Job Description

Under the supervision of the Assistant Friend of the Court for Operations, provides clerical and case management support for the Friend of the Court. Performs caseflow management functions in substantive and procedural compliance with the Michigan Court Rules. Drafts and prepares court orders and other legal documents, types correspondence and reports, and provides a variety of other clerical and customer support.
This position is a full time, benefitted position working Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
This position will work out of the newly built Family Justice Center located at 12220 Fillmore Street, West Olive, MI 49460 once the building opens in summer 2024.
Until the Family Justice Center opens, the position will work out of the Grand Haven Courthouse located at 414 Washington Ave. Grand Haven, MI 49417.

Essential Job Functions

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Schedules motion hearings to set support, review support, suspend support, and withdraw petitions.
• Prepares show cause orders; schedules hearings and prepares notices to appear; and prepares proofs of service and serves notices to appropriate parties and attorneys by mail.
• Prepares support orders, amended support orders, confinement and medical orders, custody orders, parenting time orders, orders for De Novo hearings for the setting of support and/or parenting time, orders granting change of domicile, orders on motions to construe, and other orders issued by the judge or attorney/referee at the conclusion of hearings.
• Prepares 21-day orders establishing and/or modifying support and 21-day orders suspending support; prepares notices to parties of objection period; and prepares certificates of mailing for notice purposes.
• Prepares and serves subpoenas requested by investigators.
• Ensures that all motions and orders are filed with the County Clerk.
• Dispositions hearings in MiCSES system upon conclusion of hearings and issuance of orders.
• Schedules formal and informal hearings and other adjudicatory proceedings on judges' and attorney/referees' dockets; and prepares proofs of service and serves notices to attorneys/ parties by mail.
• Maintains investigators' calendars related to the scheduling of hearings.
• Reviews recommendations drafted by Referees in Friend of the Court matters for accuracy and completeness and obtains the Friend of the Court and Judge's signature for order entry.
• Collects and compiles a variety of data to track hearings for nonpayment of support, stipulations, support reviews and other matters necessary to prepare annual reports for the SCAO and the annual report to the County.
• May perform caseflow management specifically related to pending child custody motions where the Court has ordered a custody assessment to be completed by the Friend of the Court office.
• May coordinate criminal and Child Protective Services records searches for child custody investigations.
• May coordinate mental health records searches, including ensuring that properly signed permissions to release information are obtained and that all searches and uses of information comply with HIPAA requirements.
• May perform other functions as necessary to ensure proper caseflow and timely adjudication of FOC cases.

Required Education, Training and Experience

Associate's degree from an accredited institution in paralegal studies, court administration, business information systems, legal secretarial or other relevant field, and two (2) years experience in a legal practice or court office position; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Requirements and Information

Required Knowledge and Skills:
1. Excellent customer service skills.
2. Basic knowledge of the Michigan Court Rules and State Court Administrative Office rules, regulations and requirements.
3. Basic knowledge of Michigan Office of Child Support rules, regulations and requirements.
4. Computer literacy, including working knowledge of spreadsheet, database, accounting and MiCSES applications software.
5. Fast and accurate keyboarding skills.
6. Working knowledge of privacy requirements related to court records.
7. Knowledge of document imaging protocols and equipment operation.
8. Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize the workload.
9. Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
10. Excellent interpersonal and human relations skills.
11. Ability to interact positively and objectively with coworkers, officers of the court, clients, prosecutors, attorneys, and members of the general public from a wide range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and with varying levels of communications skills.
Note: Ability to communicate in Spanish, Lao, Cambodian or other language spoken by one or more ethnic groups residing in the county preferred.
Physical Requirements:
Must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations, including, but not limited to, visual and/or audiological appliances and devices to increase mobility.
Working Conditions:
Work is generally performed in a normal office environment.
Ottawa County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Description

Under the supervision of the Assistant Friend of the Court for Operations, provides clerical and case management support for the Friend of the Court. Performs caseflow management functions in substantive and procedural compliance with the Michigan Court Rules. Drafts and prepares court orders and other legal documents, types correspondence and reports, and provides a variety of other clerical and customer support.
This position is a full time, benefitted position working Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
This position will work out of the newly built Family Justice Center located at 12220 Fillmore Street, West Olive, MI 49460 once the building opens in summer 2024.
Until the Family Justice Center opens, the position will work out of the Grand Haven Courthouse located at 414 Washington Ave. Grand Haven, MI 49417.

