Court Clerk/TAP Coordinator

Summary:   The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe is dedicated to fully exercising its sovereignty to reduce illegal activity and reduce crime rates on the reservation through the Lower Elwha Tribal Court.  The Lower Elwha Court Clerk/Tribal Access Program (TAP) Assistant would assist in the operation of the Tribal Court. This staff member would be responsible for clerking for all Tribal Court hearings, managing the filing system, entering data into the Court Management System (CMS), maintaining a master court calendar, maintaining the court docket book, regulating access to court files and filing all necessary court documents. This staff member would be responsible for providing administrative assistance at the Elwha Justice Center.  

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe seeks a Tribal Court Clerk/TAP Administrative Assistant to work 30 hours per week as a critical member of the Lower Elwha Tribal Court and the Tribe’s Judicial Services.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS STATEMENTS 

Tribal Court Clerk

• Adhere to the Court Clerk's Manual and follow all policies and procedures as set forth with speed, accuracy and attention to detail.
• Manage case pleadings and other documents filed in Tribal Court, including but not limited to, overseeing the Court’s filing system, regulating access to documents on file and responding to requests for copies of documents.
• Maintain complete confidentiality.
• Successfully complete training for the CMS and perform essential CMS data entry.
• Record Tribal Court proceedings and keep an organized tracking system of all recordings.
• Manage the various Tribal Court dockets, including maintaining a master calendar of hearings, trials and other proceedings.
• File all necessary legal documents, including documents to be served to clients by mail, fax, e-mail, or other means under Tribal law.
• Accept and process payments for Tribal Court imposed fines, fees, judgments, restitution and bail.
• Collaborate with the Chief Judge, Office of the Tribal Prosecutor and the Tribal Public Defender in drafting necessary forms and documents for use by the Tribal Court.
• Participate and attend all Tribal Court related training and meetings.
• Assist in the provision of information and regular reports to granting agencies, the Tribal Business Committee, and the Tribal Community Council.
• Ensure that appropriate Tribal staff are informed of conditions of release, and arrest/bench warrants on all clients of the Tribal Court;
• Keep statistics on the number of cases processed through the Tribal Court System, and how many cases are currently active in the Tribal Court.
• Collaborate with other Tribal Court Staff, Tribal Probation, and the Lower Elwha Police Department (LEPD) to improve the flow of information between all Departments.
• Maintain all Tribal Court official records; and
• Other duties as assigned.

 TAP Administrative Assistant

• Enter warrants, dispositions and other criminal justice information consistent with the Tribe’s TAP policy on shared information.
• Enter No contact/Protection orders issued through the Tribal Court.
• Collect necessary data to assist the LEPD in satisfying FBI CJIS audit requirements. 
• Participate in TAP related training when necessary.
• Maintain appropriate TAP security certification.  
• Adhere to TAP policies and procedures related to the Tribal Court’s Originating Agency Identifiers (ORIs). 
• Observe strict compliance with confidentiality policies per the FBI CJIS policy; and
• Perform other work relevant to job duties as required or assigned.

Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities required by position: 

• Familiarity with court pleadings, civil and criminal procedures, roles of judicial officers, separation of powers within government, and judicial processes. 
• Knowledge of tribal law, federal law and state law relevant to Tribal Court proceedings is preferred.
• Knowledge of LEKT tribal community is strongly preferred.
• An associate degree in judicial studies or related field, OR a Paralegal Certificate and 3 years of legal office experience, OR 5 years of experience working in a judicial system, preferably a tribal judicial system.
• Relevant academic background or work experience sufficient to perform duties may substitute for degree requirement on a year-to-year basis.
• Respect for the culture and traditions of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe is required.
• Organizational skills, advanced computer skills (word, excel, outlook, computer management system), phone etiquette skills, and ability to operate virtual platforms for virtual proceedings as needed.
• Ability to write clearly, effectively, and professionally. 
• Ability to communicate effectively with community members, judges, and coworkers with appropriate decorum and impartiality no matter the subject matter.
• Ability to work independently with minimal guidance, take initiative, work as a team player, and manage multiple tasks.
• Ability to balance competing priorities to achieve goals and work under pressure and make effective decisions; and
• Must be willing to attend all training activities, including cross-training.

 PHYSICAL REQUIRMENTS:  

• Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, climb stairs.
• Ability to lift to 30 pounds; and
• Ability to utilize manual dexterity to operate standard office machines such as computers, fax machines, copiers, calculator, and telephones.

 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

• Must be able to pass an FBI fingerprint criminal background check.
• Must be able to pass a drug test.
• Must have a valid driver's license and be insurable under the Tribe's insurance policy.
• Must be bondable.

• Must be able to comply with the LEKT Drug Free workplace; and
• Must be able to follow directions and guidelines.

As with all positions of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe this position is Indian Preference in hiring, in accordance with P.L. 93-638.