This position closes at 11:59 PM on March 31, 2025. The following required documents on the State of Montana Careers website:

• Resume - Please include dates of employment and your supervisor’s name/phone number for each position.
• Cover Letter

If required documents are not submitted, your application will not be reviewed. When submitting the required documents, you must check the “relevant document” box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application for this position. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The Judicial Branch is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

An employee new to the Judicial Branch will serve a one-year probationary period.

The Montana Judicial Branch offers a variety of opportunities to help you make a difference in your community, and further your career. As a service-oriented employer, we seek employees with a passion for customer service to help us fulfill our mission to provide an independent, accessible, responsive, impartial, and timely forum to resolve disputes; to preserve the rule of law; and to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United States and Montana.

Benefits of working for the Judicial Branch: 

• Work/life balance
• Family friendly policies
• Dedicated and caring colleagues
• Health coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and Holidays (combination of up to 38 per year)
• Opportunities and room for professional growth
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF

This position is in Helena, MT. Helena exists as a crossroads between past and present, tame and untamed, mountainous wilderness and hometown warmth. A place where you can hike for miles without seeing a soul, stroll through our charming downtown, and enjoy breweries with breathtaking views—all in the same day Learn more by visiting https://www.visitmt.com/

­Job Overview:

This is advanced administrative support work involving office management for the Commission on Practice, Judicial Standards Commission, and Sentence Review Division. Work includes providing guidance, direction and work and schedule coordination to assigned office staff. Work requires the exercise of considerable independent judgment in accordance with the rules of court, state statutes, rules of regulatory commissions and court and office policies and procedures.

Work is performed with considerable technical independence under the supervision of the Sentence Review Division District Court Judges, Commission Chairpersons and the State Court Administrator and is reviewed in consultation and upon completion for accuracy, completeness, timeliness and adherence to guidelines.

Job Duties:

• Administer the functions of three commissions; arranges for commission meetings and hearings in-person or via Zoom video conference; makes arrangements for location, facilities and ancillary vendor support; prepares and sends hearing notices, prepares agendas and meeting and hearing materials; attends commission meetings and hearings; drafts and files various court documents, prepares and distributes meeting minutes; makes travel arrangements.
• Coordinates and performs administrative duties; receives, researches and provides information; acts as liaison with Court personnel, Bar representatives, investigators and special prosecutors; refers very complex or sensitive inquiries to the supervisor or an appropriate official; screens and directs calls.
• Prepares, composes and edits a variety of date-sensitive correspondence, forms, statistical reports, orders and other documents from notes, rough draft, oral instructions, dictating equipment or established procedures; researches, identifies, verifies and gathers information; creates and formats forms, reports, publications and other documents; compiles statistics and prepares reports for the Judicial Standards Commission to submit to the Montana Legislature each biennium
• Organizes and coordinates incoming paperwork to keep appropriate individuals informed and to ensure timely and accurate processing of information.
• Sets up, organizes, and maintains a complex manual and electronic record, filing and statistical system; creates and maintains databases and spreadsheets; sets up, updates, consolidates and closes files; assigns files; monitors status of matters; prepares and distributes status reports; coordinates distribution of various documents.
• Provides guidance, and workload and schedule coordination to commission members, answers frequently asked questions.
• Assists in the management, planning, organization and administration of the office; reviews and monitors expenditures; apprises Commission Chairpersons and the Administrator of personnel, budgetary and other matters needing attention.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Behaviors): 

• Knowledge of legal terminology and format.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Thorough knowledge of business English, arithmetic, and modern office practices, procedures, methods and equipment.
• Thorough knowledge of rules of court, state statutes, regulatory commission rules, court and office policies, and procedures.
• Considerable knowledge of computerized office programs.
• Knowledge of bookkeeping practices and procedures.
• Ability to prepare and compose effective and accurate correspondence.
• Ability to prepare and maintain complex, accurate and complete records.
• Ability to provide guidance, direction and assistance to co-workers.
• Ability to make arithmetic computations and tabulations accurately.
• Ability to understand and follow complex oral and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, with a diverse group of people.
• Ability to interpret, explain, and apply laws, rules, policies and procedures.
• Ability to recognize, maintain and communicate the need for confidentiality.
• Ability to work well in cooperation with others, execute tasks promptly as assigned, be self-directed and well organized and work well under pressure.
• Ability to use good judgment and discretion when providing information and dealing with the public.
• Ability to deal with irate or upset people in a calm manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with county attorney staff, public defender, attorneys, other judges, employees of the district court, other agencies, and the public.
• Ability to operate a personal computer, calculator and other office equipment. 

Working Conditions: 

• Work is performed primarily in an office setting with occasional walking, standing, bending, reaching and lifting carrying items up to 25 pounds such as papers and files. Up to 20% travel may be required. 

 Physical Demands:

• Work is essentially sedentary with occasional walking, standing, bending and carrying items up to 25 pounds such as papers and files. Work requires periods of extended computer use.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience): 

• Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in secretarial sciences, business or a related field.
• Two years of progressively responsible legal experience, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. 
• Experience as a high-level assistant is preferred.