Court Communications Clerk

King County District Court Profile

King County District Court is the largest court of limited jurisdiction in the State of Washington and is currently responsible for processing approximately 200,000+ matters per year with 25 judges and approximately 260 employees in 8 locations. The Court is a leader in many areas involving public safety and access to justice, including the use of problem-solving courts, jail alternative programs, technology and judge-managed probation services. Twelve cities contract with King County for court services that are provided by the Court.

Position Summary

King County District Court is seeking Court Communications Clerks who are active learners, adaptive, reliable, and action-oriented to establish a competitive pool of candidates for current and future, permanent and temporary, Court Communications Clerks positions at the King County Courthouse. Due to COVID-19, the Court has a backlog and increased workload, and the Court is creating a more efficient process to fill vacancies as they occur.

The responsibilities of a Court Communications Clerks include providing customer service that typically involves receiving and handling callers’ inquiries and/or complaints and responding to information requests. Duties involve explaining basic programs, services, policies and/or procedures.

Court Communications Clerks must provide outstanding customer service during stressful situations, have impeccable attention to detail, thrive in a team environment with superb problem-solving skills, and be comfortable interacting with executive-level management and members of the public via telephone on a daily basis. We need Court Communications Clerks to be committed to continuous learning, open to change with a positive attitude, and be able to succeed in a fast-paced and a culturally-diverse environment. Candidates with fluency in one or more of the following languages are encouraged to apply: Amharic, American Sign Language, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Samoan, Somali, Spanish or Vietnamese.

Job Duties

Answer telephones.

Provide Court-specific information that requires limited interpretation of established policies, procedures and other relevant sources to internal and/or external customers over the telephone or in writing.

Interview and/or screen internal and/or external customers to establish Court-specific documentation and/or identify services needed.

Determine validity, correctness and completeness of information received. Maintain and/or retrieve information and compile data that may require information searches through files, contracts, records, or computer files.

Process reports and update databases.

Perform data entry, and draft internal and external correspondence. Assist co-workers as assigned, and perform other duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Effective customer service skills and techniques via telephone (discretion, patience, etiquette, professionalism).

Strong, professional communications skills (oral and written).

Ability to adhere to general office principles and practices.

General computer knowledge and keyboarding skills, including use of word processing and spreadsheet applications.

Knowledge of proper English grammar, usage and spelling.

Interpersonal and human relations skills.

Organizational and problem solving skills.

Operation of a variety of office equipment, such as fax machine and copier.

Acquiring knowledge of specialized terminology relevant to position assignment.

Taking initiative and adapting to changes in workload demand.

Supplemental Information

Selection process: Application materials will be screened for qualifications; the most competitive candidates will be invited for one or more panel interviews. Any employment offer will be contingent upon the results of criminal and fingerprinting background checks.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk or hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and move and/or lift up to 10 pounds.

Working Conditions: Work is typically performed in an office environment with a moderate amount of noise (computers, printers, light traffic). This role routinely uses standard office equipment.

Work schedule: Regular position, working a 40-hour workweek.

Work location: Seattle, Washington – King County Courthouse, 516 3rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98104.

King County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

If you have any questions regarding this position or application process, please contact Erika Yanak at 206-477-0320 or [email protected]. Please include “Court Communications Clerk” within the subject line.