Tribal Court - Law Clerk

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the general direction of the Chief Judge, this position is responsible for the following: 1) confer with judges; 2) legal research and writing; 3) schedule and participate in meetings: 4) act as mediator; 5) work with court staff on internal projects; 6) maintain the Tribal Court Bar; and 7) supervise judicial externs.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Education and/or Experience

Law degree (Juris Doctorate) from an accredited Law School. Intermediate to Expert experience and knowledge using word processing and Westlaw.

Language Skills

Employee must demonstrate the ability to interact tactfully and positively with Tribal members, all levels of staff and management. Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality. Ability to read, analyze and interpret common professional journals, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from staff and regulatory agencies. Ability to write reports and business correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions. Ability to effectively present information to management, employees and groups of people. Ability to advocate on behalf of the tribe in a variety of settings.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Licenses or Certificates

Must be an active member of a state bar association, or be willing to take the Washington State Bar exam if necessary.

Must have or be willing to obtain a valid Washington State driver’s license.

Must pass background check.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear.

The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Work is performed in an office setting.

The Puyallup Tribe of Indians reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

INDIAN PREFERENCE EMPLOYER AS REQUIRED BY LAW

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Confers with the Chief Judge, the Associate Judges, and the Pro Tempore Judges on pending cases.

Research complex legal issues with analysis informing judges of findings and conclusions.

Draft orders for judges in pending cases.

Draft court rules and distribute these to members of the Tribal Court Bar.

Draft court forms and instructional guides for public use.

Attend and participate in meetings with judges, in addition to scheduling, creating agenda, and taking minutes.

Act as mediator in pending cases and report results to parties and presiding judges.

Work with court staff on pending internal projects such as drafting standard operating procedures, record keeping audits, and gathering data.

Work with Chief Judge and Court Administration in preparing quarterly and annual reports.

Work with Court Administration to maintain public access to important Court decisions and Appellate Court opinions.

Act as backup to the Court Clerk’s Office when needed.

Maintain Tribal Court Bar by vetting new applicants, scheduling oaths, assigning bar numbers, and drafting and distributing signed oaths and certificates.

Establish professional relationships with local law schools coordinating a judicial extern program that meets those schools’ requirements.

Supervise and work with judicial externs providing support, direction, and feedback on assignments from judges.

Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Supervise the judicial extern program, including but not limited to, organizing judicial extern work responsibilities, providing judicial externs with support, direction, and feedback on assignments, and facilitating opportunities for the judicial externs to experience all aspects of the judicial system at the Puyallup Tribe.

2. Work with the judicial externs and their law schools to ensure all necessary paperwork is received from and provided to these law schools.

Based on Salary Matrix+Benefits