Court Services Specialist

Job Description

Court Services Specialist

Position Type: Full Time

Non-exempt

Offsite (work in-office based on business needs.)

Location: Washington, D.C

Washington D.C.: For all positions based in the Washington, D.C. office, residency within Washington D.C., Maryland or Virginia and within a reasonable commutable distance to the assigned office is required depending on the firm's discretion and the nature of the role.

Salary Range: $41.25 - $52.99/hour ($85,800 - $110,200 annually) *

*The salary range is the one that Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP reasonably expects to pay for this position.  The salary range does not guarantee, obligate, nor set expectations of an applicant’s wage in the event of hire.  The posted range is only one component of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP’s Total Rewards package.

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The Court Services Specialist is responsible for supporting the docket and filing needs of the firm. Responsibilities include providing comprehensive litigation calendaring and filing services by adhering to the firm calendaring and filing procedures and processes. The Court Services Specialist researches court-related deadlines and e-filing requests to ensure compliance with applicable rules of procedure, such as local court rules and state and federal civil procedures.  The Court Services Specialist calendars litigation events into the Firm’s calendaring management system based on a review of court notifications, court rules, and attorney communications; and also provides reports from the appropriate systems of upcoming case deadlines upon request. In addition, the Court Services Specialist provides filing support such as e-filing court documents, assists with the service of pleadings and other documents in state and federal courts, acts as a liaison between the attorneys and the courts, and answers questions from attorneys and staff regarding electronic filing and court procedures. 

Job Functions & Responsibilities

Docketing and Calendaring

• Provides litigation docket support to all firm offices.
• Logs and processes all calendar requests as assigned using docketing software.
• Determines court dates by reviewing relevant documents and calendars all State, Federal and Agency court deadlines.
• Provides weekly and customized calendar reports.
• Creates and updates deadlines and trial calendars for new and existing clients/matters.
• Responds to and works with case teams to ensure docket entries are accurate and meet their practice needs.
• Conducts regular calendar meetings with attorneys or paralegals to review upcoming calendar.
• Responds to and works with Case Teams to ensure docket entries are accurate and meet their practice needs. 
• Follows departmental best practice procedures and assists with implementing solutions to mitigate future issues when applicable.
• Researches court rules using applicable tools: Court website, Smart Rules, Westlaw, Rutter’s Guide.
• Assists in the investigation of docket/calendaring concerns and responds to inquiries regarding work product.
• Answers procedural questions related to date calculations.

• Acts as a resource regarding all types of court filings, answering questions from Court Service Department, Legal Assistants, Attorneys, and other users throughout the firm.

• Develops expert knowledge of court filings and standards; resolves court filing questions and ensures court filings are completed accurately.
• Distributes service and courtesy copies, when necessary.
• Communicates directly with court/administrative offices to confirm rules and procedures.
• Acts as a liaison between the firm’s attorneys and court personnel.
• Reviews basic documents to ensure compliance with applicable rules.
• Performs all aspects of court services functions, including print and electronic filings, court rule updates, and engagement of attorney service companies relating to delivering the filings to courts and counsel, service of process and subpoenas.
• Communicates with the Docketing Department regarding filing-generated deadlines and due dates to ensure proper calendaring for attorneys and case teams.
• Communicates with litigation teams in advance of filings, coordinates staff and resources needed for filing, confirms cite-checking has been completed, reviews the filing for conformity with court rules, files with the court, and delivers courtesy and service copies.
• Monitors status of submitted filings and updates attorneys.
• Assists in the downloading of documents and updating internal databases.
• Researches print and electronic collections of litigation documents to retrieve specific documents or precedents on request.
• Collects attorney filing credentials across the firm, maintains accurate information, creates court admission accounts for attorneys and troubleshoots credential issues.
• Researches and provides routine announcements of court rule changes to secretarial staff.

• Engages filing vendor services, manages firm accounts and handles vendor invoices. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Job Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.  Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent years of experience.
• 5+ years of litigation docketing experience.
• 2+ years E-filing experience.
• Knowledge and ability to research multi-state rules of civil procedure, federal rules of procedure, local rules, judges' rules, and agency rules.  
• Experience researching court websites for both State and Federal courts.
• Experience in use of Online filing platforms (CM/ECF and third-party vendors).
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office products including MS Outlook, MS Edge, MS Excel and MS Word.
• Experience with CompuLaw Vision, Pacer, Smartrules, Westlaw legal systems.
• Must be detail-oriented and have the ability to budget time efficiently while handling multiple tasks. Must demonstrate accuracy when calculating deadlines and entering due dates and the ability to research rules when needed.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with personnel in a responsible and respectful manner.
• Ability to interpret and analyze information.
• Must be a self-starter; able to work in a fast-paced environment; and exercise independent judgment in performing all aspects of the assignments. 
• Must be able to work with competing deadlines and prioritize as needed.

Physical Demands

Writing, typing, reading, speaking, hearing, seeing, sitting, bending, reaching, lifting up to 25 lbs

Working Conditions

Quiet office environment in a high-rise building, seated the majority of the time

Direct Reports

None

Competencies

• Communicates effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Being resilient: Rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Instills trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Customer focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Drives results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Situational adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

The Court Services Specialist role is an amazing opportunity available on our team of professionals at Munger, Tolles & Olson, LLP! We offer competitive pay, benefits and an opportunity to make an impact in today’s world.

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About Munger, Tolles & Olson

Munger, Tolles & Olson has topped The American Lawyer’s A-List a record eleven times, and maintains the highest average A-List ranking in the history of the award.

We strive to hire only the most qualified and creative lawyers. We believe that clerkships provide valuable experience. In this regard, nearly 75% of our lawyers and over 80% of our litigators served as law clerks to federal or state judges and sixteen attorneys were clerks to U.S. Supreme Court Justices. We recruit and retain the best professional talent to support our Attorneys with a focus on service and excellence. We have a full spectrum of functional positions including Information Technology, Information Security, Accounting, Human Resources, Legal Support, and Marketing.

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MTO is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles (for example, braids, locks, and twists), color, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, marital or domestic partner status, parental or family care status, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, disability or medical condition, genetic characteristic, political affiliation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.  It is the policy of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP to prohibit discrimination, unlawful harassment (including sexual harassment), and retaliation.  This commitment prohibits such conduct by any individual involved in MTO’s operations and by anyone doing business with or on behalf of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP.

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Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP (MTO) does not accept unsolicited resumes from 3rd parties or agencies.  Any unsolicited resumes and profiles received from 3rd parties or agencies will be considered property of MTO and no fees will be due or paid.  If you wish to become an approved Agency with MTO, please contact a member of the MTO Talent Acquisition Team.