Jobs - Circuit Court Part-Time Staff Attorney

Class Code: 007457
Grade: 24 (Exempt)
Salary Range: $36,111 - $49,464
Closing Date: Until filled.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Employment Application

A Writing Prompt is required. Write about a time that you had an innovative solution to a workplace problem.

CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND

Personnel Class Specification

Circuit Court Part-Time Staff Attorney

DEFINITION OF CLASS

A Circuit Court Part-time Staff Attorney who conducts custody and access mediations and facilitations for the Family Division of the Montgomery County Circuit Court and assists in the Family Law Self-Help Center when needed.

Employee is expected to have a thorough knowledge of Court organization and office practices, and the ability to make independent decisions in dealing with the public and employees. Information obtained during the performance of these duties may be confidential or private in nature. The employee in this position must recognize that visitors to the Court may be under significant stress and ensure that they are treated with dignity and discretion as they obtain court-ordered services

The incumbent reports directly to the Family Division Coordinator and is ultimately responsible to the Court Administrator.

EXAMPLES OF 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 essential functions.

Screen referrals to the program to ensure suitability for mediation.
Conduct custody/access mediations and facilitations for litigants at the direction of Family Division Judges and Magistrates.
Assist parties in mediation and facilitation to clarify and articulate their custody, access, and child support related issues and, where agreements are reached by the parents, draft a consent order reflecting their agreement and file said order with the court.
Provide facilitation services to parties by direction of the bench at certain points of various proceedings.
Conduct facilitation in cases flagged by Family Case Managers as being appropriate for the service prior to Scheduling Conference
Task referrals, orders and all other necessary information into the court’s case management system. Prepare and enter outcome data for management reports and promptly schedule/dispose of mediation and facilitation cases.
Maintain qualifications of a court-designated mediator per MD Rule 17-205
Assist in the development or enhancement of the mediation program on a collaborative basis.
Participate regularly in professional mediator development activities, which could include one or more of the following: attending relevant conferences and training; participation in mediator practice groups or organizations, e.g. Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR), or the Maryland Council for Dispute Resolution (MCDR); or skill improvement programs such as Maryland Program for Mediator Excellence (MPME).
Support Family Law Self Help Attorneys by providing assistance to self-represented litigants when needed.
Communicate effectively with clients from diverse economic, cultural, and educational backgrounds who may be in crisis or under stress.
Collaborate with colleagues and other court staff to provide a high level of customer service to litigants, attorneys, and the general public.

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 Family Division Coordinator, Judicial Officers, and/or Court Administrator.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Ability to work a 20-hour week.
Maintain a regular, punctual, and reliable level of attendance.
Ability to work independently and have high-level interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, and exercise a high degree of judgment, tact, diplomacy and competence in dealing with judges, attorneys, court personnel and the public.
The varied demands of this position require a high degree of flexibility in work scheduling and availability.
Ability to make decisions based on experience, good judgment, and established policies and procedures.
Ability to handle multiple tasks and maintain a professional demeanor when dealing with court personnel and the public at all times.
Ability to pay attention to detail in composing, typing, and proofing materials; set priorities and simultaneously process multiple duties and responsibilities.
Knowledge of and ability to apply fundamentals of business English, spelling, grammar, punctuation, standard office practices, and procedures.
Excellent telephone manners and experience dealing with the public.
Conversational Spanish is desirable but not required.
Ability to develop and maintain collaborative and professional working relationships with court personnel and the public.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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 self-represented litigants and indigent persons.
Admitted to the practice of law in the State of Maryland with at least two years of concentration in the practice of Family Law and three years of experience conducting child custody/access mediations.
Professional interview, superior writing skills, and command of English are essential.
Excellent oral communication skills and an even temperament are high-priority considerations for this position.
Excellent organizational skills and customer service are of the highest priority as well as competence and temperament to communicate with the legal community, in-house court personnel, and the general public in a fast-paced environment.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
An equivalent combination of related education and experience may be substituted.
The applicant must meet the following qualifications of Maryland Rule 17-104 and 17-106:
1. Completion of a 40-hour mediation training program, including training in (1) conflict resolution and mediation theory, including causes of conflict, interest-based versus positional bargaining, and models of conflict resolution; (2) mediation skills and techniques, including information gathering skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, interaction skills, conflict management skills, negotiation techniques, caucusing, cultural and gender issues, and power balancing; (3) mediator conduct, including conflicts of interest, confidentiality, neutrality, ethics, and standards of practice; (4) rules, statutes and practice governing mediation in the Circuit Courts; and (5) simulations and role-playing, monitored and critiqued by experienced mediator-trainers. MD Rule 17-106(a).
2. Completion of an additional 20-hour family mediation training program, including training in (1) Maryland law relating to separation, divorce, annulment, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, (2) the emotional aspects of separation and divorce on adults and children, (3) screening for and addressing domestic violence, (4) introduction to family systems and child development theory, and (5) the inter-relationship of custody and child support. Md. Rule 17-106(b)
3. Outside of the specified training, an applicant must have observed or co-

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a person in this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed by such a person.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION

Open the Montgomery County Circuit Court Employment Application.
The fields marked with an asterisk * must be completed to submit the Employment Application.
After completing page 9 of the Employment Application, you will arrive at the Signature and Initials fields. Click the button in the bottom right corner.
In the Upload Attachments dialog, you must upload PDF versions of your Cover Letter, Resume, and Writing Prompt for your Employment Application to be fully accepted.

Once you have attached all 3 documents, click

In the Create Signature dialog, enter your Full Legal Name and Email.

The Initials field will be automatically populated based on what is entered into the Full Legal Name field.
For Signature Type, you may choose Type, Draw, or Upload Custom
Click when you are happy with your signature.

Click , then until all Initials and Signature fields have been populated.
Once all the Initials and Signature fields have been populated, click .
You will be redirected back to the Circuit Court’s Website to the Employment Application Submission Confirmation page.
You will receive two emails that include a PDF copy of the completed Employment Application along with links to your Cover Letter, Resume, and Writing Prompt.

Both messages will say they are from the Montgomery County Circuit Court
One message will have a subject of ‘Signature Confirmation: Employment Application’
The 2nd message will have a subject of ‘Montgomery County Circuit Court – Employment Application Submission Confirmation’

WHAT IF I NEED TO SAVE MY EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION AND COMPLETE IT LATER?

At any point, you can save your Employment Application and return to complete it later by click the button.
On the Save Your Work dialog, click .
In the bottom right corner, click .
On the Register page, complete the required fields, then click .
You will receive an email that includes a link that will take you back to your Employment Application.

Be sure to save the password that you created during the registration process. It will be needed to access your previous incomplete Employment Application.

Additional Notes

It is a good idea to have your Cover Letter, Resume, and Writing Prompt prepared before you complete the Employment Application.
Your Employment Application will not be accepted until it has been fully completed and submitted with all three attachments.
If the Employment Application is not complete or the Court has not received all supporting documents, your submission will be returned to you. An email notification will be sent to you requesting further information.
You will be required to create an account if you need to save your Employment Application and complete it later.

For assistance or additional information about the Employment Application Process, please contact Court Administration at 240-777-9102 or by email at mccchradmin@mdcourts.gov.