Essential Job Functions

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Schedules motion hearings to set support, review support, suspend support, and withdraw petitions.
• Prepares show cause orders; schedules hearings and prepares notices to appear; and prepares proofs of service and serves notices to appropriate parties and attorneys by mail.
• Prepares support orders, amended support orders, confinement and medical orders, custody orders, parenting time orders, orders for De Novo hearings for the setting of support and/or parenting time, orders granting change of domicile, orders on motions to construe, and other orders issued by the judge or attorney/referee at the conclusion of hearings.
• Prepares 21-day orders establishing and/or modifying support and 21-day orders suspending support; prepares notices to parties of objection period; and prepares certificates of mailing for notice purposes.
• Prepares and serves subpoenas requested by investigators.
• Ensures that all motions and orders are filed with the County Clerk.
• Dispositions hearings in MiCSES system upon conclusion of hearings and issuance of orders.
• Schedules formal and informal hearings and other adjudicatory proceedings on judges' and attorney/referees' dockets; and prepares proofs of service and serves notices to attorneys/ parties by mail.
• Maintains investigators' calendars related to the scheduling of hearings.
• Reviews recommendations drafted by Referees in Friend of the Court matters for accuracy and completeness and obtains the Friend of the Court and Judge's signature for order entry.
• Collects and compiles a variety of data to track hearings for nonpayment of support, stipulations, support reviews and other matters necessary to prepare annual reports for the SCAO and the annual report to the County.
• May perform caseflow management specifically related to pending child custody motions where the Court has ordered a custody assessment to be completed by the Friend of the Court office.
• May coordinate criminal and Child Protective Services records searches for child custody investigations.
• May coordinate mental health records searches, including ensuring that properly signed permissions to release information are obtained and that all searches and uses of information comply with HIPAA requirements.
• May perform other functions as necessary to ensure proper caseflow and timely adjudication of FOC cases.

Required Education, Training and Experience

Associate's degree from an accredited institution in paralegal studies, court administration, business information systems, legal secretarial or other relevant field, and two (2) years experience in a legal practice or court office position; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Requirements and Information

Required Knowledge and Skills:
1. Excellent customer service skills.
2. Basic knowledge of the Michigan Court Rules and State Court Administrative Office rules, regulations and requirements.
3. Basic knowledge of Michigan Office of Child Support rules, regulations and requirements.
4. Computer literacy, including working knowledge of spreadsheet, database, accounting and MiCSES applications software.
5. Fast and accurate keyboarding skills.
6. Working knowledge of privacy requirements related to court records.
7. Knowledge of document imaging protocols and equipment operation.
8. Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize the workload.
9. Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
10. Excellent interpersonal and human relations skills.
11. Ability to interact positively and objectively with coworkers, officers of the court, clients, prosecutors, attorneys, and members of the general public from a wide range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and with varying levels of communications skills.
Note: Ability to communicate in Spanish, Lao, Cambodian or other language spoken by one or more ethnic groups residing in the county preferred.
Physical Requirements:
Must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations, including, but not limited to, visual and/or audiological appliances and devices to increase mobility.
Working Conditions:
Work is generally performed in a normal office environment.
Ottawa County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

This position is benefited and is in the Friend of the Court bargaining unit.
Ottawa County offers a wide range of benefits to support you in your career. View the Benefits Summary for more information.
The current Friend of the Court collective bargaining agreement can be viewed here. The pay scale can be found here.
**Part-time benefitted positions will recieve prorated benefits.