Clerk III

About the role

This position performs various complex clerical duties involving legal documents and court records. It requires knowledge of legal documents, legal terminology, and the ability to understand and follow state laws and/or statutes.

Responsibilities

• Accurately accept, process, and prepare a new case record while utilizing the case management system, and electronic filing system when required, for all cases filed in the County Courts at Law.
• Intake money and process payments made in person, by online payment, and through electronic filing system. Calculate and collect all applicable filing fees and service fees in accordance with the laws, statutes and local rules governing such fees and court costs.
• Attend all court sessions as directed for the County Courts at Law. Include jury trials, bench trials, jail dockets, criminal, civil, and probate proceedings.
• Make entries on court dockets concerning actions taken while in courtroom and the results of the hearing. Provide final docket to court administrators as necessary.
• Enter and scan all legal documents and orders filed during courtroom proceedings. Such as criminal plea agreements, jail commitments, order for capias, civil judgments, petitions, applications, oaths, affidavits, wills, motions and orders to pay fine, court cost, restitution and attorney fees.
• Execute all orders of the court in accordance with the Judge’s ruling. Continually monitor the electronic filing system and process all electronic filings with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Issue citations, notices, precepts, subpoenas, writs, abstracts, and all other legal documents with great attention to detail and in accordance with the law.
• Issue capias' and warrants for all misdemeanor charges under the direction of the Judge or Magistrate. Such as search warrants, arrest warrants, bench warrants, capias for failure to appear, motions to revoke/adjudicate probation, release of surety, violation of ignition interlock, and violation of the Pre-Trial Bond Program.
• Enter, scan, file and maintain all bond records for criminal misdemeanor charges, civil, or probate matters. Enter, scan, file and maintain paperwork for unfiled misdemeanor charges including but not limited to pauper's affidavits, magistrate's warnings, return warrants, and bond conditions.
• Report all criminal dispositions through the Criminal Justice Information System of the Department of Public Safety. This includes all details of the plea documents, judgment, and judge’s rulings during sentencing of the defendant.
• Create payment accounts for criminal defendants according to courts order. This must also be done in accordance with the state mandated Collection Improvement Program. Monitor and document all criminal defendant accounts for non-payment, late payment and general compliance in accordance with the Collection Improvement Program. Including correspondence by phone, mail, email, and in person.
• Process all Mental Health filings and orders of protective custody with absolute confidentiality and discretion. Report appropriate guardianship and mental health cases to NICS as required by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
• Using the jury software program, print and mail summons, record exempt, excused and disqualified jurors. Generate prospective jurors for jury panels and assign as needed for scheduled trials for the County Courts at Law. Daily maintenance of the jury pool and/or panel is required by checking online submissions of jury questionnaires, receiving calls from jurors and assisting jurors in person.
• Report to Voter’s Registration any non-citizens and address discrepancies. Track and file any new case filings for juror no show. Determine number of jurors to report for service and prepare the jury lists and questionnaires for the court to use during trial. Maintain all jury logs and records in accordance with the appropriate retention schedule. Prepare juror payment packets for the Auditor & Treasurer's office and record donations.
• Process and balance daily financial transactions and receipts and maintain a cash drawer. Receive and process all records requests in accordance with the Public Information Act and applicable statute and/or law. Including issuing all requested copies and certified copies according to policy of the County Clerk’s Office. Assist the public, other county departments, and state and federal agencies with record inquires. Must categorize documents and records relating to the county court cases and files. Maintain a comprehensible records management system for each case type while accounting for retention schedules and policy of the County Clerk’s Office.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, other county departments and the public is essential to this position.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent required.
• Two (2) to four (4) years’ experience in general office procedures and direct contact with the public.
• Ability to navigate and use general functions of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Outlook is required.
• Basic computer literacy required.
• Basic accounting procedures.

Skills

• Ability to read and comprehend a broad scope of legal documentation.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to the public, clients, and other employees of the organization.
• Bi-lingual in English and Spanish is not required but is preferred.
• Mathematical Skills - Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.
• Reasoning Abilities - Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Benefits

Comprehensive array of valuable benefits to protect your health, your family and your way of life. Benefits eligibility requires an employee to work 30 or more hours per week. For more details, visit our benefits page at: Benefits