Court Clerk

Announcement #

2024-311

Issue Date:

10-04-24

Closing Date:

10-18-24

Court Clerk

Tribal Court

Department of Justice Services

Hourly Wage: $18.23/Regular/Full-Time

The Clerk is an Officer of the Yakama Nation Courts and their primary authorities and responsibilities are derived from the Revised Yakama Code (RYC). The Clerk's Office mission is to provide an exemplary level of service and responsiveness to all who do business with the Tribal Courts. The goal is to ensure that accurate and accessible records are kept and to create and sustain a customer-oriented quality service that provides access to the Court and promotes public confidence in the justice system.

The Clerk is the initial point of contact for the Courts and it is essential to the reputation of the Yakama Nation Tribal Courts to maintain community trust by providing respectful, timely, and responsive services. On a daily basis, the Clerk must conduct all business with a high degree of professionalism, competence and accuracy by using excellent customer service and phone etiquette skills. The Clerk will provide clerical-legal support to the Criminal, Civil, Children's, and Appeals Courts as assigned by the Court Administrator. These assignments may routinely change.

The Court Clerk will work collaboratively with other court staff in maintaining an extensive specialized record-keeping system for the Courts. The Clerk is responsible for the supervision and security of all Court records, files, dockets or other records required by the Revised Yakama Code (RYC) and Court Administrator, and shall keep a written, audio, and automated record of all proceedings of the courts.

Examples of Wok Performed:

On a daily basis will create, manage, update, organize and ensure proper flow of case files in both hard-copy and electronic form for case management as new petitions, complaints and legal documents are filed with the courts.

Properly stores, arranges and indexes case file-records in both hard copy and automated-electronic form on a daily basis.

Receives, file stamps, and initials all incoming legal documents and keeps meticulous log summaries of case activities. Ongoing research and communication with other Court staff will be critical in ensuring that duplicative files/case numbers are not created in error for existing cases.

Develops and maintains daily dockets. This may include docket meetings and inserting notes on the official docket whether notice was properly delivered or not.

Assists the courts in the drafting of Complaints, Subpoenas, Warrants and other documents necessary to the functions of the courts.

Properly handles all new/incoming legal documents that are regularly filed before the Tribal Courts by preparing a new file or locating existing (related) file(s) to present to the presiding Judge;

Promptly schedules hearings and mails out court notices/orders within the firm timeframes established by the RYC or by the courts;

Using the Automated Court Case Management System and Court Clerk Manual, assigns an appropriate case number for new petitions and complaints and follows through by placing cases on the docket or scheduling for hearing according to the procedures set forth in the RYC.

Clerk Court hearings to operate the audio/video recording systems and may be required to draft various orders for the Court;

Abide by Yakama Nation Rules and Regulations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of the Revised Yakama Code is required. Must be able to learn legal terminology, court processes/procedures and to appropriately communicate these processes/procedures to the relevant staff and the general public.

Ability to work under stressful conditions and demonstrate good morals and temperate habits.

Ability to compose grammatically correct legal documents and receive verbal/written instructions necessary to prepare legal documents with a high degree of accuracy.

Ability to stand and/or sit for long period of time.

Ability to effectively communicate, assist, and instruct Court user how to fill out court forms and provide a brief description of expected timelines and processes without giving legal advice.

Ability to learn and apply requirements of the Revised Yakama Code, the Court Clerk Manual, and the Clerk Code of Ethics.

Ability to operate office equipment and software such as Electronic Case Management System,

computers, telephone, fax, scanner, audio-recording system, typewriter, Webex, Isolved, copy machine and

other digital equipment that Court may introduce.

Skills to multi-task numerous projects-assignments and maintain a good record-keeping filing system that provides for the protection and easy retrieval of all case records.

Must be adequately trained and proficient in the Automated Court Case Management System (or ability to learn). Must have expert computer skills and ability to perform all tasks with a high degree of accuracy in Word, Excel, and other Tribal Court digital databases.

Must maintain a neutral, courteous, professional and a people friendly judicial forum to the people and programs at all times.

The Clerks are required to have excellent customer service skills that include telephone etiquette, returning phone calls and emails within a 24 hour period.

Must have excellent listening skills to determine what type of services or legal forms to offer Court users.

Minimum Requirements:

Associates Degree in Criminal Justice or related field.

Three years of work experience as a Legal Assistant, Paralegal in a legal office setting.

Must be 21 years of age and of good moral character and never been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor within one year to appointment.

Must be able to receive Court Clerk Certification at next available testing date and remain in good standing. Ongoing re-certification will be required.

Required to maintain confidentiality. Good attendance and strong work ethic/habits is required. Depending on court schedules, approval for attendance at General Council may be limited.

Ability to become and maintain requirements of a Notary Public.

May be required to become bonded.

Required to pass pre-employment drug test.

Required to pass pre-employment background check.

Must possess a valid Washington State Driver's License with the ability to obtain a Yakama Nation Driving permit.

Enrolled Yakama Preference, but all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.