Hearings Referee

About the role

The Clackamas County Circuit Court is hiring a Part-Time Hearings Referee. In this role, you will preside over a wide variety of legal matters that may include family law hearings, juvenile proceedings, civil commitment hearings, and other cases as assigned.

Responsibilities

• You will conduct hearings or trials on assigned cases; investigate the facts of the case by hearing testimony and examining evidence;
• Instruct parties on legal rights and procedures as required by law;
• Make findings of fact and apply applicable law to those facts and issue judicial orders and judgments;
• Frequently work with both represented and self-represented litigants, ensuring that all proceedings are conducted clearly, fairly, and in accordance with the law.

Requirements

• The qualified candidate must have a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school AND Five (5) years of experience as a trial attorney in criminal, civil, or family litigation;
• The qualified candidate must currently be approved by the Oregon Supreme Court to sit as a Circuit Court Judge pro tempore OR If not currently approved, the qualified candidate must be approved and complete the process to sit as an Oregon Circuit Court Judge pro tempore within 60 calendar days of the date of hire (additional days to complete the process may be granted to address circumstances beyond the control of the candidate).

Qualifications

• Be an active member of the Oregon State Bar in good standing for a period of at least three years.

Skills and Attributes

• Knowledge of Statutes: Knowledge of statutes, case law, and procedures applicable to the types of matters commonly assigned to a hearings referee (e.g. family law, juvenile matters, and civil commitment)
• Knowledge of Rules of Evidence: Knowledge of the rules of evidence and procedure, including how you have used them in practice and how you would apply them when making rulings.
• Communication Skills: Clear and effective oral and written communication skills, including examples from past work and how you would use these skills to explain rulings, rights, and procedures.
• Legal Research: Strong legal research and analysis skills, including the ability to identify legal issues quickly and how you would apply those skills in time-sensitive hearing settings.
• Technical Proficiency: Experience using computer programs and court-related systems to search, enter, and maintain information.
• Skill in Applying the Law: Skill in understanding, interpreting, and applying laws, rules, regulations, and policies accurately and consistently.
• Skill in Working with Diverse Court Users: Skill in working respectfully and professionally with people from a wide range of backgrounds, including those who may be unfamiliar with court processes or who may be angry, distraught, or confused.
• Skill in Managing a Hearing: Skill in managing a courtroom or hearing setting effectively or experience that show how you would maintain order, guide proceedings, and ensure procedural fairness.
• Commitment to Impartiality and Fairness: Commitment to impartiality and access to justice, including how you have demonstrated fairness in past roles and how you would ensure that all parties are heard and treated consistently in your courtroom.

Pay

The hourly equivalent for this position is $57.16 - $88.68. [OR The annual salary for this position is $118,892 - $184,451.]

Schedule

This is a part-time position, and the work schedule will typically be 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. This schedule may occasionally be adjusted with advance notice. This position is FLSA-Exempt and is not eligible for overtime compensation. Occasional after-hours work may be required.

Benefits

• We pay 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums for full-time employees [OR up to 99% of medical insurance premiums for part-time employees], including mental health coverage.
• We provide 10 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, 3 personal business days, separate sick and vacation paid leaves (prorated for part-time employees), and other employee benefits such as optional insurances and flexible spending plans.
• OJD will pay you a 5% allowance for bilingual skills (includes ASL) if you can pass a skills test and are assigned to use those skills on the job!

Location

Oregon City, Oregon rests on the Willamette River southeast of Portland. It is part of the Portland Metropolitan Area (along with Beaverton, Gresham, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, WA). Oregon City was the first capital of Oregon prior to the creation of the Oregon Territory in 1848. Before settling on Salem in 1864, the capital was moved several times to several different cities. It is also the end point of the Oregon Trail. Oregon City has the only "vertical street" in the nation, Elevator Street. Activities include museums, historic buildings, and over 22 city parks, including Clackamette Park at the confluence of the Willamette and Clackamas rivers. Oregon City is also home to Willamette Falls, the largest waterfall by volume in the Pacific Northwest.