Job Announcement - Paralegal Friday, April 26, 2024

The current Minot postings for a Staff Attorney-District Court, District Court Paralegal and Electronic Court Recorder/Transcriptionist are to broaden the applicant pool for one successful candidate to be hired to work within the North Central Judicial District Court Judge Chambers located in Minot.   

Interested applicants must submit a cover letter and resume. 

The North Dakota Court System offers employment opportunities that provide a rewarding career in public service working together to deliver justice.  The Court System offers an excellent benefits package including employer-paid family health insurance premiums, retirement contributions and generous vacation and sick leave accruals. 

If you are drawn to legal research, analyzing and writing and want to play an integral role in supporting a judge, this opportunity may be right for you. 
 
The Ideal Candidate:

• Easily engages and communicates with others orally and in writing. 
• Enjoys researching, analyzing and writing. 
• Obsesses with detail ensuring accuracy of work.
• Deliberately and thoroughly analyzes work and applies rules. 
• Demonstrates an ability to identify and evaluate key concepts and facts. 
• Thrives on having a constant workload and working independently. 
• Finds it rewarding to be highly dependable.

• Bachelor’s Degree and
• 2 years of paralegal or legal assistant experience that includes experience with court rules and procedures, legal documents, laws and legal factors pertaining to the courts.  

• Associate’s Degree; and
• 4 years of paralegal or legal assistant experience that includes experience with court rules and procedures, legal documents, laws and legal factors pertaining to the courts.  

Major Responsibilities & Essential Functions

Title of Immediate Supervisor:  Presiding Judge of the District Court
Accountable for (Job Titles):  None
FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt 

The District Court Paralegal is responsible for providing administrative and secretarial support to a district judge or judicial referee.  The position researches, analyzes and summarizes case laws, administrative rules, regulations, administrative and judicial decisions; makes a verbatim record of district and juvenile court trials, proceedings and other matters using audio recording equipment, writing court logs and noting appearances and essential events during the proceedings; and assists in calendar control and scheduling.

Employees assigned to this classification establish certain routines and processes as well as follow routines and processes established by others. 

• Researches, analyzes and summarizes case laws, administrative rules, regulations, administrative and judicial decisions.  Provides information about other resources that may provide further assistance.
• Composes, prepares and ensures the accuracy of various legal documents.
• Assists judicial officer with trial preparation.
• Serves as primary contact for judicial officer.  Greets visitors, screens telephone calls and correspondence, provides information, explains policies and procedures, as appropriate.  Acts as a liaison between the judicial officer and personnel from other agencies, the general public and attorneys.
• Coordinates meetings and maintains the calendar for the judicial officer.  Schedules trials and other court proceedings, unless done by a calendar control clerk and in cooperation with the clerk of court, and informs parties of the same.
• Provides secretarial and clerical support to the judicial officer by preparing, transcribing and proofreading all correspondence, findings, orders, jury instructions, memorandums or other materials.
• Performs a variety of clerical and administrative tasks that may include answering phones, maintaining and purchasing office supplies, maintaining law library, arranging appointments and travel reservations, scheduling and notifying parties of meetings and proceedings, performing related scheduling functions, maintaining continuing education records, and preparing expense vouchers.
• Accurately records court and jury trial proceedings.  Responsibility also requires taking court notes during hearings to identify appearances and to note significant events during the hearing and to locate and present prior testimony.  Requires travel to other counties within and outside of the district for court proceedings assigned to the district judge or referee.
• Performs clerking duties in courtroom, administers oaths, marks documents, maintains logs and other forms and transfers storage devices, files and records to the clerk of district court for reference.

Minimum Qualifications & Certification or Licensing Requirements

Requires a bachelor's degree and two years of paralegal or legal assistant experience that includes experience with court rules and procedures, legal documents, laws and legal factors pertaining to the courts.

or

Associate degree and four years of paralegal or legal assistant experience that includes experience with court rules and procedures, legal documents, laws and legal factors pertaining to the courts.

Valid driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility.

Requires AAERT (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers) CER (certified electronic court reporter) certification or ability to obtain within one year of job entry.  A comparable certification by another state court or federal court may be substituted for the AAERT certification.

Knowledge, Skill, & Physical Requirements

Knowledge Requirements:

• Considerable knowledge of court rules and procedures, legal documents, laws and legal factors pertaining to the courts.
• Extensive knowledge of legal terminology.
• Knowledge of office systems, procedures and equipment.
• Knowledge of electronic recording equipment.
• Knowledge of word processing and internet software.

• Ability to communicate at all levels both orally and in writing.
• Ability to relate professionally with judges, court administrators, staff, representatives of other agencies, attorneys and the public.
• Ability to proficiently use related software programs.
• Skilled in the use of word processing and internet applications.
• Proofreading and editorial skills.