Family Court Legal Counsel I - Family Court Division

This is a full-time position with the St. Charles County Family Court – Juvenile Division (11th Judicial Circuit). This is a county-paid position.

JOB OVERVIEW: The Family Court Legal Counsel I is responsible for preparing and litigating delinquency, status offenses, and child abuse and neglect cases referred to the Juvenile Office. The Family Court Legal Counsel also provides legal advice and services to the Family Court Administrator/Juvenile Officer and staff of the Court Services and Juvenile Detention including but not limited to representation at trial and in all appellate matters. The position works under the direction of the Family Court Legal Counsel II.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reviews referrals of delinquency, status offense conduct, and/or child abuse/neglect to determine legal sufficiency to proceed.

Drafts and/or reviews pleadings in relation to abuse neglect cases, including all petitions, motions, and proposed orders.

Drafts and/or reviews pleadings pertaining to delinquency and status offense cases, including but not limited to, petitions, motions to modify, motions for certification, formal discovery requests, and any pre- and post-trial motions.

Responsible for assuring that all pleadings comply with Missouri Approved Criminal Charges, Missouri Supreme Court Rules of Practice and Procedure in Juvenile Courts, Missouri Juvenile Code, Missouri Rules of Civil Procedure, and Missouri Revised Statutes.

Drafts new charge language and revises language of current charge(s) as necessary.
Participates in the staffing of cases for termination of parental rights and provides legal advice regarding the sufficiency of evidence in these matters.

Drafts pleadings in termination of parental rights cases.

Drafts pleadings in appellate matters and represents the Family Court Administrator/Juvenile Officer in appellate matters, including oral argument.

Drafts proposed Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law for the Circuit Court in all pending termination of parental rights matters.

Represents Juvenile Officer in all contested proceedings, consisting of but not limited to: legal research, drafting of appropriate pleadings, taking depositions, arguing motions, interviewing victim(s)/witness(es), examining witness(es), arguing case, and appellate review.

Conducts legal research and monitors pending legislation and appellate decisions providing advice and guidance to the Family Court Legal Counsel II and Family Court Administrator/Juvenile Officer in matters of policy and procedures.

Provides assistance to collateral agencies, e.g., Missouri Children’s Division and local law enforcement agencies, Prosecutor’s Office, on cases of mutual interest.

Responds to inquiries from attorneys, victims, witnesses and others, e.g., law enforcement, school officials, etc. regarding specific case processing.

Recommends/provides training for Court personnel and personnel of collateral agencies.
On call after hours, weekends, and holidays for referrals to detention and emergency protective custody requests, if necessary.

Assists in the screening and selection of personnel for assignment to the Legal Department, specifically investigators, paralegals, or assistant legal counsels.

Orients new personnel to the operations of the Legal Department and the particular duties and responsibilities of their specific assignment.

Provides guidance as appropriate/directions as necessary to personnel in the day-to-day operation of the Legal Department under the direction of the Chief Family Court Legal Counsel.

Creates or provides training opportunities to personnel in the Legal Department to enhance their professional skills.
Serves as the Court's representative on such state, regional and/or local committee(s) as assigned by the Family Court Legal Counsel II or Family Court Administrator.

Performs such other duties as assigned by the Family Court Legal Counsel II, Family Court Administrator, and/or Presiding Judge.