Court Clerk

Legal Staff Support Case Processing

Under general supervision, performs various legal staff support case processing activities. Required to issue marriage license to all eligible persons according to Marriage Equality Act of 2015, H.R. 2976 of the 114th Congress.

Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Process court pleadings, orders, requests for hearings, bench warrants, capias and various correspondence
• Prepare the court docket, provides assistance to the judge and/or attorneys during court proceedings, swears in defendants, takes trial notes
• Issue warrants; closes cases; issues judgments on closed cases; reports the conviction disposition of closed cases to the State
• Answer phone calls and responds to various requests for information
• Works with juries, prepares jury panels, prepares work excuses for jurors, prepares juror attendance records
• Create new criminal cases filed by the District Attorney's office, pulls files, prepares the docket, prepares pre-trial hearing notices and trial settings, issues notices, swears in defendants and obtains thumb prints, signs and seals documents, closes cases, posts and images documents, prepares judgments for signature
• Examine legal documents for adherence to laws and court procedures
• Review physical files while auditing electronic file documents and fees to ensure accuracy
• Prepare documents recording the outcomes of court proceedings, issues notices regarding case outcomes, assigns billing fees and audits all other fees for each case
• Receive and sorts mail, sorts documents ready for filing, need hearing dates and those requiring a judge's signature
• Pull folders or docket sheets for all submitted orders and prepares them for a judge's signature
• Post and images various documents; receives final Orders and bar codes the files
• Prepare and mails Orders, proof reads citations, prepares and mails letters and notices, proof reads citations prior to issuance
• Prepare cases for transfer to other counties, performs case close-out and collects money on cases prior to transfer
• Create orders of sales and bills of costs, prepares and issues packets in the sale of properties that have court-ordered judgments
• Order files from the Records Department, e-mails copies to customers as ordered
• Perform research on case files to respond to questions from attorneys or the public
• Maintain confidentiality of records as required by law
• Attend training classes when necessary which may require out of town travel
• Participate in election activities, including overtime, assists in training election workers, including preparing training materials and providing supplies, assists in processing ballots, provides equipment support at designated locations, answers phones in the call center, performs related activities as assigned

Qualifications

Education, Experience and Training Guidelines: High school diploma or equivalent; AND two years of legal administrative experience; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience as determined by Human Resources. Knowledge of: Proficient knowledge of Brazoria County and County Clerk's regulations, policies, and procedures. Proficient knowledge of word processing and personal computer applications and software. Proficient knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of the local government process. Exceptional knowledge of grammar, punctuation and spelling. Exceptional knowledge of modern office procedures and practices. Exceptional knowledge of customer relations. Exceptional knowledge of Brazoria County transaction practices and procedures. Exceptional knowledge of telephone etiquette. General knowledge of department forms, rules, procedures and guidelines. Skill in: Exceptional skill in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with the supervisors, employees, external public agencies and organizations, and the general public. Using initiative, discretion and decision making within established procedures, guidelines and rules. Defining problems, collecting data, establishing facts and drawing valid conclusions. Maintaining strict confidentiality. Performing various mathematical calculations; Proficient skill in the ability to work with sensitive information under somewhat stressful conditions. Proficient skill in operating standard office equipment such as personal computers, calculators, and telephones. Exceptional skill in extracting and organizing detailed information. Exceptional skill in providing information and assistance to office staff, customers and callers. Exceptional skill in telephone etiquette and customer service. Exceptional skill in documenting, reading, understanding and maintaining records. General organizational skills. General skill in expressing oneself clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. LICENSE & CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Deputized Valid Texas Driver's License Registered Voter PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed in an office work environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually any moderate. May be required to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Supplemental Information

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.