Clerical Assistant/ Paraprofessional - Pretrial Services Department - City of Philadelphia

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (“FJD”) is the Philadelphia County Court System and is composed of two courts:  The Court of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court.  The mission of the FJD is to adjudicate cases and provide services to the community within our jurisdiction while ensuring fair, timely, and accessible justice to the people of Philadelphia.  The FJD is part of the Unified Judicial System reporting in to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

This is an entry-level position with the Pretrial Services Department, which operates as a full-service bail agency for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania.  Work assignments are clerical in nature but remain diversified to facilitate learning the department's basic operations and necessary familiarity with the criminal justice system.  Work may be routine but requires analytic thinking within well-established procedures. Initial training is closely supervised by clerical or administrative superior.  Since many assignments may take place away from the office setting, the ability to retain learned procedures is essential.  While operations of the Pretrial Services Department are continuous, necessity to work on a weekend or other than the normal business hours of court may arise.

As with any entity within the First Judicial District, the Pretrial Services Department may be called upon to ensure the performance of essential duties or functions as deemed so by administrative and governing bodies, which may result in an individual being available perform essential tasks during court closures and/or non-traditional hours. 

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

Essential Functions

The following duties are normal for this position.  These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive.  Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Receives requests from court officials, lawyers, the public, police department, and prison officials as related to court operations with respect to bail and appointment of counsel.
• Sorts and files legal documents, case folders and other papers according to predetermined filing system; collects and codes data from various law enforcement and court agencies as related and contained in a data processing system.
• Performs courier duties as related to delivery and pickup of materials and supplies between the Pretrial Services Department and the various agencies it deals with on a daily basis.
• Attends bail review hearings and presents information as related to pretrial supervision.
• Performs related work and other duties as required.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of English language and spelling.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license; ability to operate a motor vehicle (car).
• Ability to make basic arithmetic computations with speed and accuracy.
• Ability to learn the operation of office machines.
• Ability to learn and retain information as to court regulations regarding specific clerical procedures.
• Ability to communicate in a well-informed, effective, and professional manner with public and governmental agencies dealing with Pretrial Services Department operations.
• Ability to meet approved minimal physical and medical standards including standing, stooping, bending, and lifting.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft applications – Outlook, Word, and Excel.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

AN APPLICATION FOR THIS POSITION MUST INCLUDE A COPY OF YOUR BACHELOR’S DEGREE.

1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

OR

Any equivalent combination of training and experience determined to be acceptable by the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, which also includes a bachelor’s degree.

1. Possession of a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license prior to and during tenure of employment.
2. Successful completion of an interview process by a panel review after meeting minimum application standards.
3. Must successfully complete a criminal background investigation
4. May be required to work essential operations during emergency court closures or varied shifts if/when necessary based on the court’s needs.
5. Ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
6. Covid-19 Vaccination is recommended

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND/OR CERTIFICATES

Requirements set forth above for entry level paraprofessional position at Pretrial Services Department.  Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator's license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to and during tenure of employment if required by work assignment.  This requirement must be maintained for related promotional positions of the paraprofessional operation of the Department.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

In order to apply and be considered for this position, please visit https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/ to complete an application and upload a resume.

Salary Range: $39,458 - $42,662 (P6)

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The First Judicial District of PA offers 4 weeks of paid parental leave.
• The First Judicial District of PA does not have a residency requirement.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that  are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx