Employment

This is a non-union position. The salary grade is G54.

Application Instructions

To be considered for employment at FJD, candidates must submit a completed employment application on our website at https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/cyberweb and click on Apply Now button to create an account or to log into their existing account.

A completed application must be submitted by 11:59 PM on 11/18/2026.

About FJD

The First Judicial District of Pennsylvania is the Philadelphia County Court System composed of two courts: the Court of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court. Our mission is to adjudicate cases and provide services to the community within our jurisdiction while ensuring fair, timely, and accessible justice to the people of Philadelphia.

Benefits Summary

Full-time employees of the FJD are eligible for the following benefits:

• FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program.
• 8-weeks of Paid parental leave
• Generous paid time off: 10 days’ vacation, 15 sicks days, 5 annual (paid personal) leave days, 12 paid holidays.
• Comprehensive and affordable health coverage to meet you and your family’s needs.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Pension through Philadelphia Municipal Employees Retirement Plan
• 457 (b) Deferred Compensation Plan is tax-advantage retirement plan to accelerate your retirement savings by putting money aside pretax into investment portfolios. This is separate from your pension.
• Tuition Discounts and Scholarships: FJD participates in the City of Philadelphia’s Return to Learning Partnership Program to provide access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Discounts range between 10% to 40%.

About Department

The Domestic Relations Branch has varied responsibilities in responding to complaints and petitions that can be broadly categorized under: Child and Spousal Support, Divorce, Child Custody, and Domestic Violence.

Position Summary

This is a full-time in-person position requiring work directly with court personnel, and judges in the Philadelphia Courts.

This is an at-will position with assignment under the direction of the Administrative Judge of Family Court, supervising attorney(s), and other administrative superiors. This is highly professional legal work serving in the capacity of a Hearing Officer with the Domestic Relations Branch of Family Court, specifically to hear Child Support and Child Custody matters. The work is performed in a quasi-judicial setting and involves conducting formal conferences and hearings between parties, both married and non-married, some of whom are represented by attorneys. These proceedings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedures governing custody and support, and other applicable law.

Requirements

• Minimum of five (5) consecutive years as a licensed attorney and ongoing membership in good standing of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the duration of employment as a Custody and Support Hearing Officer.
• Current and ongoing compliance with Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements mandated by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, as well as any and all other continuing educational requirements applicable to the position of Custody and Support Hearing Officer.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience with an active law practice including the field of domestic relations law, or as a judicial law clerk to a Family Court Judge or a court employed attorney in the Domestic Relations Branch.
• After meeting minimum application standards by a panel review, must complete an evaluation and interview process.
• Successful completion of a criminal background investigation.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position
• Must work in person (not remote).

Essential Functions

The following duties are normal for this position. They are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be assigned and required.

• Conduct conferences and hearings involving parties engaged in Child Support and Custody litigation.
• Schedules, hears, evaluates, and prepares formal recommendations for submission to the Court which require receiving documents and hearing testimony by plaintiff, defendant, and witnesses, as well as arguments by counsel; examining said testimony and the evidence submitted; evaluating the information and filing a report with the Court
• Makes recommendations pertaining to entry of support and/or custody orders.
• May join support matter to custody matter to accept agreement of the parties who wish to concurrently resolve support issues where there are open support matters.

Envirvonmental Conditions

Standard office conditions.
Direct contact with diverse court clientele.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure governing actions for Child Support and Custody.
• Thorough knowledge of statutory and case law relating to Child Custody and Child Support.
• Thorough knowledge of the proper conduct of hearings held in accordance with Pennsylvania laws.
• Thorough knowledge of the preparation of legal documents and court orders.
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in applying law to factual situations and support recommendations made by appropriate legal authority.
• Ability to fairly and objectively rule on a multitude of cases that involve highly emotional issues.
• Ability to present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.

ADA Notice

The First Judicial District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the First Judicial District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.