16th Judicial Circuit
Job Description
Job Title: Court Program Specialist II (KW Family)
Department: Court Case Management
Reports To: Director of Case Management
FLSA Status: Included
Prepared By: Victoria Duponty
Prepared Date: 01/11/2023
Approved By: Holly Elomina
Amended Date: 01/11/2023
SUMMARY
The position of Court Program Specialist has multiple duties and responsibilities. The essential function of the position within the organization is to assist judges and
magistrates with the timely disposition of cases through case management, case monitoring, and program implementation. The position is responsible for providing
information to litigants and trial court staff; reviewing filings; managing and preparing cases for court hearings; briefing judges; attending hearings and other trial court
proceedings; maintaining record/filing system; scheduling hearings; and performing related administrative support functions. This position will provide coverage for
other family court personnel located in Plantation Key and Marathon when needed. This position also provides assistance to Pro Se litigants filing cases and
pleadings in Family Court. The person assigned to this position should have knowledge of circuit civil rules and procedures. This position is cross-trained in civil,
probate and mental health to assist when necessary.
This position requires sensitivity to family related issues, considerable attention to detail, administrative and clerical skills and strong communication skills. Good
judgment and knowledge of court processes and filing procedures are essential. Due to the range of emotions and frustrations generally associated with family law matters,
this work may involve stressful situations. This position requires independent judgment and the consistent ability to follow the limitation of service guidelines so that the
unlicensed practice of law is not performed.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude
them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
- Serves as point of contact for the public seeking to represent themselves in Family Court cases;
- Provides direction to self-help represented litigants on where to obtain the appropriate legal pleading forms;
- Reviews completed forms and notarizes pleadings to ensure they are in proper order;
- Assists Family Court Judge by responding to direct inquiries from litigants;
- Reviews case files and pleadings for sufficiency and compliance with Florida Family Laws of Procedure and local court rules; monitors and tracks cases; and provides
follow-up on cases requiring activity by a certain date; - Monitors and determines case status and schedules hearings; determines whether to set a case management conference or appropriate hearing, or proceeds without
a hearing and prepares appropriate court order, notice or correspondence. - Manages and prepares cases for court hearings by preparing historical summations, tabbing prior hearings, calculating child support guidelines, and provide corresponding
cases and other documentation pertinent to the case and/or litigants. - Prepares and maintains court dockets, attends court hearings, takes notes, composing and preparing appropriate orders based on rulings, and provides information to
the Court as needed; - Generates mediation referrals.
- Maintains daily, monthly statistics regarding volume and types of cases handled by the program;
- Makes copies, addresses envelopes and distributes correspondence and court orders, judgments and reports as necessary;
- Obtains payment histories for child support cases for the court as required;
- Prepares child support guidelines calculations as necessary;
- Provide appropriate referral information to community-based services as unrepresented litigants may require;
- Attends conferences and/or seminars to improve professional skills;
- Performs all other duties as assigned and articulated by the Director of Case Management.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
NONE
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge,
skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s Degree in public administration, business administration, criminal justice, psychology, or a closely related filed and one to two years related experience and/or
training is preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Knowledge of court procedures is preferred.
Ability to handle matters with the professional manner required of court employees. Ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing, with very good spelling and
writing. Ability to handle emotionally upset, distressed, and demanding individuals with courtesy and patience. Good listening skills. Ability to concentrate and perform job
duties in a stressful working environment. Ability to use a personal computer and navigate common software programs.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports,
business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and
the general public.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to calculate figures using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. May compute ratios, rates and percentages.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions
furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Notary Public or have the ability to become a Notary Public within three months.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to
walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.