General Summary

Under the supervision of the Deputy Friend of the Court, conducts hearings regarding custody, parenting time, child support, and other related matters, and submits written recommendations and proposed or draft orders to the court for consideration in resolution of domestic relations issues. The Referee/Attorney also performs legal research for the Friend of the Court as necessary.

Essential Functions

1. Conducts hearings on a variety of custody, support, parenting time, delinquency, neglect, abuse, and other matters as allowed by law.
2. Administers oaths, takes testimony, interviews parties, questions witnesses, admits evidence and prepares a written report for the court containing case findings and recommendations, or makes findings of fact on the record and prepares a proposed order.
3. Prepares petitions and orders subsequent to review of files and/or instruction of the Court or the Friend of the Court.
4. Researches, analyzes, and remains abreast of domestic relations, juvenile delinquency, and child protective related statutes and rulings. 
5. Refers cases to other mediators or to private sources as warranted and prepares mediation consent orders to the appropriate parties as indicated. 
6. Interacts regularly with court staff, parents, families, and outside agencies regarding case issues, coordination of delivery of services to court clients, and to address other case related problems.
7. May conduct legal research as required; prepares memoranda, position papers, and written procedural recommendations as well as language for standard forms and model language for judgments and orders.
8. Operates a variety of office machines such as recording equipment, copy machine, calculator, typewriter, computer terminal or personal computer, and printer.
9. Prepares for each hearing. This includes reviewing all of the motions, filings, prior orders, prior compliance issues, and additional information as necessary.
10. Makes decisions and writes recommendations after evidence and arguments are presented in cases.
11. Conducts interviews with minor children to determine their preference with respect to custody and parenting time orders.
12. Engages with judges and the Friend of the Court as necessary to ensure the work is satisfactory. 

Other Functions

None listed.

This list may not be inclusive of the total scope of job functions to be performed.  Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted or modified at any time.

Employment Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an ABA accredited law school and admittance to practice law in the State of Michigan.  

Experience: Three years of progressively more responsible domestic relations and/or court experience. 

Qualifications:

Knowledge of Michigan Court Rules, rules of evidence, statutory rules and other local rules as necessary.

Ability to make decision and rulings.

Effectively communicate with various people of various education levels.

Ability to articulate decisions and recommendations in written and verbal form. Ability to conduct a courtroom hearing with lawyers and non-attorney litigants.

Ability to effectively listen to the individuals pleading their case.

Ability to effectively read and understand pleadings, motions, briefs, and other documents submitted with each case.

Ability to effectively manage time to ensure that the recommendations are timely completed and all other tasks are completed in appropriate timelines. Ability to network with colleagues regarding changes in the legal field.

Ability to deal with people from all walks of life in a professional and respectful manner that will instill public trust in the judiciary and legal field.

Ability to utilize the court recording equipment, Microsoft Word, Excel, and other various processing systems as necessary.

Ability to monitor and assess cases as well as own conduct.

Ability to use logic and reasoning to solve various problems in an appropriate manner for the given situation.

Ability to work with colleagues of all education levels to better understand the tasks that must be accomplish.

Other Requirements: Licensed to practice law in the state of Michigan. 

The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description.  The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria.

FLSA Status:  Exempt

Workers’ Compensation Code:  8820

Occupational Employment Statistical Code:  28105

Physical Requirements {This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description.  These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements and working conditions.  Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements}:

Ability to access departmental files.

Ability to operate computer for information retrieval and input.

Ability to access law books, reference materials and computer information. Periods of prolonged sitting in the courtroom while conducting hearings.

Working Conditions:

Works in office conditions.

Exposure to individuals in various emotional states.