TRIAL COURT STAFF ATTORNEY - 22008298, 22008967, 22011579, 22012253

Requisition No: 853234 

Agency: State Courts System

Working Title: TRIAL COURT STAFF ATTORNEY - 22008298, 22008967, 22011579, 22012253

 Pay Plan: State Courts System

Position Number: 22008298 

Salary: $63,724.95 Annually (10% below minimum if not yet passed the Florida Bar) 

Posting Closing Date: 08/14/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator

Position Title

Trial Court Staff Attorney

Job Location

20th Judicial Circuit; Lee, Collier, and Charlotte Counties

Salary Range

$63,724.95 (10% below minimum if not yet passed the Florida Bar)

Job Description

*This position is eligible for a Competitive Area Differential (CAD) as approved by the Florida State Court System up to $3,498.00 annually.

The position of Trial Court Law Clerk/Staff Attorney to the Judges of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court is a professional position that entails research and writing of legal memoranda, draft opinions and draft orders in all types of circuit and county court matters, including but not limited to, criminal matters, including post-conviction motions and related civil matters such as petitions for extraordinary relief filed by or on behalf of sentenced inmates and pretrial detainees, and other miscellaneous pre-trial or post-trial criminal issues, appeals from county court (both civil and criminal), and civil matters, including miscellaneous pre-trial or post-trial civil issues, and domestic relations and family law issues. Work is performed under general supervision of the Supervising Senior Staff Attorney and Judges, and is reviewed in progress, as necessary, and upon completion.

A Staff Attorney's primary responsibilities include the following: (1) Assist Criminal Division Judges, (2) Assist Civil Division Judges, (3) Assist the Appellate Banc with County-to-Circuit Appeals, (4) Other duties as assigned.
Examples of Duties
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.

(1) Assist Criminal Division Judges
• Review and monitor post-conviction motions, conduct legal research, make recommendations to judges, and submit proposed orders.
• Review miscellaneous pre-trial or post-trial criminal motions, or any other criminal matter as requested, conduct legal research, make recommendations to judges, and submit proposed orders.
• Upon request, draft proposed jury instructions and advise as to sentencing options.
• Monitor death penalty proceedings, conduct legal research, make recommendations to judges, and submit proposed orders.
• Conduct research as to current law, and advise judges on various legal issues.

(2) Assist Civil Division Judges
• Review and monitor petitions seeking extraordinary remedies, conduct legal research, make recommendations to judges, draft memoranda law, and submit proposed orders.
• Review miscellaneous pre-trial or post-trial civil motions, or any other civil matter as requested, conduct legal research, make recommendations to judges, draft memoranda of law, and submit proposed orders.
• Conduct research as to current law, and advise Judges on various legal issues.

(3) Assist Appellate Banc with County-to-Circuit Appeals
• Review and monitor appeal files at the pre-disposition stages, conduct legal research, make recommendations to the Appellate Banc, and submit proposed orders to the Appellate Banc.
• Once appeals are ready for disposition, review trial records and appellate briefs, conduct legal research, submit memoranda with recommendation to Appellate Banc, and submit proposed opinions to the Appellate Banc.

(4) Other Duties as assigned
Typical Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Training Guidelines

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
• Proficient in computerized legal research, including Westlaw and/or Lexis-Nexis
• Work experience, which demonstrates orientation towards public service
• Ability to work on occasion outside normal business hours based on operational necessity
• Ability to utilize Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
• Membership in good standing in the Florida Bar is required. If not already a member, membership is required within one year of hire

Work experience which demonstrates orientation towards public service.

Competencies

Knowledge of:
• Legal principles, statutory and case law, court rules and procedures.
• Legal publications.
• Florida State Courts System.
• Westlaw and/or Lexis, Microsoft Outlook, and Word.

Skills:
• Manual legal research.
• Proficient in computerized legal research, including Westlaw and/or Lexis.
• Legal writing.
• Proof reading and thorough editing.

Ability to:
• Reason logically and analytically without biased, unsupported, or creative interpretations of the law
• Grasp, comprehend, and analyze complex legal issues and complicated factual details.
• Work well under pressure, multi-task, and meet established timelines and goals.
• Perform exacting work, attentive to issues in matters before the court.
• Comprehend that which is read.
• Digest and communicate ideas and concepts effectively orally and in writing.
• Exercise discretion, confidentiality, impartiality, and honesty in handling matters before the court.
• Act professionally, respectfully, and in a manner becoming of a court employee at all times
• Refrain from any behavior that could be deemed divisive or disruptive
• Work effectively with others.
• Work effectively independently.
• Maintain organization.
• Prioritize work load.
• Accept direction, instruction, and constructive criticism in a positive manner.
• Set aside any bias or prejudice such that all work submitted is neutral and impartial in content and tone.
• Efficiently operate a computer; utilize Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel and various other software programs and databases such as Westlaw and Lexis
• Type 45 correct words per minute
• Provide effective, accurate, professional, polite, friendly, and prompt customer service to the public and other agency personnel, AOC employees, and the Judiciary
• Maintain consistent and regular attendance, which is required
• Travel within the circuit for coverage
• Work the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. but may on occasion require work outside of those normal business hours, and possibly on weekends or holidays based on operational necessity.

Special Comments

Staff Attorneys (Trial Court Law Clerks) are generally considered employees of the Administrative Office of the Courts of the entire 20th Judicial Circuit (Lee County, Collier County, Charlotte County, Hendry County, Glades County), and not employees of a specific county. Regardless of headquarters, Staff Attorneys (Trial Court Law Clerks) may occasionally be required to travel to other counties within the circuit as may be determined by the supervisor and operational necessity. In addition, Staff Attorneys (Trial Court Law Clerks) may be temporarily or permanently reassigned to headquarters in another county within the circuit as may be determined by the supervisor and operational necessity.

Benefits
At the Administrative Offices of the Courts, 20th Judicial Circuit, we know that our employees are our most valuable asset. Your work and dedication allows us to perform at the highest levels of our court performance standards. Because of this, our employee benefits package is a top priority. The benefits we offer at the AOC help to ensure that you and your family will maintain your health and financial security while serving our communities.

How to Apply

For more information and to apply please visit our website at , select the Employment Link and click job opportunities.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.