The first review of applications will be September 23, 2024. Please submit the following required documents on the State of Montana Careers website:
When submitting the required documents, you must check the “relevant document” box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application for this position. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The Judicial Branch is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
For a complete job description, please email Katie.Erickson@mt.gov
The Montana Judicial Branch offers a variety of opportunities to help you make a difference in your community, and further your career. As a service-oriented employer, we seek employees with a passion for customer service to help us fulfill our mission to provide an independent, accessible, responsive, impartial, and timely forum to resolve disputes; to preserve the rule of law; and to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United States and Montana.
Benefits of working for the Judicial Branch\:
This position is in Helena, MT. Helena exists as a crossroads between past and present, tame and untamed, mountainous wilderness and hometown warmth. A place where you can hike for miles without seeing a soul, stroll through our charming downtown, and enjoy breweries with breathtaking views—all in the same day.
From the early roots of Blackfeet, Salish, Crow and Bannock tribes who found this land abundant with bison and natural resources - to the four lucky prospectors who, in their last efforts, struck gold in 1864 - Helena is a place rich with history, beauty, and life. Learn more by visiting https\://www.visitmt.com/
Job Overview:
· A criminal background check is required for the successful applicant.
· An employee new to the Judicial Branch will serve a one-year probationary period.
This is legal and administrative office support and judicial process coordination work for three Montana Supreme Court Justices.
Work includes assisting justices prepare weekly orders, assisting justices and law clerks prepare opinions, proofreading and finalizing orders and opinions for publication, assembling weekly agenda, distributing mail and other court documents in a timely manner, assisting with Court website updates, and providing secretarial assistance. Work is performed according to verbal or written instructions from a justice, secretarial manual, legal reference and style manuals, and judicial branch and related rules and regulations. Work is performed with considerable independence after a brief orientation to the workflow of the office and is reviewed for accuracy.
Job Duties: (Any one position may not include all the duties listed, nor do the examples cover all the duties which may be performed.)
· Types, edits, and proofreads a variety of legal and court documents for grammar, style, punctuation, sentence structure, spelling and format; proofreads documents with another staff person or law clerk; may check the accuracy of routine legal citations.
· Accesses databases to enter or update information and for multiple other purposes including determining the status of a case.
· Types, copies, and distributes memoranda and opinions; gathers, organizes, and distributes papers and files; coordinates the progress of an opinion from the drafting stages to final release to ensure timeliness, accuracy, and adherence to court procedures.
· Drafts simple orders for review and editing by law clerks or justices.
· Organizes and processes incoming paperwork to keep appropriate individuals informed of changes or developments in cases and necessary information disseminated to the appropriate person; assists a justice perform document research from files in the clerk’s office; assists in training law clerks in the process of issuing opinions; coordinates the justices’ involvement in judicial conferences and meetings.
· Assists law clerks, staff attorney, and judicial branch technical staff in maintaining Court websites regarding case updates, standards of review, and Court commission appointments.
· Establishes and maintains extensive filing system of incoming cases, issued decisions, and reference materials within the chambers; maintains and updates chambers library and reference documents. Answers telephone in a professional, confidential, and courteous manner; screens calls, takes messages, and provides information as authorized; recycles all discarded briefs and documents.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Behaviors):
Thorough knowledge of legal terminology and format.
Thorough knowledge of business English, spelling, and punctuation.
Thorough knowledge of legal office practices, procedures, equipment, and standard secretarial techniques.
Considerable knowledge of court rules and procedures, preferably procedures used in an appellate court.
Ability to understand and carry out moderately complex oral and written instructions.
Ability to recognize and maintain the need for confidentiality in work assignments.
Ability to organize, prioritize, and coordinate work and meet deadlines.
Ability to operate a personal computer with word processing software.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to maintain extensive file systems.
Ability to work well in cooperation with others, execute tasks promptly as assigned, be self-directed and well-organized and work well under pressure.
Skill in the operation of a keyboard.
Working Conditions:
The work is performed primarily in an office environment and involves exposure to normal, everyday risks which require normal safety precautions typical of offices.
Physical Demands:
Position requires activities such as sitting for long periods, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, climbing stairs, lifting, moving, and carrying light to medium objects, and operating office equipment.
Licensure and Certification Requirements:
None
Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience)\:
(Any combination of training and work experience which indicates possession of the knowledge, abilities and skills listed above. An example of an acceptable qualification for this position is)
The position requires an associate degree in business or clerical studies or a similar field and at least three and a half (3.5) years of progressively responsible legal experience, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. Experience in a legal or court setting is required and can substitute for the associate degree. Experience as a high-level assistant is preferred.