Municipal Court Clerk

JOB DESCRIPTION

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description. 

Municipal Court Clerk

JOB SUMMARY

The purpose of this position is to provide clerical support to the Municipal Court, including receiving/indexing/recording court case information and/or legal documents; entering and updating data into databases; and providing copies of official court and/or legal documents to the public, courts, litigants, attorneys and other appropriate parties. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates collection, receipt, and refunds of payments of fees, fines, bonds, or other fees/services: calculates appropriate fees, records transactions, and issues receipts; prepares bank deposits and forwards as appropriate; completes daily financial reports; checks information for accuracy; posts and amends payments and dispositions in computer database; forwards refund requests to Finance Department; distribute refund checks as requested; document and file as appropriate.
• Processes various court-related documentation; assists in preparing, receiving, and processing subpoenas, court judgments, hearings, continuances, etc.; enters information pertaining to the same into computer database; receives and date stamps court related and/or legal documents such as citation reports, traffic tickets, and docket reports; reviews, verifies, records and files required information. 
• Enters citations, tickets, disposition of cases, and other information into department databases; updates database information; creates new spreadsheets/files; purges old data as appropriate; makes copies and distributes to appropriate parties; maintains copies in department manual files.
• Maintains departmental file system: compiles documentation; prepares and sets up files, sorts/organizes documents, and files documents in designated order; retrieves/replaces files; shreds/destroys confidential or obsolete documents; conducts records maintenance activities in compliance with guidelines governing record retention.
• Performs customer service functions: provides information/assistance regarding court proceedings, procedures, documentation, fees, case status/disposition, or other issues; distributes forms and documentation; responds to routine questions or complaints; researches problems/complaints and initiates problem resolution; performs basic notary public duties once certified.
• Operates database to retrieve/update criminal information and motor vehicle/license records: enters, removes, confirms, modifies, and/or updates entries and data as needed; enters and runs inquiries on data such as driver’s license records, criminal histories, or warrants; maintains records of validations; ensures integrity/security of data and adherence to requirements.
• Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, billing statements, statistical reports, financial reports, court dockets, subpoenas list, or other documents.
• Separates tickets and puts on transmittal to DMV. 
• Keeps up with law and ordinance changes.
• Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, invoices, time sheets, motions, warrants, court orders, blood alcohol test results, guidelines, laws, ordinances, policies, procedures, manuals, directories, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
• Communicates with supervisors, employees, other departments, City officials, Judges, lawyers, defendants, bonding agencies, law enforcement personnel, court personnel, the public, outside agencies, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.
• Maintains confidentiality of departmental documentation and issues.
• Operates a personal computer, general office equipment, or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, to include the use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, or other system software.
• Process and maintains expungements in a timely manner. Mails expungements off to sled, DMV, and forward to records. Files all expungements. Ensure all expungements are certified.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS

• Performs general/clerical tasks, which may include answering telephone calls, typing documents, making copies, sending/receiving faxes, filing documentation, or processing incoming/outgoing mail.
• Provides assistance to other employees or departments as needed.
• Performs other related duties as required, requested, or assigned. 

Education and Experience:

High school diploma or GED; supplemented by one (1) year previous experience and/or training that includes court procedures, legal office work, basic bookkeeping, record management, or related field.

Licenses or Certifications:

Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.      

Special Requirements: 

None. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of cash processing procedures.
• Knowledge of court and office equipment, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of customer service principles.
• Skill in gathering information before taking action.
• Skill in making decisions.
• Skill in analyzing situations.
• Skill in giving advice.
• Skill in performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; calculating decimals, percentages, and fractions; and interpreting graphs.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships.
• Ability to pay attention to details.
• Ability to build rapport.
• Ability to listen.
• Ability to quickly learn new technology.
• Ability to follow established procedures.
• Ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data
• Ability to provide guidance, assistance, and/or interpretation to others regarding the application of procedures and standards to specific situations.
• Ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
• Ability to utilize a wide variety of reference and descriptive data and information.
• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagrammatic form.  
• Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving a variety of generally pre-defined duties which are often characterized by frequent change.
• Ability to translate another language from/to English, when applicable.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is sedentary work. The employee is occasionally required to exert up to 10 pounds of force to move objects. Additionally requires: hearing voices and distinguishing among sounds, mental acuity, speaking, expressing ideas by the spoken word, and visual acuity in data/color.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed indoors where essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions. Work is performed in a safe and secure work environment that may periodically have unpredicted requirements or demands. 

The City of Myrtle Beach has the right to revise this job description at any time. This 

 description does not represent in any way a contract of employment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Myrtle Beach commits to a policy of equal employment opportunity for applicants and employees, complying with local, state and federal laws. The City’s policy is to employ qualified persons without discrimination on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, political affiliation, veteran’s status, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, to include transgender status, disability or status in any other group protected by federal/state/local law.