Job Details
Court Operations Associate (Indigent Defense Clerk)
2025-10-13 State of Oregon Oregon City,OR
Description:
Oregon City, Oregon, rests on the Willamette River southeast of Portland. It is part of the Portland Metropolitan Area (along with Beaverton, Gresham, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, WA). Oregon City was the first capital of Oregon prior to the creation of the Oregon Territory in 1848. Before settling on Salem in 1864, the capital was moved several times to several different cities. It is also the end point of the Oregon Trail. Oregon City has the only "vertical street" in the nation, Elevator Street. Activities include museums, historic buildings, and more than 22 city parks, including Clackamette Park at the confluence of the Willamette and Clackamas rivers. Oregon City is also home to Willamette Falls, the largest waterfall by volume in the Pacific Northwest.
Position Highlights
The Clackamas County Circuit Court is hiring an Indigent Defense Clerk (Court Operations Associate) to support our Indigent Defense program.
In this role...
You will interview applicants who request court appointed attorneys. You will conduct these interviews at the front counter and occasionally by phone. You will use recommended interview techniques and verify applicants' personal and financial information. To verify information, you will use computer resources such as Equifax, state employment records, DMV records, and a guidelines calculator. As a subject matter expert, you will either appoint or recommend the denial of court appointed attorneys as appropriate, and you will review in-custody lists to ensure that all applicants requesting court appointed attorneys are interviewed. Part of your time may be spent attending court sessions to provide critical information to judges about applicants' eligibility for court appointed attorneys.
You will answer questions from, and provide information to, judges, the district attorney, defense attorneys, agencies, and the public about applications, the court appointed attorney process, and court procedures for all case types. You will also provide training, information, and guidance to coworkers as needed.
Assigned tasks may be changed to accommodate workload and organizational needs.
Instructions for REQUIRED Cover Letter and Work History/Resume
Your cover letter and work history/resume should demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications, the Special Qualifications, and the Requested Skills and Attributes, which are listed below.
Cover Letter (REQUIRED)
The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on the date listed above.
Minimum Qualifications
(These must be evident in your resume or work history.)
The qualified candidate must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
AND
At least three (3) or more years of responsible experience in a moderately complex office or business setting involving the processing of financial, administrative, or legal documents.
OR
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to three (3) years of experience that typically supports the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position.
Special Qualifications
(These must be verifiable.)
You must have a current driver's license and an acceptable driving record or be able to provide an acceptable alternate means of transportation.
Requested Skills and Attributes
(These must be addressed in your cover letter.)
Criminal Background Check
You will be subject to a criminal background check if you are a finalist. Adverse results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may result in disqualification if the circumstances are directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position.
Reference Checks
By submitting your application to OJD, you consent to reference checks about your qualifications, your workplace performance, and your work product.
United States Employment Eligibility
OJD does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. OJD will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.
Future Vacancies
Apply now if you are interested in this or future vacancies. This job announcement may be used to fill future vacancies in this class of work.
Veterans' Preference
Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given preference in the recruitment process. To receive preference, veterans must attach the appropriate documentation after they receive an email in their Workday inbox requesting the information to verify eligibility. The action item, asking veterans to attach their documentation, will arrive after they have submitted their initial application materials. Visit the Oregon job opportunities Veterans web page for additional details, information, and resources.
Conduct Expectations
Because of OJD's role in providing justice and upholding the rule of law, employees of the department are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics while on the job, and also to maintain those same high standards when taking actions in their personal lives that could reflect on the department. As an employee, you will be expected to preserve the confidentiality of information received in the course of OJD employment.
Pay Equity
As an employer, OJD complies with Oregon's pay equity law. In this job profile, we offer candidates new to OJD the first two steps of the salary range. For more information on pay equity, click here.
Employee Benefits
Click here to access information specific to OJD employee benefits.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
OJD is an eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. To learn more about this program, and how to qualify, please click here.
Questions and Support
The Oregon Judicial Department embraces equal opportunity and affirmative action. We are committed to building a diverse team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
Initial Posting Date:
10/07/2025
Application Deadline:
10/16/2025
Agency:
Judicial Department
Salary Range:
$4,428 - $6,870
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
Court Operations Associate (Indigent Defense Clerk)
Job Description:
Interviews: will be scheduled within two weeks after the application deadline.
Who We Are
OJD serves the public, and the people we serve may be facing challenging life circumstances, high levels of stress, or confusion about their next steps. The work you will do in this role directly affects the people in our community who come to the court to have their cases resolved. We need staff who want to have direct impact in their communities, value OJD's efforts to remove barriers to access justice services and enjoy a high level of customer service and interaction with the public.
We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We consider relevant work and past lived experience and education, plus any transferable skills and abilities that may meet our qualifications or the skills and attributes we need for this position. We welcome all candidates who are inspired by our work and mission.
Benefits To You
- We pay 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums for full-time employees, including mental health coverage.
- 10 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, 3 personal business days, separate sick and vacation paid leaves (prorated for part-time employees), and other employee benefits such as optional insurances and flexible spending plans.
- OJD will pay you a 5% allowance for bilingual skills (includes ASL) if you can pass a skills test and are assigned to use those skills on the job.
- In this job profile, we offer candidates new to OJD up to the third step of the salary range, depending on experience. You are potentially eligible for a 5% annual increase.
