Municipal Court Clerk I - City of Liberal

Job Title: Municipal Court Clerk        

This position provides a variety of entry-level clerical support in the Municipal Court and is responsible for receiving incoming mail, answering the telephone, entering complaint information into a data base, court records and/or legal case files, creating new case files, and answering questions from the public in person, by mail, or by telephone. After training in Municipal Court procedures, employees are expected to provide appropriate assistance for most requests. The most difficult problems are referred to a Deputy Municipal Court Clerk, Municipal Court Director, or another designated employee. Municipal Court Clerks I may work in one of several sections of the Municipal Court. Work is reviewed or monitored frequently until familiarization with court or prosecutor activity is achieved, and then the Municipal Court Clerk I works under the general supervision of a Municipal Court Director.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Answers questions from the public regarding the status of cases, complaints, or warrants;
• Obtains information on complaints and warrants and enters information relative to warrants, court schedules, and fine payments to update a database;
• Locates and retrieves complaints, warrants, and appropriate files to provide information to the public and other City staff;
• Processes paperwork in accordance with established procedures;
• Sorts, separates, arranges, files, or distributes court or legal documents as prescribed by Court procedures;
• Enters appropriate information on complaints, motions, subpoenas, and in court records and legal case files;
• Directs and/or escorts the public to courtrooms and other court supported activities;
• Refers individuals to other jurisdictions or offices;
• Prepares and mails form letters providing court dates, fine amounts, and general court information;
• Types complaints, motions, subpoenas, and letters;
• Creates new case files and docket entry sheets;
• Reviews files, documents, and other printed materials for completeness and accuracy;
• Requests various court, police, and Department of Motor Vehicle reports;
• Corrects errors and adds missing information to files or documents by computer or manual methods.
• Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality customer service.

Knowledge of :

• Word processing and entering, retrieving, and managing data into the case management system.
• Record keeping 

Ability to:

• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.

• File court or legal documents as prescribed by Court procedures.
• Accept payments of fees, bonds, and fines, returns appropriate change, and issues receipts

• Learn assigned clerical tasks primarily through oral instruction and observation. This learning takes place mainly in an on-the-job training setting.
• Work cooperatively with other employees, defendants, attorneys, victims, and the public, often under stressful circumstances.
• Communicate orally with defendants, attorneys, victims, co-workers, and the public in a tactful and courteous manner, in face-to-face one-to-one settings or using a telephone.
• Prepare Court action sheets and folders for new tickets.
• Locate and retrieve documents that have been filed.
• Hand delivers written documents to courthouse.
• Operate a variety of standard office equipment requiring continuous or repetitive arm-hand movements such as a typewriter and calculator.
• Prepare journal entries and orders on computer.
• Operate and maintain court-recording equipment.
• Operate a computer terminal or other keyboard device to enter information into a database.
• Maintain records of restraining orders and convey their status to communications.
• Work safely without presenting a direct threat to self or others.
• Make arithmetical calculations with speed and accuracy.
• Prepare warrants and subpoenas.

Working Conditions:

• Office Environment; exposure to computer screens.

·         Essential and marginal functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for walking, standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time; extensive use of computer keyboard.

Additional Requirements:

• Some positions will require the performance of other essential and marginal functions depending upon work location, assignment or shift.

 

MINUMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING:

High School or Associates degree. One year of clerical or public contact experience. Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.

This position is subject to the City of Liberal’s’ Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy which includes one or more of the following: pre-employment testing, post-accident testing, Reasonable suspicion testing, and follow-up testing.

Must possess a valid driver’s license and maintain an acceptable driving record. Must pass a criminal background check.

Schedule:

Monday-Thursday 7:30AM-5:30PM

Fridays: 7:30AM-11:30AM with every other Friday off