Chief Trial Court Law Clerk

VERMONT JUDICIAL BRANCH

CHIEF TRIAL COURT LAW CLERK

Court: Court Administrator's Office	Supervisor: Director, District Court Operations
Job Code: 91410J	Exempt/Non-exempt: Exempt
Pay Grade: 97	Union Eligible: N

PURPOSE:

This position is responsible for supervising the law clerks who provide law clerk services for the trial judges. In addition, this person performs all law clerk duties necessary to provide law clerk services for the presiding judge of the Washington County Superior Court and for other judges as needed.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Researches and analyzes general and specific legal issues, drafts memoranda of law, judicial opinions, court orders, and jury instructions as needed for judges.
Recruits, performs initial screening, arranges interviews and participates in annual law clerk hiring.
Designs, implements and/or arranges law clerk training programs, including new law clerk orientation, computer and word-processing training.
Monitors law clerks' work-load and production and re-assigns law clerks and or case-load as needed, including coverage for conflicts, vacations or other law clerk absence.
Monitors, evaluates and improves trial court law clerk program through the use of law clerk tracking sheets, and evaluations by judges. Monitors and evaluates law clerks' performance.
Coordinates the purchase and maintenance of legal research resources for all trial courts.
Supervises indexing of Vermont Supreme Court slip opinions.
Trains and monitors law clerks' indexing of these opinions.
Screens, compiles and indexes all trial court opinions submitted by law clerks and/or judges.
Researches and advises the Court Administrator, and the Administrative Judge for the Trial Courts regarding legal issues relating to trial court procedures.
Assists in the development of policies and goals of the Judicial Branch as they relate to law clerks.
Mediates in law clerk/judge relationships or law clerk/court staff conflict when necessary.
Supervises drafting and updating and assists in the continued implementation of the intranet benchbook.
Acts as librarian for intranet benchbook.
Serves on Rules or other committees as assigned.
Monitors trial court law clerk program budget and various grant budgets.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Performs related duties as required.

This job description provides the general nature and level of work performed by employees of this classification. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the responsibilities, duties and skills required of this classification.