Bilingual (Somali-English) Self-Help Center Specialist, Self-Represented Litigant Program, Hennepin County

Hennepin County District Court is currently accepting applications for a Bilingual (Somali-English) Self-Help Center (SHC) Specialist position with the Judicial Branch’s Self-Represented Litigant (SRL) Program. 

The Self-Represented Litigant (SRL) Program provides information to Self-Represented Litigants (SRLs) with legal issues that can be addressed in District Court, pursuant to Minnesota Court Rules, General Rules of Practice, Rule 110.  Self-Represented Litigants (SRL) Program staff cannot provide legal advice.  

The goals of the program include:

• Increasing access to justice for individuals who cannot afford to hire an attorney or choose not to hire an attorney to represent them.

• Improving the efficiency of the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch's Self-Represented Litigant (SRL) Program has three Self-Help Center (SHC) locations, including two walk-in centers located in downtown Minneapolis and one statewide, virtual center. Together, the Self-Help Centers (SHCs) serve over 75,000 customers annually in person, via phone, and via email. Each of the three Self-Help Centers is a diverse, professional environment that promotes equity for all court staff and court users. Self-Help Center Specialists work individually and in teams using independent judgment and available resources to assist Self-Represented Litigants (SRLs) by responding to a variety of Self-Represented Litigant (SRL) questions across different case types. 

The Self-Help Center Specialist will work initially with the Self-Help Center (SHC) located in the Hennepin County Family Justice Center (FJC) (110 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN). This position will also help Self-Represented Litigants (SRLs), and the Self-Help Center (SHC) team at the Hennepin County Government Center (HCGC) (300 S. 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN) and may assist the Statewide Self-Help Center.

This is a full-time, non-exempt position classified as a Self-Help Center Specialist. Core business hours for this position are 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Initial training is required to be in person, onsite. Trained staff will be provided with a hybrid rotation and may change depending upon business needs. A reliable internet connection will be required when working remotely. 

The Minnesota Judicial Branch offers a comprehensive benefits package. To learn more about benefits, click here.

Example of Duties:

The following are examples of major job duties expected for this position to perform:

• Provide legal information to Self-Represented Litigants (SRLs) with legal issues that may be addressed in District Court. This information is delivered through a variety of accessible formats and settings, including in-person assistance, telephone support, email correspondence, and web-based technologies, ensuring equitable access for all individuals regardless of their preferred method of communication or technological ability.
• Provide information on available legal and community resource and legal information such as court procedures, legal requirements, forms, and how to prepare for court. 
• May participate in assignments or projects to support self-represented litigants, including developing and delivering training, creating materials for outreach, or supporting court administration or judges to improve services and support for court customers.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch recognizes the diverse set of skills, strengths, and attributes that an individual may bring into a role. If you have any combination of the experience, training, and education required for this position, apply today! For education requirements listed, the equivalent number of years of related experience may serve as a substitute.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Fluency in English and Somali (speaking, reading, and writing). 
  • Selected candidate will be required to pass an oral Somali-language proficiency exam. 
• Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university and one (1) year of experience in a court or legal setting and experience providing effective customer service OR a combination of equivalent education and experience

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to listen and interpret the nature of a problem and the relevant context in order to apply knowledge of court practices and processes to address individual court customer’s issues.