Court Clerk II-Customer Service Specialist

Announcement #

2025-253

Issue Date:

08-21-25

Closing Date:

08-27-25

Court Clerk II-Customer Service Specialist

Tribal Court

Department of Justice Services

Hourly Wage: $20.10/Regular/Full-Time

This is a specialized Tribal Court Clerk position that emphasizes offering exceptional customer service for all persons coming before the Courts. The Clerk II will maintain a primary workstation at the front window and will be the primary, initial point of contact for all in-person court clerk communications and business. Clerk will not receive regular court session assignments. This position involves an experienced Clerk who has a high degree of customer service skills and can explain and respond to frequently asked questions such as court timelines and minimal court filing requirements in a competent, respectful, and professional manner. The Clerk II position will take a primary role in assessing and sharing with court patrons the proper court forms for their case(s) upon inquiry and will direct them to appropriate programs for other services as needed. The Clerk will provide clerical-legal support to the Criminal, Civil, Children's, and Appeals Courts as assigned by the Court Administrator.

The Clerk is an Officer of the Yakama Nation Courts, and their primary authorities and responsibilities are derived from the Revised Yakama Code (RYC). The Clerk's Office mission is to provide an exemplary level of service and responsiveness to all who do business with the Tribal Courts. The goal is to ensure that accurate and accessible records are kept and to create and sustain a customer-oriented quality service that provides access to the Court and promotes public confidence in the justice system.

Examples of Work Performed:

Receives, file stamps, and initials all incoming legal documents and keeps meticulous log summaries of case activities. Ongoing research and communication with other Court staff will be critical in ensuring that duplicative files/case numbers are not created in error for existing cases.

Maintains an updated daily docket to ensure proper information is relayed upon inquiry. This may include docket meetings and inserting notes on the official docket whether notice was properly delivered or not.

Assists the courts in the drafting of Complaints, Subpoenas, Warrants, and other documents necessary to the functions of the courts.

Primary case assignments will be for Traffic and Appeals cases.

Responsible for handling all new/incoming legal documents that are regularly filed before the Courts. Will prepare all new case files for incoming civil matters prior to regular Clerk case assignments. Using the CMS and Court Clerk Manual, assigns an appropriate case number for new civil petitions and complaints.

Monitors and/or schedules incoming civil emergency motions and distributes emergency Court Orders.

Will be the primary or secondary Clerk phone point of contact based upon the schedule.

Monitors the electronic case management system (EMS) routinely to ensure that all new incoming civil cases are scheduled for hearing in a timely manner. Will communicate with assigned Clerks and Court Administrator to ensure proper scheduling. Will also properly close cases in the EMS when detailed by the Court Administrator and Chief Judge to do so.

On a daily basis, will create, manage, update, organize and ensure proper flow of case files in both hard copy and electronic form for case management as new petitions, complaints and legal documents are filed with the courts.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of the Revised Yakama Code is required. Must be able to learn legal terminology, court processes/procedures and to appropriately communicate these processes/procedures to the relevant staff and the general public.

Ability to routinely assess and determine the needs of court patrons, using a strong interview approach. The use of a decision tree/flow chart in this assessment will ensure that all persons are receiving consistent, reliable assistance.

Will work with the Court Administrator and JSA to develop and update an Interview Guide and Decision Tree/Flow Chart to assist and guide quality customer service.

Ability to work under stressful conditions and demonstrate good morals and temperate habits.

The ability to compose grammatically correct legal documents and receive verbal/written instructions necessary to prepare legal documents with a high degree of accuracy.

Ability to stand and/or sit for long period of time.

Ability to effectively communicate, assist, and instruct Court users how to fill out court forms and provide a brief description of expected timelines and processes without giving legal advice.

Ability to learn and apply requirements of the Revised Yakama Code, the Court Clerk Manual, and the Clerk Code of Ethics.

Ability to operate office equipment and software such as Electronic Case Management System, computers, telephone,

fax, scanner, audio-recording system, typewriter, Webex, iSolved, copy machine and other digital equipment that Court

may introduce.

Skills to multi-task numerous projects-assignments and maintain a good record-keeping filing system that provides for the protection and easy retrieval of all case records.

Must be adequately trained and proficient in the Automated Court Case Management System (or ability to learn). Must have expert computer skills and ability to perform all tasks with a high degree of accuracy in Word, Excel, and other Tribal Court digital databases.

Must maintain a neutral, courteous, professional, and friendly judicial forum to the people and programs at all times.

The Clerks are required to have excellent customer service skills that include telephone etiquette, returning phone calls and emails within a 24-hour period.

Must have excellent listening skills to determine what type of services or legal forms to offer Court users.

Minimum Requirements:

Associates Degree in Criminal Justice or related field.

Three years of work experience as a Court Clerk, Legal Assistant, Paralegal in a legal office setting.

Must be 21 years of age and of good moral character and never been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor within one year to appointment.

Must be able to receive Court Clerk Certification at next available testing date and remain in good standing. Ongoing re-certification will be required.

Maintain Confidentiality

Good attendance and strong work ethic/habits is required. Depending on court schedules, approval for attendance at General Council may be limited.

Ability to become and maintain requirements of a Notary Public. May be required to become bonded.

Required to pass a pre-employment background check.

Required to pass a pre-employment drug test.

Must possess a valid Washington State Driver's License with the ability to obtain a Yakama Nation Driving permit.

Preferred Requirements:

Enrolled Yakama Preference, but all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.