Court Specialist; Mediator

Work Hours:

Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.

-4:30 p.m., or as assigned or required

Under the supervision of the Chief Housing Court Specialist, the Housing Court Specialist serves primarily as a mediator for Housing Court matters, with responsibility for facilitating neutral, structured discussions between tenants, landlords, property owners, and other parties to help resolve housing-related disputes. The Specialist conducts mediations involving landlord-tenant matters, rent-deposit matters, property conditions, and other disputes referred by the Court; documents mediation activity and outcomes;

and assists parties in understanding Court procedures and available resources without providing legal advice. The Specialist may also be cross-trained and assigned to perform other Housing Court Specialist functions, including community control, case-management, outreach, and compliance-related duties, as operational needs require.

The following duties describe the general nature and level of work performed by the Housing Court Specialist. They are not intended to constitute a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. Other duties may be assigned by the Judge, Court Administrator, or Chief Housing Court Specialist.

• Conduct mediations as a primary function of the position, facilitating neutral, structured discussions among tenants, landlords, property owners, attorneys, and other interested parties in housing-related disputes referred by the Court.
• Prepare for and manage mediation sessions by reviewing available case information, identifying the matters in dispute, explaining the mediation process and the mediator’s neutral role, and establishing a professional environment that supports productive communication and problem-solving.
• Assist parties in identifying issues, interests, and potential areas of agreement; facilitate communication and negotiation; and support parties in developing voluntarily, mutually acceptable resolutions without providing legal advice or advocating for either party.
• Accurately document mediation activity, attendance, status, outcomes, agreements, referrals, and required follow-up in the Court’s electronic case-management system and other required records, consistent with confidentiality requirements and Court procedures.
• Assist with rent-deposit hearings and related proceedings and coordinate appropriate follow-up on matters arising from mediation or other Housing Court processes.
• Communicate to tenants, landlords, and other interested parties’ general information regarding rights, duties, and responsibilities established under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321, commonly known as the Ohio Landlord-Tenant Act, without providing legal advice.
• Provide procedural assistance to interested parties, including information regarding appropriate Court forms for pleadings, motions, rent deposits, complaints, and other filings, without providing legal advice.
• Assist parties with matters involving the restoration of utility services when services may have been improperly terminated and facilitate communication or referrals as appropriate.
• Respond to telephone calls, walk-in inquiries, and other communications from members of the public concerning mediation, housing, property, and landlord-tenant matters, and provide appropriate procedural information and referrals.
• Provide outreach, intake, assessment, resources, and referrals to identify party needs and connect individuals with appropriate community resources and service providers that may assist in resolving housing-related disputes.
• Communicate and coordinate, as appropriate, with attorneys, inspectors,…