This is legal clerical work that combines office tasks and responsibilities with a focus on the legal aspects for families involved with child welfare law.
An employee in this class is responsible for creating court documents, e-filing documents for signatures, adhering to time constraints of the court schedules, maintaining legal records, assisting the Agency attorneys and staff in preparing for court matters, serving court documents, coordinating the work flow with the legal case progression, arranging for witnesses and translators as necessary for court hearings and entering data into Agency data bases.
Work may include occasional oral or written contact with court officials, community agencies and school officials to gather additional information or clarify important points concerning a case, particularly in regards to truancy cases.
Employees either work independently with little supervision on very routine cases or under the guidance and supervision of an attorney or direct supervisor on more difficult and complex cases. Assignments are received from the team attorney or the direct supervisor.
- Gathers required information and prepares Shelter Care Petitions, Dependency Petitions, Kinship Extensions and Truancy documents
- Opens cases in the CPCMS data base and maintains complete and accurate court documentation
- Assists their Legal Team Attorneys in preparation for court proceedings
- Enters court outcomes into CAPS, the Agency’s client database
- Works in conjunction with School Personnel in regards to Truancy Petitions and Pre-Adjudicatory court documents
- Mailing Pre-Adjudicatory hearing notices to parents regarding upcoming truancy court proceedings
- Works in conjunction with County Court Administration to inform Agency staff of upcoming Protection from Abuse and Private Custody court hearings
- Serves Caseworkers and Supervisors with Court Orders
- Responsible for ensuring that court documents are submitted for signatures and then physically delivers the documents to the Clerk of Courts Office to be filed and docketed
- Works in conjunction with Court administration to obtain necessary signatures on court documents and physically transferring them between LCCYS and the County Courthouse
- Works in conjunction with the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals in preparation for Appeal hearings
- Prepares and assures documents are in accordance with prescribed guidelines; i.e. financial language
- Assists in all aspects of preparation and completion of case information sheets Prepares Court list from Petitions/Court Orders
- Enters and maintains master data base list into excel files
- Inform Attorneys' of upcoming Court dates and set deadlines for their proposed rough draft Court Orders
- Review Court Orders through file exploration and case information sheets
- Reviews, prepares Court documents for accuracy and compliance with state regulations in accordance with the Juvenile Act and Interstate Compact
- Review Court Orders for financial language assuring the Agency is reimbursed for Federal and State dollars
- Maintain and revise these prepared Court Orders for additional changes/and or additional information
- Prepare and distribute Court schedules and any other Court related materials to Court Officials Assists the Guardian Ad Litem with client and case information
- Works in conjunction with Attorneys' who represent clients in regards to question of Court schedules, types of Hearings, numbers of family members, etc.
- Adjusts Court Orders in conjunction with the Juvenile Court Master, Attorney's and ourselves to assure an accurate rough draft Court Order
- Retrieve signed Court Orders for review
- Edits and reviews Court Orders for completeness to meet the Agency Attorney's for review and additional additions then to Head Attorney for final authorization
- Log, copy and prepare finalized Court Orders for filing and time stamping by the Clerk of Courts Office. (Since the change in 2007, each child must have their own Court Order with a separate "MIN" number)
- Provide Court Orders to Agency Staff and any additional Attorneys' and case family/providers through mail
- This position is responsible for researching, typing and proofing of Court Orders resulting from Court Hearings held before the Judge and the Juvenile Court Master
- General office tasks such as filing, copying, scanning, sending emails, faxing, etc.
- Any and all other duties as required to support the legal aspects of case management
- Knowledge of business English.
- Ability to learn laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures used to govern regulatory programs.
- Ability to learn legal, enforcement, and regulatory procedures and practices.
- Ability to learn pertinent or precedent setting cases.
- Ability to review and analyze reports, recommendations, rulings, or decisions of field personnel to determine possible inconsistencies with the laws or regulations governing regulatory programs.
- Ability to apply pertinent laws, rules, and regulations.
- Ability to comprehend and interpret legal documents and to perform legal research.
- Ability to prepare case summaries including all pertinent information.
- Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
- Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and the general public.
RECRUITMENT METHODS: Applicants must meet one (or more) of the following method(s) to be considered for this vacancy:
- Seniority Promotion: Bidding employees within the designated seniority unit when collective bargaining unit obligation(s) have been met then the following recruitment methods may be used:
- Promotion Without Examination
- Transfer
- Reassignment
- Voluntary Demotion
- Reinstatement
- Civil Service Lists
ELIGIBILITY -ALL CANDIDATE(S):
1.) Must meet the minimum experience and training (METS) required for the job. TheMETsfor this position are:
Three years of progressively responsible clerical, auditing, enforcement, or investigative experience; or
Any equivalent combination of experience and training.
2.) Be a resident of Pennsylvania.
3.) State Civil Service Commission Approved Additional Special Requirements: None
4.)Be eligible for selection in accordance with merit system employment regulations.
ELIGIBILITY - COMPETITIVE PROMOTION WITHOUT EXAMINATION ONLY: CLASS RESTRICTIONS:
1.) Have held regular civil service status in the following classifications:
- Clerk Typist 2
- Clerk Typist 3
- Clerk 3
SELECTION CRITERIA:
1.) Meet the minimum experience and training required for the job.
2.) Meritorious Service- defined as:
- The absence of any discipline above the level of written reprimand during the 12 months preceding the closing date on the posting.
- The last due overall regular or probationary performance evaluation was higher than unsatisfactory.
3.) Seniority- defined as: a minimum of six months in the next lower class(es) by the closing date of this posting 4/15/2026.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
1.) Interested qualified applicants must submit all the requested materials as specified in the "How to Apply." Failure to comply with the above application requirements will eliminate you from consideration for this position.
2.) Additional information may be obtained by contacting:
Megan Stone
Human Services Division Head
(272) 808-2829
Megan.Stone.OHS@LuzerneCounty.org
POSITION DETAILS:
L0491- Legal Assistant 1
Full-Time
Civil Service
Union
Location: 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes Barre, PA 18701
HOW TO APPLY:
** YOU MUST HOLD CIVIL SERVICE STATUS IN ORDER TO APPLY FORTHIS POSTING **
All EXTERNAL CANDIDATES must apply and submit an application via:
Job Bulletin
If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations for the interview due to a disability, please advise the interviewer of the accommodations you require well in advance of the scheduled date.
LUZERNE COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY & AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER.
