other state and county agencies, and various other organizational groups.
• Transmits orders, decisions, and memoranda from judges and magistrates to various organizational units.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Associate Degree's and three (3) years of related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
PREFERRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Associate Degree and three (3) years of related experience.
• Thorough knowledge of the use of the Court's recording equipment.
• Thorough knowledge of business English, Arithmetic and office practices, procedures, and equipment.
• Thorough knowledge of court procedures.
• Knowledge of legal terminology, procedures, and equipment.
• Knowledge of the methods and techniques of commonly employed record keeping systems.
• Some knowledge of para-legal skills and techniques.
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with others.

 
The Circuit Court for Howard County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination on the basis race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants who need accommodation for an interview may request such assistance in advance of an interview. The candidate selected for this position will be subject to a background check and must be a US citizen or eligible to work in the US. A criminal background check will be done prior to hiring of individual.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
 
Howard County Government is not sponsoring employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B Visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.