Assistant Clerk Magistrate - Hampden County Juvenile Court

Official Title: Assistant Clerk Magistrate - Hampden County Juvenile Court

Pay Grade: Statutory

Starting Pay: $134,389.69

Departmental Mission Statement: It is the mission of the Juvenile Court to protect children from abuse and neglect and promote opportunities for children to reside in safe, stable, permanent family environments whenever possible, to strengthen families when their children are in need of services, to rehabilitate juveniles, to protect the public from delinquent and criminal activity while holding offenders accountable and addressing the harm suffered by the community and the victim, and to decide all cases fairly and impartially with dedication, integrity and professionalism

Organizational Profile:

https://www.mass.gov/orgs/juvenile-court

Notes:

• Full-time, on-site position (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) with the expectation that schedules may be adjusted as needed to meet operational requirements.
• This position will be required to travel between Springfield, Holyoke, and Palmer Juvenile Court as needed, including when needed multiple times per day.
• Prior experience as an attorney preferred.
• Prior experience in the Juvenile Court strongly preferred.
• Knowledge and/or experience in child welfare and delinquency law.
• Strong understanding of civil procedure, criminal procedure, local court practices, and appellate procedure.
• Experience and/or enthusiasm for working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
• Ability to excel in a fast-paced, public-facing environment.
• Detail oriented with strong computer skills; willing, able and enthusiastic to perform administrative and clerical duties.
• Demonstrated ability and enjoys performing thorough clerical and administrative work independently.
• Willingness, after training, to conduct hearings, screen cases, and review warrants.
• Management and/or supervisory experience preferred.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to thrive in a team-oriented environment.
• This position is designated as management position and is covered by the Trial Court Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.

Position Summary:  This position involves responsible legal work and supervisory responsibilities.
• The employees in this position assist the Clerk of Court in performing administrative duties as set forth in state statutes and court rules.
• Administrative responsibilities include the preparation and maintenance of all court papers and records and performance of administrative tasks to ensure that cases move rapidly and smoothly to a determination by the court.
• Work is performed under the direction of the Clerk or First Assistant Clerk.
• Supervision is exercised over support personnel within the Clerk-Magistrate's Office.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Any one position may not include all of the duties and responsibilities listed below nor do the listed examples include all tasks which may be found in these positions.
• Receives applications for criminal complaints and reviews them for probable cause.
• Reviews applications for search warrants filed by police and others and determines whether such warrants may issue.
• Conducts hearings and determines whether criminal complaints and/or arrest warrants may issue, determines appeals from civil motor vehicle citations, municipal by-law violations and environmental citations.
• Conducts trials of small claims and makes judgments of the same. In the absence of a justice, arraigns defendants, determines questions of bail, and conducts preliminary probation violation hearings.
• Calls the list of cases scheduled before a justice and makes the official record of the proceedings.
• Reviews filings from attorneys and Pro Se litigants and informs them on court procedure.
• Arranges for hearings and notifies counsel.
• Certifies and transmits official copies of court records as required.
• Issues process as required by the court or prescribed by statutes and rules of court.
• Receives, examines and reviews all filings and has responsibility to ensure they comply with rules of court, and to establish their suitability for filing.
• Maintains electronic and written indexes of cases entered.
• Supervises the receipt, recording and disbursements of fees and money by the court.
• Distributes and implements changes in court rules and office procedure.
• Administers hearings inside and outside of court where no judge is present.
• Performs related work as required.

Job Competencies: All applicants must be able, through the interview process, to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following areas:

• Ethics and Values Communicates and demonstrates the ethics and values of the Trial Court.
• Mission Driven Employees are fully committed to fulfilling the Trial Court and associated Departmental missions.
• Professional Development Employees are committed to participating in ongoing Trial Court training and educational offerings to advance their professional development. Managers are equally committed to affording those opportunities to those they supervise as scheduling permits.
• Customer Service Conducts oneself in a courteous and professional manner towards both Trial Court employees and the public.
• Applied Knowledge Demonstrates an ability to coordinate, distribute and administer State Contracts, State Price Agreements, Trial Court Contracts, and other statewide specialty items.
• Commitment to Diversity Promotes an environment of diversity through understanding, respect, and positive communication with persons of varied racial, ethnic, economic, and cultural backgrounds.
• Collaboration Works with others cooperatively, and promotes teamwork, contributing to a work environment that focuses on shared departmental goals.
• Problem Solving Accurately assesses fiscal problems in the Trial Court and recommends and facilitates appropriate solutions.  

Minimum Requirements: These are the minimum requirements necessary to apply for a position of Assistant Clerk.

For Internal Trial Court Employee Applicants:
• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university; and knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through 6 or more years of relevant work experience, including supervisory and/or courtroom experience, within a Trial Court Division (Clerk's Office, Probation Office, Judge's Lobby) or an equivalent office.
• OR A law degree and admission to the practice of law in Massachusetts or a graduate degree from an accredited college or university in a relevant field (such as criminal justice, public administration, or business administration); and knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through 2 or more years of relevant work experience, including supervisory and/or courtroom experience, within a Trial Court Division (Clerk's Office, Probation Office, Judge's Lobby) or an equivalent office.
• OR Internal candidates who are employed by the Trial Court as of July 1, 2012, may substitute knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through 10 or more years of relevant work experience, including supervisory and/or courtroom experience, within a Trial Court Division (Clerk's Office, Probation Office, Judge's Lobby) or an equivalent office for the education requirement as described above.

For External Applicants:
• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in a relevant field (such as criminal justice, public administration, or business administration); and knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through 6 or more years of relevant work experience.
• OR A law degree and admission to the practice of law in Massachusetts or a graduate degree from an accredited college or university in a relevant field (such as criminal justice, public administration, or business administration); and knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through 2 or more years of relevant work experience.