Justice Court of Record Paralegal

This position is located in the Justice Court and is responsible for performing a variety of clerical and technical duties within the justice court system. This work involves processing appropriate court orders, summarizing court sessions, documenting various courtroom hearings, conducting legal research, and drafting legal documents.  Justice Court handles criminal and civil matters, small claims, weddings, and other legal matters. Criminal matters include citations filed by the Sheriff’s Department, Montana Highway Patrol, Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Montana Department of Transportation, Montana Department of Livestock, and Gallatin Airport Authority. The position reports to the Clerk of Justice Court and does not directly supervise other staff.

Each duty listed below makes up at least 20% of the job, and all other functions are included in Other Duties as Assigned. All duties below are essential functions unless otherwise indicated. 

COURT OPERATIONS 

• Reviews, studies, researches, and annotates laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, and related legal authorities.
• Prepares briefs, legal memoranda, statement of issues involved, draft opinions and orders including appropriate suggestions or recommendations to the judge.
• Compiles references on laws and decisions necessary for legal determinations.
• Confers with judge concerning legal questions, legal theories, construction of documents, and preparation of orders.
• Ensures timely delivery of correspondence and materials to appropriate staff, including express shipments, registered mailings, electronic messaging, and other specialized delivery services.
• Processes or distributes filings and documents according to upcoming trial dates, legally mandated response times, individual judicial preferences, established office procedures and policies, and other factors.
• Maintains electronic and manual records management and docketing systems with new and updated case and file information.
• Reviews case background information by reviewing past payments, checking payments received logs, court appearances, posting of bond, etc. and issues a warning letter or a warrant or default judgment based on applicable guidelines.
• Receipts and disburses fines, fees for filing, restitution, refund of bond, and daily balances.

TRIAL ACTIVITIES COORDINATION

• Attends court sessions to hear testimony and record necessary case information; maintains records according to court proceedings.
• Monitors hearings and trials for all types of Justice Court cases to record minutes, draft orders, docket court dates, prepare paperwork for the judge’s signature, and record all actions and events subsequent to the trial or hearing.
• Manages and supports the creation, maintenance and retention of Court of Record audio recordings including retrieval and disbursement of case-specific recordings to appropriate parties.

This position requires the ability to multi-task effectively, prioritize, organize, maintain legal calendars, and communicate well both orally and in writing. This work requires the capability of gaining knowledge of the principles and practices of conducting research, records management, customer service, the Montana Codes Annotated, legal terminology, and various legal and court systems and procedures.

The required knowledge, skills, and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience. Associates degree in paralegal studies from an accredited institution or Bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from an accredited college or university; or Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited college or university and completion of no less than 18 semester credits of course work offered by a qualified paralegal studies program; or Certification by the national association of legal assistants or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations; or Has received a high school diploma or its equivalent and has performed not less than 4,800 hours of substantive legal work under the supervision of a licensed lawyer documented by the certification of the lawyer or lawyers under whom the work was done and has completed at least five hours of approved continuing legal education in the area of legal ethics and professional responsibility; or Has graduated from an accredited law school and has not been disbarred or suspended from the practice of law by any jurisdiction. At least two years working in a legal office. The position must be (or become) a sworn officer of the court, filed with the Clerk and Recorder.

As a condition of hire, the final candidate will be required to successfully pass a criminal history check and background investigation. 

For application consideration, the following documents are required to be submitted when you apply online:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Three (3) work references                     

Gallatin County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment on the basis of merit and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, national origin, or physical or mental disability.