Court Clerk Trainee - Office of Judicial Records, Criminal Division

  • Full-time
  • Minimum Education Required: High School/GED

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

  • Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
  • Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
  • Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
  • Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (“FJD”) is the Philadelphia County Court System and is composed of two courts:  the Court of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court.  The mission of the FJD is to adjudicate cases and provide services to the community within our jurisdiction while ensuring fair, timely, and accessible justice to the people of Philadelphia.  The FJD is part of the Unified Judicial System reporting in to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Job Description

This is entry level clerical work recording, processing, and expediting a variety of legal records, documents, and forms used in Municipal Court and Common Pleas Court. Employees in this class learn the process of preparing the daily trial list via electronic records and paperwork to enhance the scheduled court proceedings as well as accessing electronic information from CPCMS and CDMS related to court case management. Contact with members of the judiciary, attorneys, parties involved in court proceedings, and representatives of related agencies is a significant aspect of the work. Work is performed under the supervision of a Court Clerk II and Court Services Manager.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

Essential Functions

The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned:

  • Reviews court records scheduled for hearings or trials for the presence of pertinent legal records and documents, including previous appeals, rulings, and notes of testimony; accesses the Common Pleas Case Management System (CPCMS) and the Criminal Document Management System (CDMS) to review the case file; generates trial sheets and distributes them to designated officials within the courtrooms.
  • Records a complete and accurate narrative in CPCMS of all orders, rulings, and decisions for every matter before the Court, including continuance requests, bail petitions, pretrial motions, jury voir dire, trial dispositions, post-verdict motions, sentencings, post-sentence motions.  
  • Processes a variety of forms through CPCMS to implement the court’s rulings pertaining to commitments, discharges, bail, bond transfer, psychiatric examinations, presence of prisoners, appearances in court, payment of fines and/or costs, bench warrants and any other order of the court. Assures that the appropriate forms are generated, electronically signed, and automatically stored in CPCMS or scanned into CDMS and electronically notifies or distributes the documents to the appropriate justice partners to execute the Court’s Orders. 
  • Answers inquiries from court officials as to documents and information contained within case files through both CPCMS and CDMS; informs the judge of any new procedures that may impact the implementation of the court’s order; assures judge's signature is present on appropriate orders and documents.
  • Contacts representatives from other justice agencies to obtain pertinent information not contained in the file for specific cases.
  • Performs related clerical work as required within the Office of Judicial Records including, but not limited to scanning documents into CDMS, filing old court records and responding to court related inquiries, in person, by telephone and via email.
  • Performs related work as required.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Knowledge of general clerical processes and procedures.
  • Knowledge of legal methods and procedures.
  • Knowledge of legal terminology.
  • Knowledge of the English language and spelling.
  • Ability to learn Common Pleas Case Management System and Criminal Document Management System.
  • Ability to learn the operations and procedures of Municipal Court and Common Pleas Court.
  • Ability to prepare and process a substantial variety of legal documents.
  • Ability to enter and retrieve data from computerized systems.
  • Ability to maintain records and prepare reports.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with judicial authorities, lawyers, associates, and the general public.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

Standard courtroom and office conditions

Direct contact with diverse court clientele

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

Qualifications

  1. High school diploma or equivalent.
  2. Three (3) years of clerical experience.

OR

  1. Any equivalent combination of experience and training determined to be acceptable by the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania.
  2. Successful completion of a criminal background investigation.
  3. Ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
  4. Covid-19 vaccination recommended.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

Additional Information

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

Salary Range: $42,803 - $46,754 (W12)

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

  • Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
  • Parental Benefits: The First Judicial District of PA offers 4 weeks of paid parental leave.
  • The First Judicial District of PA does not have a residency requirement.
  • We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
  • Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
  • Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
  • Generous retirement savings options are available
  • Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
  • Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that  are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx