Child Support Legal Technician I, II at Delta County Colorado – Delta, Colorado

GENERAL POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Performs paraprofessional legal work by establishing paternity, child, medical, and retroactive support through an administrative or judicial process and enforces existing child support. The Technician performs reviews of existing child support orders and is authorized by statute, court authority, or regulation to assume specific law-related responsibilities. The Technician conducts interviews where explanatory or interpretive information is exchanged, defended, gathered, and performs calculations and accounting functions of child support.

The Technician position consists of three separate tiers, each with increased responsibility, experience, and independent operation.

• Level I – Applies basic skills while developing some specialized skills in procedures, operations, techniques, tools, materials, and/or equipment appropriate to area of specialization; performs routine and/or repetitive tasks, limited decision making required; generally, works under close supervision; has no or limited appraisal experience; work is performed from within specific limits of established procedures and/or defined instructions. (0-2 years of experience)
• Level II – Applies skills and job knowledge in area of specialization; applies procedures, operations, techniques, tools, materials, and/or equipment to meet needs of area of specialization at an intermediate level of knowledge and understanding; may work on non-routine tasks, projects, and applications; resolves issues/makes working decisions within area of specialization or responsibility with minimal supervision. (minimum of 2 years of experience)
• Level III – Works on varied tasks ranging from routine to complex. Applies full range of specialized skills and job knowledge; frequently adapts procedures, techniques, tools, materials, and/or equipment to meet specialized needs; may serve as lead; performs broad and/or focused assignments under general supervision; relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish assigned tasks. (minimum of 4 years of experience)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Level I thru III

• Exercise discretion and judgment within the parameters of the position responsibilities.
• Maintain confidentiality and protect against unauthorized disclosure of Federal taxpayer information.
• Work independently to determine and utilize appropriate legal enforcement remedies including, but not limited to: contempt citations, judgments, wage assignments, bank garnishments, liens, driver's licenses, recreational and professional license suspension, and credit reporting.
• Prepare cases for court hearings by organizing case files to include all related documents and worksheets for attorneys such as summons, subpoenas, genetic test results, affidavits, motions, and testify when needed at judicial and administrative hearings. Prepare and/or draft findings after court hearings to be filed with the Court.
• Assist with customer questions and issues as they arise. Respond to questions from court clerks, attorneys, state child support officials, county child support administrator and staff.
• Locate persons obligated to pay child support and trace assets through contact with employers, relatives, public and private agencies.
• Review and monitor cases in accordance with court orders, other funding regulations and County policies.
• Obtain Administrative Process Action certification to conduct negotiation conferences for the establishment of paternity and child support orders.
• Obtain required Enforcement Certification to gain knowledge and understanding of automated, manual, and judicial processes to enforce child support orders.
• Negotiate with obligees and obligors, private attorneys, lenders, and other jurisdictions to obtain orders and case settlements.
• Prepare and draft legal documents and affidavits in the establishment and enforcement of child support to be filed with the court.
• Provides information to clients explaining the rules and regulations of the program and what is expected of them.
• Interview and negotiate financial agreements with obligors to enforce court-ordered child support obligations.
• Work with courts, employers, and other agencies to secure funds in a timely manner.
• Prepare and draft legal documents and affidavits in the establishment and enforcement of child support to be filed with the court.
• Provides information to clients explaining the rules and regulations of the program and what is expected of them.
• Interview and negotiate financial agreements with obligors to enforce court-ordered child support obligations.
• Work with courts, employers, and other agencies to secure funds in a timely manner.
• Utilize time management skills to perform work on assigned caseloads, including customer communications, monthly reports, incoming and outgoing mail, and update information on a regular basis in the Automated Child Support Enforcement System (ACSES) and other industry tools to determine the best appropriate means to establish/enforce child support.
• This position requires consistent punctuality and attendance. The primary location of employment for this position is the designated Delta County location/office with the exception of duties that are performed off site as required in responsibilities. The employee is required to perform most (generally, 95%) of assigned duties from this designated office location to allow for client, customer and coworker access and collaboration, unless prior written approval for an alternative arrangement, such as temporary remote work, has been granted by the employee's direct supervisor and/or department head and maintained in the employee personnel file.

GENERAL JOB DUTIES:

Level I

• Gain a general knowledge of the Child Support Services program.
• Exhibit an understanding of the program to locate, establish and enforce child support cases.

