National Center for State Courts

 

Improving Justice through Leadership
and Service to the Courts

      

  

Pro Se Positions

(Archived Job Descriptions Pre 2006)

FAMILY LAW FACILITATOR: Orange County, California. Summary: The Family Law Facilitator, specializes in family law and has direct contact with litigants. This position differs from the Research Attorney series whose primary duties are to perform legal research or judicial officers. The Family Law Facilitator also supervises a staff of attorneys, paralegals, and clerical support. Under general direction, this single position classification is responsible for providing services mandated by Family Code 10000-10015 which includes the development, planning, implementation, and administration of a family law program to provide services to litigants not represented by counsel. Incumbents facilitate and expedite family law program services such as providing assistance in completing court forms and providing educational materials , as well as other services related to Family Law proceedings, without representing any party or creating attorney-client relationships. Duties: Plans, implements, and administers family law program activities consistent with applicable statute. Develops and implements operational policies and procedures consistent with court policy, local and state court rules. Designs and conducts clinics/classes for litigants unrepresented by counsel in Family Court for the purpose of enabling the litigants to self-represent in family law matters such as child and/or spousal support and child custody and/or visitation. Provides educational materials to parents concerning the process of establishing parentage and establishing, modifying, and/or enforcing child and spousal support in courts. Distributes necessary court forms, such as voluntary declarations of paternity. Provides information in completing child support, paternity, or other court forms. Prepares child and/or spousal support schedules based upon statutory guidelines using specialized software programs. Provides information and assistance on child support, spousal support, and paternity issues. Qualifications: Active membership in the State Bar of California. Three or more years' post-Bar experience in the practice of family law and mediation of family law disputes; or two years as a Research Attorney for a California Trial Court, with demonstrated application of the required knowledge and abilities related for family law matters. Salary: $76,107.20-$102,460.80. (2005) 

FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY: County of Los Angles, California. Summary: Under guidance from the Family Law Facilitator, the Family Law Attorney assists in planning, coordinating and implementing programs, activities and policies for the Family Law Facilitator's Office. The Family Law Attorney trains, evaluates, and supervises the paralegal and administrative support staff; coordinates facility, security and automation needs fro the Family Law Facilitator's Program at various Court locations and provides legal services mandated by the California Family Code Sections 10000- et seq. Duties: Manages and supervises assigned Paralegal staff at Family Law Information Centers throughout the County.  Reviews the work performed by paralegals for technical accuracy. Assists in planning, implementing, and administering established policies and procedures and functions consistent with legal, court and departmental requirements. Assists paralegals in the day-to-day preparation of documents for pro per litigants; answers legal and procedural questions. Assists in developing bar and community outreach programs for unrepresented and financially disadvantaged litigants. Qualifications: Graduation from an accredited law school; forty hours of training in mediation techniques and approaches, including training in domestic violence and a member of California State Bar in good standing and five years admission to practices law before the Supreme Court of the State of California and three years experience as a family law attorney. Salary: $6,122.09- $7, 605.45 monthly. (2005) 

PRO SE DIRECTOR: Family Court, Wilmington, Delaware. Qualifications: Current member of the Delaware Bar. Experience with Delaware law as it relates to the jurisdiction of Family Court. Experience in developing informational resources in conjunction with training programs. Able to communicate effectively. Salary range is $41,902 minimum, $52,377 midpoint and $62,852 maximum. (2005)

PRO SE COORDINATOR: Iowa Legal Aid, Des Moines, Iowa. Duties: The Coordinator will have wide range of responsibilities dealing with the planning, research and development of pro se resources in coordination with the judicial and legal communities in Iowa. The project will also focus on the technology best suited for the public’s use of on-line pro se resources. The project will include work with national groups involved in self-help projects in other states. The individual will represent Iowa Legal Aid at national training events dealing with these issues. The project will also involve work with Iowa Legal Aid’s Managed Pro Se Project, developing resources to post on appropriate web sites. It is expected that the position will be located in Iowa Legal Aid’s office in either Des Moines, Iowa City or Cedar Rapids and continue for a period of at least one year. Qualifications: Applicants for the position should have a license to practice law in the state of Iowa and preferably experience working with the judicial branch or providing legal services to low-income Iowans. A background in the use of web based and document assembly technology is also desired. (2005)

