Court Services Officer Trainee, Civil

About the Role

The New Jersey Judiciary is seeking an individual for a Court Services Officer Trainee - Civil position. This role offers on-the-job training in case management procedures and involves assisting with case management, scheduling, trial preparation functions, and other related duties. Appointees who successfully complete the twelve-month training period will be eligible for advancement to the Court Services Officer 1 title. The salary range is $50,776.88 to $80,037.83 for Schedule A, and $50,776.88 to $76,035.93 for Schedule B. For newly hired individuals, the starting salary will normally be at the minimum of the salary range. The Judiciary currently offers a hybrid work schedule, and this position may qualify for up to 2 days of remote work outside of Judiciary buildings, provided high speed home internet access is available.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage cases from docketing through disposition.
• Analyze, monitor, and process cases in accordance with court rules and established practices.
• Work with judges and team leaders to set priorities.
• Create and maintain credible trial calendars.
• Organize work to ensure efficiency.
• Screen cases for possible referral to a complementary dispute resolution program.
• View cases to determine discovery and/or case management needs.
• Monitor cases to ensure compliance with discovery deadlines and case management orders.
• Respond to inquiries from judges, attorneys, and other interested parties regarding procedures and/or the status of a case.
• Conduct pre-court conferences.
• Track active backlog cases and case statistics.
• Assist with court technology needs.
• Provide exceptional customer service to a broad range of diverse court users.
• Prepare reports.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.
• High speed home internet access (if qualifying for remote work).
• Driver's license valid in New Jersey (only if operation of a vehicle is necessary for essential duties).

Qualifications

• Substitution for Education:
• Current New Jersey Judiciary employees without a bachelor's degree may substitute:
• Additional paraprofessional and/or professional experience in case management involving gathering and analyzing case-related information, which includes exercising judgment and discretion, and one or more of the following: reviewing cases to identify case management and discovery needs, coordinating with judges and attorneys to resolve case issues, and/or preparing reports of findings and recommendations. This experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis with one year of such experience equal to 30 semester hour credits.
• An associate's degree and two years of additional paraprofessional or professional experience as described above.
• Applicants who are approaching their anticipated graduation date may apply, but must complete their degree no later than their start date.
• Degrees conferred outside of the United States must be evaluated by a recognized evaluation service (see www.naces.org/members.html).
• Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
• Selected candidate must be authorized to work in the US according to Department of Homeland Security, US Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations.
• Newly hired employees must agree to a thorough background check that will include fingerprinting.
• In accordance with N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70), the "New Jersey First Act," all persons newly hired by the Judiciary within one year must establish, and then maintain, principal residence in the State of New Jersey. Any person may request an exemption from that requirement from the Employee Residency Review Committee in the Department of Labor & Workforce Development on the basis of either hardship or employer critical need.