Oregon City, Oregon, rests on the Willamette River southeast of Portland. It is part of the Portland Metropolitan Area (along with Beaverton, Gresham, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, WA). Oregon City was the first capital of Oregon prior to the creation of the Oregon Territory in 1848. Before settling on Salem in 1864, the capital was moved several times to several different cities. It is also the end point of the Oregon Trail. Oregon City has the only "vertical street" in the nation, Elevator Street. Activities include museums, historic buildings, and more than 22 city parks, including Clackamette Park at the confluence of the Willamette and Clackamas rivers. Oregon City is also home to Willamette Falls, the largest waterfall by volume in the Pacific Northwest.
Position Highlights
The Clackamas County Circuit Court is hiring an Indigent Defense Clerk (Court Operations Associate) to support our Indigent Defense program.
In this role...
You will interview applicants who request court appointed attorneys. You will conduct these interviews at the front counter and occasionally by phone. You will use recommended interview techniques and verify applicants' personal and financial information. To verify information, you will use computer resources such as Equifax, state employment records, DMV records, and a guidelines calculator. As a subject matter expert, you will either appoint or recommend the denial of court appointed attorneys as appropriate, and you will review in-custody lists to ensure that all applicants requesting court appointed attorneys are interviewed. Part of your time may be spent attending court sessions to provide critical information to judges about applicants' eligibility for court appointed attorneys.
You will answer questions from, and provide information to, judges, the district attorney, defense attorneys, agencies, and the public about applications, the court appointed attorney process, and court procedures for all case types. You will also provide training, information, and guidance to coworkers as needed.
Assigned tasks may be changed to accommodate workload and organizational needs.
Instructions for REQUIRED Cover Letter and Work History/Resume
Your cover letter and work history/resume should demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications, the Special Qualifications, and the Requested Skills and Attributes, which are listed below.
Cover Letter (REQUIRED)
- Attach your cover letter (not to exceed two pages) in the Resume/Cover Letter section of the application. Your cover letter and filename should include your name.
- In the body of your cover letter, please include responses to all Requested Skills and Attributes listed below.
- Address the cover letter "To the Hiring Manager."
- Do not use a generic cover letter; please personalize your cover letter for this position. We read every letter.
- Prepare your cover letter before starting your Workday application.
- Attach your updated resume in the Resume/Cover Letter section of the application. Your resume and filename should include your name.
- Complete the Job History/Work Experience portion of your Workday profile if you are not using an updated resume.
The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on the date listed above.
Minimum Qualifications
(These must be evident in your resume or work history.)
The qualified candidate must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
AND
At least three (3) or more years of responsible experience in a moderately complex office or business setting involving the processing of financial, administrative, or legal documents.
OR
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to three (3) years of experience that typically supports the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position.
Special Qualifications
(These must be verifiable.)
You must have a current driver's license and an acceptable driving record or be able to provide an acceptable alternate means of transportation.
Requested Skills and Attributes
(These must be addressed in your cover letter.)
- Experience having one-on-one conversations with persons who may be upset or even hostile to try and obtain personal information.
- Experience completing high-volume data entry on a daily basis in a fast-paced environment, while prioritizing both accuracy and efficiency.
- Experience and proficiency using Windows-based software and complete work assignments.
- Experience identifying, handling, and securing confidential information and materials.
- This is a full-time position, and the work schedule currently is 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. This position is eligible for overtime compensation for hours worked in excess of 40 per workweek.
- Occasional after-hours or overtime work may be required.
- A state vehicle will be available to use for travel between the courthouse and the jail, if necessary.
- Fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines for daily court sessions.
- Frequent phone and in-person contact with people from diverse backgrounds.
- Frequent phone and in-person contact with people who may be facing challenging life circumstances, highly stressful situations, or trauma. Frequent exposure to difficult or hostile customers.
- Interviewing in-custody defendants in a jail setting may be required.
- Long periods of sitting or standing.
- Regular use of the following equipment: telephone, OJD-assigned computer with multiple monitors, copy machine, fax machine, and scanner.
Criminal Background Check
You will be subject to a criminal background check if you are a finalist. Adverse results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may result in disqualification if the circumstances are directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position.
Reference Checks
By submitting your application to OJD, you consent to reference checks about your qualifications, your workplace performance, and your work product.
United States Employment Eligibility
OJD does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. OJD will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.
Future Vacancies
Apply now if you are interested in this or future vacancies. This job announcement may be used to fill future vacancies in this class of work.
Veterans' Preference
Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given preference in the recruitment process. To receive preference, veterans must attach the appropriate documentation after they receive an email in their Workday inbox requesting the information to verify eligibility. The action item, asking veterans to attach their documentation, will arrive after they have submitted their initial application materials. Visit the Oregon job opportunities Veterans web page for additional details, information, and resources.
Conduct Expectations
Because of OJD's role in providing justice and upholding the rule of law, employees of the department are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics while on the job, and also to maintain those same high standards when taking actions in their personal lives that could reflect on the department. As an employee, you will be expected to preserve the confidentiality of information received in the course of OJD employment.
Pay Equity
As an employer, OJD complies with Oregon's pay equity law. In this job profile, we offer candidates new to OJD the first two steps of the salary range. For more information on pay equity, click here.
Employee Benefits
Click here to access information specific to OJD employee benefits.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
OJD is an eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. To learn more about this program, and how to qualify, please click here.
Questions and Support
- If you require an alternate format to complete the application process, call 503-###-####, or TTY: Oregon Relay Service 711 for the hearing impaired. Be prepared to describe the alternate format needed.
- Workday related information and resources are available here.
- For questions about a specific OJD job posting, call 503-###-#### or email ...@ojd.state.or.us.
The Oregon Judicial Department embraces equal opportunity and affirmative action. We are committed to building a diverse team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.