Court Service Center Staff Attorney (Circuit - Northeast) - Massachusetts Trial Court

The Court Service Center is looking for a dedicated and passionate Staff Attorney who will provide accurate legal information and court assistance for self-represented litigants and other members of the public to achieve better access to the Mass...

Title: Court Service Center Staff Attorney (Circuit - Northeast)

Pay Grade: Grade 17

Starting Pay: $79,771.83

Departmental Mission Statement: The Office of Access, Diversity and Fairness (OADF) is led by the Chief Access, Diversity and Fairness Officer (CADFO) and is tasked with the overall responsibility for the Massachusetts Trial Court’s policies and practices related to access, fairness, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The following five departments report to and are supervised by the CADFO: the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Office of Access to Justice and the User Experience; Office of Court Services and Law Libraries; Office of Language Access and Court Records; and Office of Alternative/Online Dispute Resolution Programs.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential components of dignified and respectful treatment in the Massachusetts Court system. The creation of OADF reflects the Trial Court’s commitment to ensuring that court-involved individuals, whether they are parties to a case, victims, attorneys, jurors, witnesses, self-represented litigants, visitors, or court employees, are treated with dignity and respect, and are given the information necessary to understand and navigate court systems, policies, and practices. The Office of Language Access and Court Records is responsible for providing language access to interpreters and translators, court records, and trial transcripts that support meaningful access to the administration of justice in the Trial Court. These court access services include directing the operations of the Office of Language Access (OLA), Records Management Centers (RMC), and the Office of Transcription Services (OTS).

The Court Services and Law Libraries Department is responsible for providing key court services to support the administration of justice and advance access to justice in the Trial Court. These services include the Court Service Centers and the Trial Court Law Libraries.

https://www.mass.gov/orgs/court-services-law-libraries-department

Notes: This position is designated as a union position and is covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement with O.P.E.I.U., Local 6.

Cover Letter letter inclusion with application preferred.

Position Summary:

Working within the Court Services and Law Libraries Department of the Office of Court Management, the Northeast Circuit Staff Attorney will work alongside the Northeast Circuit Manager to host workshops and clinics for assisting self-represented litigants in communities that do not have brick and mortar Court Service Centers.  Through this collaboration with local community courts, legal service providers and community organizations, Court Service Centers will be able to expand its resources to communities who are experiencing barriers to equal access to justice. The Northeast Circuit Staff Attorney, will also support the functions of Trial Court operated Virtual Court Service Center and Court Service Centers located in Boston, Lawrence, and Lowell, as needed.

Court Service Centers provide accurate information and assistance for self-represented litigants to achieve better access to the Massachusetts justice system. The Court Service Centers serve an integral role in the Trial Court’s efforts to improve access to justice for self-represented populations that may include civil protection order cases, as well as custody matters, child support, housing evictions or small claims matters.

All Court Service Center Staff Attorneys use professional legal experience and knowledge of social service agencies and organizations to provide self-represented litigants with the resources they need to navigate the court system and best address their issues. This position is responsible for assisting on an array of court information, forms, resources, and referral.  Staff Attorneys also answer questions, review documents, and direct self-represented litigants and members of the public to the proper court office for additional assistance as appropriate. Court Service Center Staff Attorneys’ responsibilities also include an educational component and other outreach activities in areas of family law, housing law, small claims, record sealing, and a variety of other court related matters in Essex, Middlesex, and Suffolk counties

Supervision Received: Receives general direction from the Court Service Center Northeast Circuit Manager in performing duties in accordance with established guidelines.

