Judicial Staff Attorney

LAKE COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT, GENERAL DIVISION

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Judicial Staff Attorney

REPORTS TO: Judge Jeffrey W. Ruple

STARTING SALARY: $85,000

BENEFIT: County Medical, Eye and Dental & OPERS

SUMMARY

This is an unclassified position that serves at the pleasure of the Court. This position is responsible for assisting Judge Jeffrey W. Ruple of the Court of Common Pleas General Division with the management of his civil and criminal dockets.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Reviewing and researching legal issues to formulate recommendations on the disposition of motions;
• Drafting legal opinions, findings of fact, and conclusions of law, among other legal memoranda;
• Responding to questions about the docket from interested parties;
• Scheduling case deadlines, conducting pre-trials, and mediating settlement conferences with attorneys and parties;
• Performing other related duties as required by the Judge.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by staff attorneys. They are not an exhaustive list of all duties. Other duties may be assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND ABILITITES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must demonstrate the following:

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with Judges, staff, Court employees, attorneys, litigants, outside agencies, and the general public;
• Proven analytical, legal research, and legal writing skills;
• Accuracy and attention to detail;
• Proficiency in the use of remote conferencing applications, e.g. Microsoft Office applications, as well as the ability to learn and work with custom software utilized by the Court;
• Ability to effectively manage a large case load and produce work product of exceptional quality in a timely fashion;
• Ability to complete assigned work without specific direction or instructions regarding manner of completion;
• Ability to analyze legal questions from different areas of the law and to formulate and present recommendations to the Judge;
• Strong negotiation skills in order to conduct pre-trials and other conferences with attorneys and civil parties to negotiate settlements and resolve legal issues;
• Ability to work independently without daily supervision and to organize and prioritize duties;
• Ability to work effectively and in a professional manner when confronted with tight deadlines;
• Effective time management skills, reliability, and punctuality;
• Ability to maintain and safeguard sensitive and confidential information;
• Familiarity with Court operations:
• Professional appearance and demeanor at all times.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and admission to the Ohio Bar required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position requires working in a normal Court environment with no unusual physical demands. Frequent contact occurs with the Judge and other employees of the Common Pleas Court, attorneys, litigants, deputies, other agencies, and the general public.

The normal hours of operation are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

APPLICATION RQUIREMENTS

Proof of education, bar admission, and writing samples will be required before interviews. The selected candidate must successfully complete an evaluation period. Applicants must submit a letter of interest and resume to:

Lake County Common Pleas Court

Judge Jeffrey W. Ruple

P.O. Box 490

Painesville, Ohio 44077

(e-mail: sarah.kooyman@lakecountyohio.gov)

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

License/Certification:

• Bar (Required)

Work Location: In person