Level II

• Complete all duties of previous levels at an intermediate level with minimal supervision and minimal errors.
• Provide feedback to the administrator regarding protocol and procedures for the unit.
• Perform quality assurance (QA) audits on co-worker cases to catch any potential errors.
• Create and process modifications to court orders as necessary.
• Process more complex child support cases with minimal support.

Level III

• Complete all duties of previous levels at an advanced level with only general supervision.
• Train level I and II Technicians on responsibilities of the position and department functions.
• Attend administrative meetings and workshops pertaining to new program procedures and updates to any current procedures.
• Support department administration in the implementation of new policies and programs which may come from federal, state, or local government and/or other public/private entities.
• Manage initiating interstate child support cases.
• Perform QA review of cases regularly for the department and train on individual areas of support and department trends as necessary.

Levels I thru III

• Should the Board of County Commissioners or another authorized representative issue a local disaster declaration in Delta County, all Delta County employees may be called upon to serve as disaster service workers.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

• A high school diploma or GED equivalent is required.

Experience:

Level I

• Three (3) years of work related experience required; one (1) of those years in self-sufficiency eligibility determination, legal secretary, collections, or paralegal experience is desired.
• Experience working with Microsoft Office products, Google platform, and ability to learn proprietary software required.
• Problem solving, critical thinking, and strong mathematical skills required and utilized daily.

OR

• Completion of an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business, behavioral science or related field may substitute for experience.

Level II

• Generally, two (2) or more years’ experience working in a child support department is required.
• Must possess and maintain Notary Public through the Colorado Secretary of State.
• Complete all duties of previous level at an intermediate level with minimal supervision.
• Must hold a certification in either Child Support Administrative Process Action OR Enforcement.
• Must have demonstrated proficiency in the following responsibilities:
• completing modifications to court orders;
• intermediately level knowledge of child support and family law, rules of evidence, rules of civil procedures and state regulations;
• intermediate knowledge of collection methods and procedures;
• interviewing and investigative techniques;
• plan and organize high volume caseload;
• work with volatile domestic relations situations and hostile/distraught persons;
• attend, testify and manage a court hearing without leadership support;
• accurately process financial calculations
• competent in full cycle administration with certification of either Administrative Process Action or Enforcement; and
• minimal errors found in QA reviews.

Level III

• At a minimum two (2) years or more of Child Support Legal Technician II experience is required.
• Complete all duties of previous levels at an advanced level with only general supervision.
• Must hold a certification in in both Child Support Administrative Process Action AND Enforcement.
• Must have demonstrated advanced knowledge and application in the following responsibilities:
• child support and family law, rules of evidence, rules of civil procedures and state regulations with ability to read and apply complex statute and rules;
• initiating interstate cases;
• completion and training of QA reviews;
• viewed as a leader and sought out for expertise among the department;
• successful and training co-workers on managing cases;
• next to no errors found in QA reviews;

Combination of education and experience could waive specific requirement.

Licenses/Certifications:

• Notary Public through the Colorado Secretary of State.
• Current and valid Colorado Driver’s License is required.

Specific skills and Abilities to:

• Use professional communication and de-escalation techniques to deal calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
• Effectively interview individuals for the purpose of gathering required information to establish and enforce child support requirements.
• Must have demonstrable knowledge of court procedures, documents, legal terminology, methods of enforcement.
• Must have entry level knowledge of public assistance eligibility criteria, state regulations and indicators of welfare fraud.
• Must demonstrate skill in interviewing and investigative techniques.
• Ability to gather and analyze information and documentation from a variety of sources.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Physical Requirements: Utilizes full scope of visual capacity in order to conduct appraisal processes and operate automated equipment. Constant use of eye, hand, and finger coordination enabling performance of appraisal duties and the operation of relevant equipment. Spends 90% of the time sitting and 10% of the time either standing or walking. Occasionally lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 25 lbs. Uses carts, dollies or other equipment to carry an excess of 25 lbs. Occasionally stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties. Verbal and auditory capacity enabling interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, etc.

Lifting: 25 pound requirement

Exposure to Elements: Normal office conditions; inclement weather possible when performing field work

Handling of Dangerous Equipment: None

Risk of Assault or Injury: Verbal assault on the phone or in person, animal assault, or injuries due to field work, animals and uneven ground or hazards are possible.

Job description statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job title. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. Employees may be required to perform additional duties of a similar and like skill set. Delta County reserves the right to revise the job description.