ASSISTANT COURT INVESTIGATOR - ATTORNEY IV, Probate Court 1

THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME ONCE ASUFFICIENT NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED

BENEFITS

Tarrant County employees enjoy superior health, retirement, and insurance benefits & 13 County Holidays

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http://www.tarrantcounty.com/en/human-resources/employee-benefits.html

The Assistant Court Investigator/Attorney will be responsible for assisting with the daily functions of the Probate Court One including assisting the Court Investigator and performing the legal procedures for each guardianship case assigned to Assistant Court Investigator/Attorney from the initiation of the investigation into the need for guardianship through the hearing or trial and continues with annual monitoring of the established guardianship until it is closed when the ward dies, moves or is restored to capacity. Identifies less restrictive alternatives when appropriate. Coordinates and counsels with state agencies and local agencies under contract with the county to provide legal solutions for incapacitated persons. Coordinates and advises court appointed attorney and guardian ad litems on guardianship legal procedures. Educates and presents to service agencies, law schools, and other community entities regarding legal policies and requirements for guardianships to inform the public. Assists in supervising volunteer law students who perform free legal work for the county in the guardianship office. Ensures legal compliance of guardianship cases transferred to Tarrant County from other counties and states.  Researches legal issues pertaining to guardianship and related law for the court. Writes statutory required reports to the Court on sufficiency of guardianship applications filed by attorneys and annual reviews of the conditions of incapacitated persons who are wards under guardianship. Supervises Court Visitors and directs support staff. Makes Court visits as needed. Speaks at law schools and other entities regarding guardianship in order to further inform the public.

Supervises one or more employees in the Probate Court. Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these employee(s). Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the county’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employee(s); planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.    

• Establish if a less restrictive alternative to guardianship exists in every active case successfully meeting the mandate in the Texas Estate Code.
• Recommend guardianship policies, procedures, practices and specific actions to best deal with critical issues.
• Provide leadership and guidance to law students who provide pro bono legal services to the court.
• Counsel with courts in other jurisdictions for successful transfer of guardianship proceedings in to and out of Tarrant County, as appropriate.    
• Maintain contact with state and local agencies to develop legal solutions for incapacitated persons.
• Collaborate with Assistant Court Investigator/Social Worker to provide legal guidance and support in implementing procedures and court actions to protect wards and maintain the court visitor program with economic efficiency.    
• Prepare high quality legal documents that come under public scrutiny.
• Initiate and maintain court actions to successfully protect wards when removal of Guardian or appointment of successor guardian is appropriate.
• Counsel attorneys and court-appointed ad items concerning procedural and court policy guidelines.
• Counsel with new guardians and provide creative training to successfully educate them on legal requirements.
• Maintain high quality investigations of cases to successfully complete legal proceedings for the protection of incapacitated persons, including restorations/modification/termination of guardianships.    
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment. 
• Must be able to stay organized and know how to prioritize the workload. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 
• Must be computer literate and competent with Microsoft Office 365 Suite. 
• Continuing Legal Education 15 hours required annually, plus self-study and training to maintain current knowledge of a variety of fields pertinent to guardianship issues.  
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively in high-pressure situations and ability to communicate effectively. 
• Excellent, advanced oral and written communication and court presentation skills.  
• Ability to complete tasks in spite of constant interruption to deal with other issues regarding guardianship cases. 
• Must possess advanced senior professional level of analytical ability and be very well professionally polished/versed in the art of being diplomatic and tactful in addition to the use of good judgment and common sense. 
• Must be able to handle all stressful situations with an even temperament and work effectively with others in achievement of tasks. 
• Must possess necessary writing skills at a well-advanced and professionally creative level to communicate information and directions to attorneys, agencies and citizens.  
• Must have solid, up to date working knowledge and understanding of guardianship statutes and other relevant state laws as well as full comprehension of case holdings and departmental policies.        

• Bachelor’s Degree and Juris Doctorate (JD) degree.  
• Two (2) years experience in the relevant areas of law.  
• License to practice law in the State of Texas.   Member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas.  
• Continuing Legal Education of 15 hours required annually, plus self-study and training to maintain current knowledge of a variety of fields pertinent to guardianship issues.

Tarrant County will conduct background checks on new hires that will include a criminal background check related to convictions and deferred adjudication in the past seven years and may include credit reports, motor vehicle records, employment records and educational attainment. A conviction or deferred adjudication is not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered individually.

While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent may be required to bend, hear, keyboard, sit, stand, talk, work alone and with others, and work overtime. Must be able to lift up to 25lbs.