Judicial Staff Attorney - Probate Court - Judge Huddleston

Oakland County is more than just a workplace. It is a place where you can make a real difference. As one of Michigan’s leading public service organizations, we are committed to strengthening communities, delivering essential services, and improving the quality of life for nearly 1.3 million residents. When you join our team, you become part of a mission-driven workforce guided by integrity, innovation, and a passion for public service.

Benefits

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to do meaningful work that matters. For more information about Oakland County benefits and employee perks, please visit: Oakland County Benefits.

Pay

$88,732 - $118,883

About the role

This position is on-site. Are you a skilled legal professional who enjoys analyzing complex legal issues, conducting in-depth research, and supporting the judicial decision-making process? If you're looking for an opportunity to apply your legal expertise in a collaborative court environment while making a meaningful impact on the administration of justice, we'd love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Research and analyze complex probate and civil legal issues, prepare pre-hearing reports, and draft Opinions, Orders, and other legal documents for judicial review.
• Advise the Judge on legal matters by interpreting statutes, case law, court rules, and procedural requirements while recommending appropriate courses of action.
• Participate in settlement discussions and negotiations, assessing legal positions and adjusting strategies to help facilitate resolution.
• Coordinate chamber operations and manage the judicial docket to ensure compliance with applicable laws, Administrative Orders, Chief Judge directives, and court procedures.
• Serve as a liaison between the Court, attorneys, litigants, court personnel, and the media to support effective communication and case management.
• Review complex civil cases to identify relevant facts and issues; analyze disputed issues pursuant to applicable law and subjective interests of parties.
• Meet with attorneys, litigants, experts, and other relevant parties and recommend resolutions of disputes regarding discovery, admissibility of documents, and jury instructions.
• Assess and advise parties regarding the relative strengths of their respective positions and participate in negotiations to facilitate settlement of issues, adjusting strategy as necessary.
• Review briefs, cited authority, transcripts, and documentary evidence to determine relevance, reliability, and significance for civil and criminal appeals, bench and jury trials, dispositive and other motions, writs, and evidentiary hearings.
• Identify and analyze complex factual and legal issues based on applicable law and circumstances involved.
• Perform independent computerized and manual legal research on a variety of court-related issues and special projects; formulate summaries of findings and recommendations.
• Develop necessary expertise in and reach conclusions for recommended disposition of issues in various cases.
• Write pre-hearing reports incorporating facts, relevant issues, applicable law, analysis, and conclusions to assist the Judge in determining the proper procedure and specific legal actions to be taken by the Court.
• Draft Opinions and Orders consistent with the decisions and rulings of the Judge for the disposition of legal matters.
• Prioritize and schedule various hearings for Appeals, Applications for Leave to Appeal, motions, and Writs.
• Assist Judge in Court during bench and jury trials, evidentiary hearings, oral arguments of certain motions, and other matters brought before the Court which require immediate consideration; listen to testimony, review evidence, make recommendations on disposition, and facilitate consensual resolutions where appropriate.
• Assist in coordinating chamber operations and docket to ensure prompt resolution of disputes and compliance with statutes, case law, Administrative Orders, Chief Judge directives, and Court Rules.
• Assist in administering Orders in high-profile or highly sensitive cases including limitations on media conduct.
• Act as liaison among Court, litigants, attorneys, Special Masters, County Clerk, and other Departments and officials as required by Circuit Court Judge or Court Administrator.
• Maintain current knowledge of legal trends relating to a variety of substantive and procedural civil and criminal matters decided upon by state and federal jurisdictions; advise the Circuit or Probate Court Judge or Court Administrator regarding changes in and interpretation of all civil and criminal statutes, case law, and procedures.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and utilize various word processing and legal research computer applications.
• Utilize current county-wide and/or department-specific software to complete assignments.

Supervision Exercised

• Instructs, assigns, schedules, and reviews performance of assigned interns and Summer Law Clerks.
• May assist in personnel decisions and coordinate the work of other support staff.

Requirements

Under the Merit Rule 1, employees in this class are excluded from the Merit System for the purpose of the manner of selection, appointment, removal from office, or limitation of political activity. The employee in this class is required to pass an employment medical examination prior to the effective date of the appointment.

Qualifications

• Be licensed to practice law and maintain membership in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan.

Desirable Qualifications

• Graduated from an ABA-approved law school and passed a State Bar examination.
• At least two years of legal work experience including positions of comparable responsibility with other Courts, as a practicing attorney, as a mediator, arbitrator, or facilitator. Other positions may be deemed comparable by the Judge or Circuit Court Administrator.
• Working knowledge of both civil and criminal substantive and procedural law including such areas as constitutional law, commercial litigation, environmental law, federal preemption, class actions, murder, criminal sexual conduct, property, contracts, employment law, insurance law, and torts.
• Pass the employment physical examination established for this classification.
• Successfully complete the six-month probationary period.
• Successful completion of facilitative mediation training and program requirements.
• Law Review, Moot Court, or other comparable experience.
• Substantial knowledge of the principles of civil and criminal law.
• Substantial knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• Substantial knowledge of the principles, methods, materials, and practice of legal research.
• Considerable ability to analyze, appraise, and organize facts, evidence, and precedents concerned in cases, and draft Opinions and Orders.
• Considerable ability to exercise initiative in analyzing problems, present and discuss the same orally and in writing, and recommend solutions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Court, litigants, attorneys, administrators, other employees, media, and the general public.
• Ability to employ computer applications and databases including WordPerfect, Lexis/Nexis, Law Desk, and other available computer services, and augment skills with advancements in technology.
• Reasonable ability to utilize current word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail, and Internet software.