Duties:

Assists the Northeast Circuit Manager by:

Supporting existing Court Service Center staff with coverage in Trial Court’s Regions III and V, including the creation of off-sight CSC operations in other court locations and communities;

Assisting self-represented litigants to gain access to Trial Court services by providing legal and procedural information;

Implementing strategies to increase the impact and efficiency of all court related services made available at the Court Service Center;

Assisting in the development, management, and evaluation of new initiatives to enhance the services provided to self-represented litigants;

Contributing to the development of service related, user-friendly informational materials and online content to supplement the support provided at the Court Service Center;

Providing information and explanations about a variety of court processes, court rules, official documents, and forms;

Reviewing completed court forms and papers being submitted to court divisions for adherence to court rules and protocols;

Triaging visitors within the center and community clinics, and making referrals as appropriate;

Ensuring access for limited English proficient litigants and members of the public;

Participating in regular meetings with the staff of the Court Service Center, as well as court officials from local area court divisions representing all Trial Court Departments in an effort to improve coordination and effectiveness;

Assisting in initiating data driven best practices to improve efficiencies and meet metric related benchmarks and goals;

Ensuring that data is captured, and statistical evaluation is conducted, including updating intake spreadsheets, performing data backup, and assisting in the preparation of statistical reports; and

Performing other related duties as required.

Job Competencies: All applicants must be able, through the interview process, to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following areas:
Ethics and Values Communicates and demonstrates the ethics and values of the Massachusetts Trial Court.
Mission Understands, upholds, and communicates the Court Services and Law Libraries Department mission.
Applied Knowledge Ability to provide accurate legal information and court assistance for self-represented litigants other members of the public for improving access to justice.
Problem Solving Accurately can assesses operational and administrative problems in the Court Service Center and develop feasible solutions.
Customer Service Conducts oneself in a courteous and professional manner to users of the Court Service Center. Responsive to the needs of self-represented litigants.
Collaboration Works with others cooperatively, accepts feedback, demonstrates a willingness to be a team player, and contributes to a work environment that focuses on shared departmental goals.
Communications Excellent oral and written communication skills to maximize the effectiveness of the Court Service Center; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with court officials, judges, and community resources is critical.
Continuous Learning Demonstrates a commitment to continuously improving himself or herself through professional development.

Minimum Requirements: These are the minimum requirements necessary to apply for the position of Court Service Center Northeast Circuit Staff Attorney:

A Law Degree and admission to the Massachusetts Bar at the start of the position. Individuals who have passed the bar exam but are waiting to be sworn in may apply.

Skills and abilities acquired through a minimum of Two (2) years of relevant work experience such as case related experience within a Trial Court division, with legal service providers, social service agencies, and related allied service resources;

Considerable knowledge of relevant state statutes, court rules and case law that prescribe the authority of the court and an ability to interpret and apply them to the cases before the court;

Considerable knowledge of court procedures, legal documents, and laws pertaining to the court;

Considerable knowledge of the work and role of legal service providers, social service state agencies, and related community resources;

Knowledge of and ability to use personal computers and related business software such as Microsoft Office;

Bilingual skills are preferred;

Knowledge of the organization, functions, jurisdiction and authority of the court;

Ability to maintain effective working relationships with Judges, court officials, attorneys, court employees and the general public;

Demonstrate ability to remain responsive to local court departments and ensure multi-lingual access to court related services;

Ability to identify and resolve customer service and queuing issues experienced at the Court Service Center;

Ability to utilize data to monitor trends operational efficiency of a customer service operation;

Demonstrated ability to independently initiate action, complete assignments and to handle multiple assignments simultaneously;

Exceptional skills in using multi-media techniques: social media, web-based initiatives and digital resources to access and use local resources for referrals;

Knowledge of procedures the types of resources and services available to librarians and library users;

Ability to reach with hands and arms, bend, crouch, climb stairs, and lift materials weighing up to 30 pounds;

Considerable knowledge of court policies and procedures and demonstrated ability to apply those policies to inquiries;

Demonstrated ability to independently complete assignments and to handle multiple assignments; and

Demonstrated ability to identify problems and to develop feasible solutions; and to properly route them for appropriate resolution when necessary; and

Ability to exercise judgment and to work without close supervision.

This position requires regular travel and candidate must have access to a reliable form of transportation.