Allegan County

IV-D Establishment Attorney / Attorney Referee

Friend of the Court - Allegan, MI - Full Time

Allegan County has much to offer, with 24 Townships, 9 Cities, and 2 Villages across nearly 900 square miles. The landscapes range from the lakeshore to beautifully wooded lands, our County’s natural resources are a gift to be treasured. Allegan County businesses, citizens, and employees are world-class, and we remain a welcoming, closely-knit community. We are one of the fastest-growing counties in Michigan.
Allegan County Government places high importance on our core values: Respect, Integrity, Commitment and Honesty. A common thread among our leadership, employees and volunteers is a strong desire to serve and be part of something meaningful. We were recently identified as “Best in Class Winner” among mid-size companies for our excellence in optimizing employee and organizational well-being. We have also received the Impact Award for excellence in educating our employees about their retirement plans and overall financial wellness. We are looking for dedicated, caring, energetic people to join our team!

Job Summary:

Performs a variety of tasks related to the establishment of child paternity and support cases. Reviews and analyzes referrals received for establishment of court cases under the provisions of the Social Security Act, Title IV, Part D. Conducts interviews and meetings with parents to gather information for the filing and processing of domestic relations cases. Monitors and manages the case flow of establishment cases. Calculates child support and prepares legal pleadings. Participates in court proceedings. Directs the day-to-day work of the Court Support Specialist.

Wage Range: $81,660 - $106,934 annually, depending on previous experience, Full-time Salaried

Excellent Benefits Plan: Health benefits begin on the first of the month after your hire date
- Medical, Dental & Vision (3 medical plans to choose from, 2 of which have a $0 premium)
- County-funded Health Savings Account with our two high-deductible medical plans
- County-paid employee life insurance coverage
- County-paid short-term disability coverage, up to 52 weeks
- Generous retirement plan, including a county contribution of 7% of your annual earnings
- Tuition Reimbursement Program for college degree courses
- Generous PTO plan, including front-loaded hours into PTO bank at hire, and annually on January 1.
- 13 paid holidays, in addition to PTO
- FREE use of Allegan County government's two fitness centers

Responsibilities and Duties:

Reviews court action referrals (CARs) to determine appropriate legal action to establish paternity and/or support for children in domestic, interstate, and international cases.
Conducts appointments with parents, and others, to gather information needed to prepare pleadings, notices, and forms, necessary for the filing of court cases and interstate/international support case documents. Discusses settlement of child related issues in paternity and support cases.
Collects samples for genetic testing.
Explains process, procedure, and policy to litigants.
Drafts legal pleadings, orders, forms, notices, and other documents.
Conducts legal research and maintains a working knowledge of statutes (state, national, and international), case law, IV-D policy, court rules, court memorandums, Michigan Child Support Formula, and office policies and procedures.
Appears and participates in court proceedings. Proceedings may include court proceedings in Allegan County, at Tribal Courts, and/or hearings in other states for intergovernmental cases.
Monitors establishment caseload to ensure that cases are resolved in a timely manner.
Researches and problem solves when new circumstances, software, and policy changes occur.
Direct and support the day-to-day work of the Court Support Specialist. Serve as a resource and leader for the Court Support Specialist.
Serves as an on-call referee outside of regular business hours.
Attends and completes training. Some training may require overnight travel. Participates in user groups to maintain and increase knowledge of the child support program. Networks with colleagues in the Michigan child support program
Serves as a resource to Friend of the Court staff.
Conducts hearings as a Referee as needed.
Assists in other areas of the FOC office as required.

Qualifications:

-Juris Doctor Degree
-Minimum two (2) years of experience, preferably in domestic relations law, a Friend of the Court office, a court setting, or a closely related field. In its discretion, the Court may consider alternative education and work experience.
-Must be licensed to practice law in Michigan and be a member in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan.
-Ability to complete required training courses regarding security and confidentiality as well as ability to complete all required certifications for MiCSES.
-Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
-Ability to interpret and analyze statutes, rules, policies, etc., and apply to changing case circumstances.
-Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and exercise good judgment, resourcefulness, and initiative, when dealing with co-workers, the public, county officials, elected officials and other governmental units.
-Ability to work independently and also actively participate in a team.
-Ability to work in the office and/or remotely
-Ability to efficiently use technology including, but not limited to, MiCSES, Microsoft Office Suite, electronic document management system, Zoom, court’s case management system, electronic signature software, industry specific software and databases, and all other software employed by the Friend of the Court Office.
-Ability to organize and manage a large number of referrals and complete tasks in an accurate, efficient, and timely manner.
-Ability to maintain confidentiality of all records.
-Adherence to the Model Code of Conduct for court employees.

Allegan County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. A copy of our EEO Utilization report is available on our website:
https://www.allegancounty.org/home/showpublisheddocument/2802/637974740005930000

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