Circuit Court Of Jackson County, Missouri
	Vacant Position
	Date: 07/01/2020 Posting No.: 2020107

Salary Range For Internal/Rehire Applicants: $1,951.20 - $2926.40 Bi-weekly

EXTERNAL APPLICANTS CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW; INTERNAL APPLICANTS GO TO EPICOR ESS (The internal application for promotion/transfer may be obtained on the HR ICON on Lotus Notes) Employment Specialist: Mark Wienke. Applicants for clerical positions which require skill testing must be tested for consideration. ALL CURRENT EMPLOYEES APPLYING FOR THESE POSITIONS MUST SUBMIT AN INTERNAL APPLICATION FORM TO HUMAN RESOURCES.

To serve as guardian ad litem for juveniles in cases filed by the Juvenile Officer, pursuant to state statutes.
55% - Serve as guardian ad litem for juveniles in all phases of litigation, which include court appearances for protective custody hearings, pre-trial hearings, trials, dispositional hearings, arraignments, adoption hearings, paternity and guardianship hearings as necessary, drug court staffings, status hearings and appellate advocacy.

• Serve as guardian ad litem for juveniles in court cases and recommend, seek and achieve an appropriate disposition to meet the juveniles’ needs and best interests.
• Follow-up with partner agencies to monitor juveniles well-being, child’s participation in services, and parent’s participation in services, etc.
• Visit juveniles outside the courthouse, including in their placements, at school and other locations.
• Participate in staffings to select adoptive resources.

• Consult with and interview involved parties such as attorneys, victims, law enforcement personnel, court staff, social service personnel and medical and mental health professionals and witnesses.
• Study case history files and gather and examine other relevant documents and information.
• Review all evidence and conduct research of statutory and case law as applicable to individual cases.
• Determine and isolate critical facts and relevant law and formulate effective legal theories, strategies, arguments and testimony on which to present case.
• Plan the use of witnesses, which may include expert witnesses.
• Request investigations of significant occurrences or individuals involved with juveniles.
• Interview juveniles as to placement and services.
• Operate computer to access information pertaining to status of cases.
• Maintain and increase knowledge and skill of juvenile law by reviewing trends and case law on a state and federal level and by attending educational seminars and conferences.
• Attend meetings, training and seminars.
• Perform related work as required to include, but not limited to, serve on teams/committees as assigned, cross-training for other jobs as assigned, and special projects as assigned.

• Compose legal briefs, appeals from termination of parental rights, dispositions, adoptions and various other legal documents which must be legally sufficient.
• Prepare other legal documents which must be legally sufficient.
• Handle requests for information related to juvenile cases by reviewing file and obtaining court order to release information, as deemed necessary.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

EDUCATION: Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.

EXPERIENCE: Some family law or domestic law trial/litigation experience would be beneficial.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess and maintain valid license to practice law by the Supreme Court of the State of Missouri, with membership in good standing in the Missouri Bar.
• Must have or be able acquire 8 hours of continuing legal education devoted to guardian ad litem training, within 60 days of hire and annually acquire 3 hours of continuing legal education devoted to guardian ad litem training.
• Must be able to provide proof of the above.
• Must submit to and pass criminal background check as prescribed by Courts, Sex Offender Registry check, and MO and KS Child Abuse and Neglect checks.
• All applicants for this position are subject to testing for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Employees in this position are subject to random and reasonable suspicion testing for illegal drug use.

• Knowledge of modern principles, practices, methods and techniques of law.
• Knowledge of general law, state law, and sources of established precedent of legal reference as required by assigned duties.
• Knowledge of legal and judicial systems.
• Knowledge of the practice and procedure in state trial and appellate courts.
• Knowledge of the rules of evidence.
• Knowledge and strict observance of ethics and professional responsibility incumbent upon lawyers.
• Knowledge of child development beneficial.
• Knowledge of and ability to work with a diverse workforce.
• Ability to communicate effectively, clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to speak publicly in court in an effective manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to apply legal principles and specialized knowledge to individual cases and problems.
• Ability to analyze, appraise and organize facts, evidence and precedents concerned in work assignments and to prepare written recommendations and/or opinions.
• Ability to prepare for hearings and trials.
• Ability to make sound decisions in accordance with laws, regulations and policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain a variety of complex records and prepare reports from such records.
• Ability to operate a personal computer.
• Ability to relate in a positive fashion to individuals from a variety of cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate with children and/or youth.

• OFFICE ENVIRONMENT: Employees are protected from weather conditions or contaminants, but occasional temperature changes may occur.
• STANDING - 20% of time – Required when attending court and in accessing other buildings to gather case information or when delivering or retrieving information, files, etc., from within the office.
• WALKING - 20% of time – Required when attending court and in accessing other buildings to gather case information or when delivering or retrieving information, files, etc., from within the office.
• SITTING - 50% of time – Required when completing personal computer and telephone work assignments.
• DRIVING – 10% of the time – Required when going to outside court hearings, visit clients or attend meetings or training.
• LIFTING/CARRYING - 10 lbs. – Required when lifting files or office supplies.
• PUSHING/PULLING - 10 lbs. – Required when moving file boxes and office supplies; and when opening and closing file cabinet drawers and doors.
• VISION – Must be adequate to use personal computer for the completion of legal briefs and memoranda for cases, and to read case files, medical records and reports from service providers.
• HEARING – Must be adequate for normal conversation with employees and the general public or communicating via telephone.
• SPEECH – Must be able to speak and understand English clearly to provide detailed information by telephone and in person.
• CLIMBING/BALANCING – Required when negotiating stairs, or retrieving files or supplies from overhead or from the floor.
• STOOPING/KNEELING/CROUCHING/CRAWLING – Required when retrieving or filing from lower drawers or when retrieving items, office supplies, etc., from the floor.
• REACHING/HANDLING – Required on most tasks.