PRO SE PROJECT SUPERVISING ATTORNEY: Rockville, Maryland. Summary: An employee in this class performs a variety of legal and administrative duties associated with the provision of legal assistance to litigants who are proceeding in Family Law matters without legal representation.  Employee is expected to have a thorough knowledge of Maryland Family Law and Rules of Procedure, federal law as it applies to family matters, uniform interstate laws, local Family Division services, policies and procedures, as well as resources and referrals for pro se litigants and indigent persons. Employee is expected to have a thorough knowledge of office practices, and make independent decisions in dealing with the public and employees. The incumbent of this position reports directly to the Family Division Coordinator and is ultimately responsible to the Court Administrator. Duties: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Directly manage and supervise the Pro Se Project Attorneys and Legal Assistant and carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Court’s business practices and policies including, but not limited to, interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. Perform all administrative duties relating to personnel issues, i.e., manage leave and attendance schedule, approve leave and verify timesheets; manage staff performance, complete performance evaluations; communicate with staff office procedures, policy changes and information from management; resolve problems, complex issues or conflicts which may arise among employees. Attend and participate in meetings to discuss various court-related issues including, but not limited to, differentiated case management/quality control, procedural changes and employee issues. Provide advice, legal counseling or general legal information to pro se litigants and applicants regarding divorce, separation, annulment, custody, visitation, child support, alimony, marital property, and domestic violence, as well as procedural rules and practices. Assist litigants with the preparation and filing of Pro Se Domestic Relations Forms, and other pleadings that have been approved for use in the Family Division. Provide referrals for other services or organizations, as well as other legal sources, such as the Montgomery County Bar Association Pro Bono Program, Lawyer Referral Service, and Legal Aid, as well as Internet websites designed to assist self-represented litigants. Identify domestic violence or child abuse and neglect issues and make referrals where appropriate. Review individual intakes to determine eligibility, including financial, for services. Educate pro se litigants about proper courtroom etiquette, what to expect in court, and the flow of their case through the system. Provide information to applicants regarding emergency or ex-parte proceedings. Communicate effectively with clients of differing economic, cultural backgrounds and educational levels who are often in crisis or under stress. Cooperate with colleagues and other court staff to provide a high level of customer service to the general public. Apply Rules of Professional Conduct, confidentiality, privilege and conflict of interest rules at all times to the provision of limited legal services to self-represented litigants. Prepare monthly and quarter statistical reports; audit intake data. Transport court files from one department to another within the Court. This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions.  It does not prescribe or restrict additional various diversified tasks and assignments that may be required by the Judicial Officers and/or Court Administrator. Qualifications:  Member of Maryland Bar, with two (2) years of litigation experience in Family law. Two (2) years supervisory experience including team building, mentoring and human resources management in the areas of staffing, recruitment, and employee training and development, for a mid-size organization. Expertise in the application of Maryland Family Law statutes and the Maryland Rules of Procedure is mandatory. Proficiency in Spanish is preferred. Proficiency in computer systems and word processing, database and spreadsheet programs are required. Starting Salary Range: $55,000-$65,000. (2005)

PRO SE CASE MANAGER: Colorado. Summary:  Assist pro se litigants in the effective and efficient processing of court cases while educating pro se litigants on court statutes, rules, policies and procedures within legal limitations to ensure that court cases are handled properly and expeditiously. The Pro Se Case Manager classification is distinguished from other classifications due to working with a specialized population of pro se litigants who represent themselves in court in order to effectively process court cases and minimize impact of pro se litigants on courtroom personnel and clerk’s office. The person in this position is responsible for communicating to pro se litigants that they are representing themselves in all aspects of their court cases. Duties: Provides information to pro se litigants regarding state statutes, courtroom statutes, rules, policies and procedures. Assists pro se litigants in effectively processing court cases through interactions in person or over the telephone. This includes explaining and assisting in the completion of forms. Determines and communicates appropriate forms needing filed by pro se litigants. Explains scheduling hearings and mediation, status checks, and general follow-up. Also explains court limitations to pro se litigants. Provides detailed customer service to Pro Se litigants to assist in case processing to ensure implementation of proper procedures and eliminate unnecessary delays in the courtroom. Provides customers with instructional packets explaining contents and answers questions from pro se litigants. Acts as liaison between pro se litigants and Clerk of Court office personnel. Reviews procedures and recommendations from Clerk of Court personnel, judges and magistrates to improve court representation and case processing advice provided to Pro Se Litigants. Follow-up with outside agencies, courtroom personnel and internal offices to check on case progression. Corresponds with pro se litigants who are inmates seeking modification of court orders making arrangements with the case managers for their telephone testimony. Educates pro se litigants on courtroom procedures and policies within legal limitations. Attends meetings and training as required. Performs other duties as assigned. Qualifications: Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work preferably in the legal administration, criminal justice, sociology, social work or related field and one year of legal experience working in a court setting or possession of a paralegal certificate. An Associate's degree in paralegal or a paralegal certificate and two years of legal experience working in a court or law office setting. (2005)