Generalist Clerk

Overview of the Position The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York is a mission driven workplace that values professional growth and exceptional public service. Whether you are beginning your journey in public service or advancing an established career, the court offers a rewarding environment, benefits, and a schedule that supports work life balance. Candidates who wish to grow professionally within a court environment are strongly encouraged to apply.

This position is located in the Clerk’s Office of the U.S. District Courthouse in White Plains, New York. The incumbent selected to fill this position will report to the Assistant to the Clerk and provide clerical and administrative assistance to the White Plains Record Room, Pro Se Intake Unit, and Finance Unit at the White Plains District Court. This is a unique position that spans multiple units within the Court.

In the White Plains Record Room, the incumbent will be responsible for retrieving, sorting, scanning, copying, and filing documents, as well as receiving, screening, documenting, and distributing mail. For the Pro Se Intake Unit, the primary duties will involve answering routine inquiries via email, telephone, and in person, accepting documents from pro se litigants for filing, performing preparation of mailings/service packages, along with performing data entry in multiple systems.

In the Finance Unit, the focus will be on processing financial transactions, maintaining required records, and ensuring strict accuracy while adhering to relevant policies, regulations, protocols, and internal controls. This position involves heavy public contact and requires considerable tact and patience. This list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and may include additional duties as assigned. This position will require occasional travel to the 500 Pearl Street Court House.

This position is ineligible for telework.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The incumbent selected to fill this position will:

• Operate a variety of copying, scanning, and records equipment. Answer and route incoming calls. Assist the public in use of computerized databases. Provide basic information to public, bar, and the court. Process prisoner form requests. Ensure data quality.
• Sort, classify, and file case records. Maintain integrity of the filing system by such means as monitoring proper access to records and maintaining timely and accurate filing of documents. Retrieve files and make copies of records for court personnel, attorneys, and others. Certify court documents. Create and process new case files. Open and close cases in the case management system, based on required documents and/or entries.
  
  Assist with entry of various other case documents on the docket.
• Check for prior or prohibited filing. Monitor for release of exhibits and sealed documents. Verify and issue summons. Verify attorney’s authority to practice.
• Inform customers of required fees. Receive payments and issue receipts. Secure funds in cash register. Reconcile receipts and post to the appropriate fund/case account.
• Scan, copy, file, pickup, sort, and process mail. Process e-mail received from electronic filers.
• Receive and stamp incoming documents. Maintain court files.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

To be considered for a CL 24, applicants must be a high school graduate, or equivalent and must have at least one year of specialized experience. The position requires excellent written and oral communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, computer literacy and knowledge of legal terminology. The incumbent must be punctual and maintain good time and attendance.
* Specialized work experience attained in other governmental and private sector positions may be creditable, but that experience must be evaluated to determine whether the level of experience is equivalent to work at the specified CL. All internal applicants requesting review of work experience outside the federal judiciary as part of the qualification process, please contact Human Resources. Internal applicants who are permanent employees must be in their current position for one year to apply.

Preferred…