Legal Technician/Case Manager

Salary range: $16.53-$18.78 per hour

Department: Human Services

Hours: Full-Time, 40 hours/week

Job Description: SUMMARY: Applies regulations and procedures to locate absent parents, establishes paternity for children born out of wedlock, establishes child support and medical support orders, modifies existing orders, enforces orders and collects support for non-public assistance and public assistance customers. Legal Technicians learn and apply federal, state and local rules and regulations and court procedures with a moderate degree of independence within the Child Support Services Unit. Legal Technicians maintain a large caseload.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following: Conducts in depth interviews with the custodial parent (CP) to obtain detailed and extremely personal information regarding the identity of the Non-Custodial Parent (NCP); the determination of existing court orders; the whereabouts of the NCP and his/her available assets; Interviews NCP and/or their attorneys to obtain information and determine the NCP’s ability to pay child support; Reviews information provided by the CP and researches case records to determine current status, legal case history and determines the most appropriate legal procedure applicable, (i.e., driver’s license suspension, judgements, and/or stipulations); prepares garnishment papers and works with employers to ensure follow-up; initiates appropriate paperwork and documents for cases involving interstate actions, interrogatories, income assignments, judgements, garnishments, and contempt actions; Prepares legal documentation, i.e. Petitions, Motions, Summons, Bench Warrants, Judgements for District Court presentation; Completes case history for the Department’s attorney; presents testimony at court hearings; attends court hearings including those in which previous notice was not given by the courts; Assists attorney at court hearings; discusses difficult or irregular cases with attorney; drafts pleadings subsequent to court hearings at the request of attorney (findings of the court, etc.) for the attorney’s approval and judge’s signature. Initiates and receives communication to and from clients, district courts, attorneys, other child support units, public and private agencies. Maintains a working knowledge of the Colorado Revised Statutes pertaining to child support establishment and enforcement, the protocol of the courts, the justice system, and legal documents; Prepares legal documentation and cases for Administrative Process Actions, which consists of negotiating paternity and support orders and settlements with the NCP; analyzing financial affidavits; negotiating stipulations for child support orders. This process is conducted at the child support office and eliminates the need for the court process; Monitors child support payments and follows up when necessary. Includes determining that payments are allocated correctly; monitoring and working reports sent from the State Department; delinquency letters; enforcement actions(i.e. income assignments, garnishments, driver’s license suspension, credit reporting, contempt citations, etc.); Negotiates review and adjustments of child support orders when a change in circumstances warrants a modification of the existing order; Sets up and monitors genetic testing procedures for paternity cases including ensuring that legal requirements are met such as the proper chain of command is followed, proper packaging of genetic samples, obtaining identification of parties tested and witnessing the sampling; Discuss case/client status and exchanges other pertinent information with other units as needed; Case/Records Management includes: assuring that confidential information is secure; data entry of pertinent information in the Automated Child Support Enforcement System (ACSES); filing of documents in the case file, case documentation, both in case file and in the ACSES Chronology; reviewing reports and case status to determine correct class and status; determining the correct category and level of enforcement to be taken; taking action to locate the NCP through automated channels or by sending documents to outside agencies or other states; Each technician is responsible for certain individual duties such as, ACSES liaison, Family Support Registry liaison, Hospital Based Paternity liaison, bookkeeper, notary, foster care cases, serving on various committees, etc.; Attends mandatory meetings and training as required by the State Department or Child Support Services Manager or Director, (i.e. monthly unit meetings and meetings with the Department’s attorney). Other duties as assigned. Special skills, knowledge, abilities required in relation to the position: Working knowledge of applicable laws, rules and regulations. Working knowledge of applicable court procedures, documents and legal terminology. Working knowledge of public assistance programs and other community agencies that provide assistance to clients. Ability to work collaboratively with other DHS staff. Skill in interviewing customers to obtain required program information. Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations. Principles and concepts of human behavior. Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. Ability to work effectively with attorneys, court personnel, employers, difficult customers, co-workers and the general public. Ability to navigate a variety of complex computer systems and other interfaces related to assigned programs to obtain necessary information for child support purposes. Community resources including medical, social, educational, financial and residential. Scope and application of rules and regulations related to local, state and federal rules, regulations, policies, procedures and standard operating procedures. Record keeping and reporting procedures. Ability to read, comprehend and apply program, department, county, state and federal rules, regulations, policies, procedures and standard operating procedures. Accomplishes the assigned workload within state and federal mandated timeframes and meets established performance standards and objectives. Maintains sensitive and confidential information. Provides professional customer service to attorneys, court personnel, employers, customers, co-workers and the general public. Performs duties independently without close supervision. Possesses a high degree of ability to organize data and workload.

Education and Experience: High School Diploma or GED is required Associates degree in a human services or business management field and/or two years of full-time responsible office clerical or public contact experience will be considered.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT ASSESSMENTS: Must pass a background check to include but not limited to: CBI/FBI fingerprint check

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The following are some of the physical demands commonly associated with this position.

VISION: Individual must be able to read handwritten or printed material.

HEARING: Individual must possess average hearing ability. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

LIFTING: Must be able to lift, carry, push or pull a minimum of 20 pounds.

MOBILITY: Spends 40% of the time sitting, 40% standing, and 20% walking while at work, although this may vary. Occasionally stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls, and crouches while performing manual duties.

DEXTERITY: Frequent use of eye, hand, and finger coordination enabling the use of automated machinery.

COMMUNICATION: Individual must be able to clearly understand the English language and be understood while speaking the English language.

DRIVING: Individual must be able to operate a motor vehicle

BENEFITS: The County currently offers a comprehensive benefits package to regular full-time employees. In addition, regular part-time employees may be eligible for pro-rated benefits such as vacation/sick leave, etc. Information concerning an employee’s eligibility for benefits is available from the Designee of the Board.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: Prowers County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons receiving compensation from Prowers County through payroll are considered employees of Prowers County and are expected to adhere to Prowers County’s Employment Policies.