Requisition No: 791632
Agency: State Courts System
Working Title: TRIAL COURT STAFF ATTORNEY - 22011427
Position Number: 22011427
Salary: $51,557.43 - $92,803.37 Annually*
Posting Closing Date: 01/20/2023
Job Description
The position of Trial Court Law Clerk/Staff Attorney to the Judges of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court is a professional position that entails research and writing of legal memoranda, draft opinions and draft orders in all types of circuit and county court matters, including but not limited to, criminal matters, including post-conviction motions and related civil matters such as petitions for extraordinary relief filed by or on behalf of sentenced inmates and pretrial detainees, and other miscellaneous pre-trial or post-trial criminal issues, appeals from county court (both civil and criminal), and civil matters, including miscellaneous pre-trial or post-trial civil issues, and domestic relations and family law issues. Work is performed under general supervision of the Supervising Senior Staff Attorney and Judges, and is reviewed in progress, as necessary, and upon completion.
A Staff Attorney's primary responsibilities include the following: (1) Assist Criminal Division Judges; (2) Assist Civil Division Judges; (3) Assist the Appellate Banc with County-to-Circuit Appeals; (4) Other duties as assigned.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.
Assist Criminal Division Judges:
- Review and monitor post-conviction motions, conduct legal research, make recommendations to judges, and submit proposed orders.
- Review miscellaneous pre-trial or post-trial criminal motions, or any other criminal matter as requested, conduct legal research, make recommendations to judges, and submit proposed orders.
- Upon request, draft proposed jury instructions and advise as to sentencing options.
- Monitor death penalty proceedings, conduct legal research, make recommendations to judges, and submit proposed orders.
- Conduct research as to current law and advise judges on various legal issues.
Assist Civil Division Judges:
- Review and monitor petitions seeking extraordinary remedies, conduct legal research, make recommendations to judges, draft memoranda law, and submit proposed orders.
- Review miscellaneous pre-trial or post-trial civil motions, or any other civil matter as requested, conduct legal research, make recommendations to judges, draft memoranda of law, and submit proposed orders.
- Conduct research as to current law and advise judges on various legal issues.
Assist Appellate Banc with County-to-Circuit Appeals:
- Review and monitor appeal files at the pre-disposition stages, conduct legal research, make recommendations to the Appellate Banc, and submit proposed orders to the Appellate Banc.
- Once appeals are ready for disposition, review trial records and appellate briefs, conduct legal research, submit memoranda with recommendation to Appellate Banc, and submit proposed opinions to the Appellate Banc.
Other Duties as assigned
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
None
Education and Training Guidelines
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
Work experience which demonstrates orientation towards public service is preferred.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Membership in good standing in the Florida Bar is required. If not already a member, membership within one year of hire is required.
Valid Florida Driver's License is preferred.
Competencies
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document 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.
Knowledge of:
Legal principles, statutory and case law, court rules and procedures
Legal publications
Florida State Courts System
Westlaw and/or Lexis, Microsoft Outlook, and Word
Skills:
Manual legal research
Proficient in computerized legal research, including Westlaw and/or Lexis
Legal writing
Proof reading and thorough editing
Ability to:
Reason logically and analytically without biased, unsupported, or creative interpretations of the law.
Grasp, comprehend, and analyze complex legal issues and complicated factual details.
Work well under pressure, multi-task, and meet established timelines and goals.
Perform exacting work, attentive to issues in matters before the court.
Comprehend that which is read.
Digest and communicate ideas and concepts effectively orally and in writing.
Exercise discretion, confidentiality, impartiality, and honesty in handling matters before the court.
Act professionally, respectfully, and in a manner becoming of a court employee at all times.
Refrain from any behavior that could be deemed divisive or disruptive.
Work effectively with others.
Work effectively independently.
Maintain organization.
Prioritize workload.
Accept direction, instruction, and constructive criticism in a positive manner.
Set aside any bias or prejudice such that all work submitted is neutral and impartial in content and tone.
Efficiently operate a computer; utilize Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel and various other software programs and databases such as Westlaw and Lexis.
Type 45 correct words per minute.
Provide effective, accurate, professional, polite, friendly, and prompt customer service to the public and other agency personnel, AOC employees, and the Judiciary.
Maintain consistent and regular attendance, which is required.
Travel within the circuit for coverage.
Work the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. but may on occasion require work outside of those normal business hours, and possibly on weekends or holidays based on operational necessity.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret legal documents, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, legal memoranda, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, Judges, or coworkers.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide. Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to calculate the number of days between dates.
Special Comments
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this position you are regularly required to sit, talk, or hear, and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to focus. Must be able to view a computer screen for prolonged periods, accurately see what is on the screen, and be able to type. Must be able to hear court proceedings in court and over computer speakers.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
REASONING ABILITY
Must be able to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Must be able to evaluate problems, isolate key issues, research and develop alternative solutions and to present management with recommendations that include, at a minimum, the advantages, the disadvantages, and the cost and staff impact of recommendations.
How to Apply
For additional information and to apply visit the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida Employment website https://www.ca.cjis20.org/About-The-Court/Career-Opportunities/.
For additional information about the job advertised contact Natalie Perez at 239-533-1707 or HumanResources@ca.cjis20.org
Human Resources Department, 1700 Monroe Street, Fort Myers, Florida 33901
The successful applicant will be subject to a criminal background check.
We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, age, national origin, genetic, disability, or political affiliations.
We hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers.
If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or selection process, please call the contact person at the number indicated for each respective position.
Persons using a TTY/TDD may call the contact person through the Florida Relay Service at 711 or 1-800-955-8771.
The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.
Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.