Summary
Description
MISSION STATEMENT
The Judicial Department works to provide equal access to justice, contribute to public safety, and strengthen the rule of law across Colorado. Together our courts and probation departments are committed to impartial and timely dispute resolution; support for families, litigants, and victims; client rehabilitation; and meaningful community engagement.
STATEMENT OF DUTIES
General Statement Of Duties:
Assist Reporter of Decisions in providing highly complex legal editing of opinions for the Colorado Court of Appeals.
Distinguishing Factors:
Positions in this classification are distinguished from the Reporter of Decisions by the lack of full supervisory responsibility. Supervision is received from the Reporter of Decisions.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Approved Minimum Qualifications For This Posting Only: Graduation from an accredited law school required, plus five (5) years of experiences in legal editing, drafting briefs, motions, memorandums, orders or opinions drafts, or a combination thereof required. Experience must include expert knowledge of compliance with The Bluebook as well as grammar and usage, and editing under time pressure with deadlines.
The ideal candidate has appellate court writing and/or editing experience and likes working independently in a quiet environment, while also working on a team. This position requires collaboration and some team decision-making. Must be able to provide flexible editing styles to a wide variety of judges and provide assistance to law clerks and staff attorneys. On average, the assistant reporter of decisions will edit about 150 pages a week under deadlines.
All applications must include a cover letter and resume.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Edits draft opinions prepared by Court of Appeals Judges, law clerks, and staff attorneys.
Reviews and provides suggestions on rules of syntax, grammar, punctuation, diction, rhetoric, semantics, style, legal content, and citation of authority.
Performs legal research to keep abreast of the law and related trends so as to edit opinions correctly.
Attends meetings and training as required.
Performs other duties as assigned.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS CONT.
Supervisor Responsibilities:
Responsible for one's own work product and may provide guidance, assistance, or mentorship to less knowledgeable or experienced coworkers, volunteers, or interns. This may include scheduling of work, instructing in work methods, and reviewing work products.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Education:
Graduation from an accredited law school required. Five or more years’ experience in editing legal documents, including expert knowledge of compliance with The Bluebook as well as grammar and usage, required. Experience editing under time pressure with deadlines.
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands and arms to perform repetitive motions; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment:
Occasionally handles emergency or crisis situations; frequently subject to interruptions, and multiple calls and inquiries. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
