Legal Specialist - Dudley, West Midlands, United Kingdom - Longwood University

Description

This series is responsible for performing a variety of duties related to the processing of cases, including entering data in automated systems, within an office of a Clerk-Magistrate, a Register of Probate, or an equivalent office.

• In addition to case processing duties, this series is responsible for providing service to the public and other individuals who have business with the court, consistent with policies on confidentiality.
• The position titles above the entry level require the performance of increasingly more responsible and varied work which requires more knowledge of court procedures and operations and the exercise of more independent judgment. Employees are hired at the entry level position title and are eligible for reclassification to the higher-level position titles within this series consistent with the specifications for the higher-level position titles. The position titles revert to the entry level when there are vacancies.

Employees are appointed to the entry level and are eligible to advance to the higher levels consistent with this job description and Trial Court policies.

• Case Specialist I - This is the entry level position title within this series. Employees at this level are expected to perform a variety of duties which teach them the business of the office or a major work unit within an office.
• Employees at this second level are expected to perform more complex case processing functions within a major work unit of an office and to be able to perform those functions within the other major work units as required. Employees at this third level are expected to perform advanced case processing functions within a major work unit of an office with limited supervision, to be able to perform those functions within the other major work units, and to be able to provide occasional assistance in a court session as required.
• Employees at this fourth level are expected to function as a resource person within a major work unit of an office, to be able to perform the full range of case processing responsibilities in all work units as required, to assist in the training of employees, and to be able to provide regular assistance in any court session as required.

  Employees are appointed to the entry level and are eligible to advance to the higher levels consistent with this job description and Trial Court policies.

• Case Specialist I - This is the entry level position title within this series. Employees at this level are expected to perform a variety of duties which teach them the business of the office or a major work unit within an office.
• Employees at this second level are expected to perform more complex case processing functions within a major work unit of an office and to be able to perform those functions within the other major work units as required. Employees at this third level are expected to perform advanced case processing functions within a major work unit of an office with limited supervision, to be able to perform those functions within the other major work units, and to be able to provide occasional assistance in a court session as required.
• Employees at this fourth level are expected to function as a resource person within a major work unit of an office, to be able to perform the full range of case processing responsibilities in all work units as required, to assist in the training of employees, and to be able to provide regular assistance in any court session as required. Receives training and assists experienced users on MassCourts, a comprehensive, integrated case management system which features electronic filing of complaints, extensive docketing, scheduling, and management reporting, or on another case processing system.
• Prepares manually or enters through an automated case processing system as necessary, complaints, petitions, summonses, warrants, daily lists, orders of commitment, other standard form documents, and updates to case information. Such functions may be performed in an office or in a courtroom.
• Answers incoming phone calls, routes callers to appropriate personnel, takes messages, and provides routine information in response to inquiries.
• Maintains statistical data concerning cases processing activities.
• Performs more complex case processing functions, including reviewing court documents, papers, and filings for accuracy and completeness, and determining processing required prior to entering them in the permanent record, either manually or using the court's automated case processing system as necessary, identifying inaccuracies and or discrepancies and taking action to resolve such inaccuracies or discrepancies within established guidelines, or referring unusual problems to a supervisor.
• Performs routine administrative support duties such as preparing fiscal forms and correspondence using word processing software as required.
• Serves as a "floating case specialist" who is able to perform complex case processing functions within other major work units as required.
• Processes complicated cases involving multiple offices, agencies, parties, and legal issues, either manually or using the court's automated case processing system, as necessary.
• Assists in the training of new employees and in the ongoing training of other employees.
• Serves as a "floating case specialist" who is able to perform advanced case processing functions within all of the major work units of an office as required.
• Serves as a resource to employees in an office and to employees in other offices, including answering questions and assisting in resolving problems.
• Prepares a variety of orders, documents and correspondence requiring a detailed knowledge of statutes, rules, administrative procedures, office policies, and the court's automated case processing system, as necessary.
• Performs administrative support responsibilities for a supervisor, including composing correspondence for the supervisor's review and signature, typing memoranda, reports, and other documents, maintaining an appointment calendar, and arranging meetings, and maintaining files.
• Provides assistance to staff using word processing and other software applications, such as the court's automated case processing system.
• Graduation from high school or its equivalent.
• Some general clerical or customer service experience.
• Ability and experience using personal computers, including word processing software such as MS Word.
• Experience with spreadsheet software such as MS Excel is preferred.
• General knowledge of modern office practices and procedures.
• Ability to learn the procedures and functions, manual and automated, of the office to which assigned.
• Ability to perform routine data entry at an acceptable rate of speed.
• Demonstrated understanding and training in the court's automated case processing system, as well as all of the procedures, manual and automated, related to the cases processed within the work unit or functional area to which assigned.
• Ability to effectively use word processing software used by the court and the demonstrated ability to use that software to prepare documents.
• Considerable knowledge and training in all of the procedures, manual and automated, related to the cases processed within the work unit or functional area to assigned and a working knowledge of the procedures related to the processing of cases in the other work units or functional areas of an office.
• Working knowledge of the fiscal policies of the Trial Court and ability to prepare fiscal reports.
• Working knowledge of courtroom policies and procedures and demonstrated ability to provide assistance during court sessions.
• Considerable knowledge of all courtroom policies and procedures and demonstrated ability to provide assistance during any court session.
• Considerable knowledge of word processing software used by the court and the demonstrated ability to use that software to perform complex functions such as merge letters, macros, templates, etc.