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County Magistrate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Elected Official Department: Magistrate's Office Opening Date: 06/15/2026 FLSA: Non-Exempt ... Beaufort County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We offer a complete benefits package to full-time ...

Police Officer I

Apex, NC · On-site

$62K - $76K/yr

Issues citations for violation of traffic regulations, serves warrants; apprehends and processes criminal suspects and transports to County Magistrate and/or County detention facilities. * Regulates ...

JR2026-00028862 Clerk Magistrate II (Open) Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is ... county or district. Responsibilities may include administrative support such as planning ...

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County Magistrate information

See salary details

$33K

$95.5K

$212.5K

How much do county magistrate jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for county magistrate in the United States is $95,503.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,000.00 and $142,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a county magistrate?

County Magistrates are judicial officers who preside over lower courts, typically handling minor criminal offenses, small civil disputes, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings in more serious cases. They are often responsible for issuing warrants, setting bail, and conducting arraignments. In some jurisdictions, County Magistrates may be elected or appointed and generally do not require a law degree, though requirements vary by state or county. Their primary role is to ensure the fair and efficient administration of justice at the local level.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a county magistrate?

To thrive as a County Magistrate, you need a strong understanding of local and state laws, judicial procedures, and typically a relevant law degree or legal experience. Familiarity with court management systems, legal research databases, and case management software is often required. Impartiality, sound judgment, and excellent communication are crucial soft skills for effective decision-making and courtroom management. These skills and qualities are essential to ensure fair legal proceedings, uphold justice, and maintain public trust in the judicial system.

What are some common challenges faced by county magistrates in balancing judicial responsibilities with administrative duties?

County Magistrates often juggle a dual role, handling both judicial tasks such as presiding over hearings and managing administrative duties like case scheduling and courtroom management. This can be challenging, as it requires strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize effectively under time constraints. Additionally, Magistrates must maintain impartiality while interacting with diverse parties, often in high-pressure situations. Collaborating with law enforcement, court staff, and attorneys is essential to ensure smooth court operations and uphold justice in the community.

What is the difference between County Magistrate vs County Judge?

AspectCounty MagistrateCounty Judge
Required CredentialsLegal education, passing the bar exam, judicial certificationLegal education, passing the bar exam, judicial certification
Work EnvironmentCourts handling minor civil and criminal cases, community settingsCourts handling broader civil, criminal, and appellate cases
Employer & Industry UsageLocal government, county courtsCounty courts, judicial districts

Both County Magistrates and County Judges require legal credentials and work within county court systems. Magistrates typically handle minor cases and community matters, while Judges preside over a wider range of cases, including more serious civil and criminal matters. The roles differ mainly in case scope and jurisdiction, but both serve essential functions in county judicial systems.

What cities are hiring for County Magistrate jobs?

Cities with the most County Magistrate job openings:

What states have the most County Magistrate jobs?

States with the most job openings for County Magistrate jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to County Magistrate jobs?

For County Magistrate jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Public Defender Attorney I

Columbia, SC • On-site

Other

Posted 11 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Prepares and argues criminal cases in court, including motions, plea negotiations, and trial appearances.

  • Conducts case investigations, interviews witnesses and victims, reviews evidence and discovery, and prepares for trials.

  • Maintains client communication, drafts legal documents, and coordinates with social services and partner agencies.


Job description

## Public Defender Attorney IApplylocations: Judicial Centertime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Yesterdayjob requisition id: R2514**GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB**This position represents indigent adults and juveniles charged with less serious criminal offenses in Richland County. This position may handle a misdemeanor case load within the City of Columbia Municipal Court or Richland County Magistrate Court; investigates cases; contacts clients; conducts meetings with clients, witnesses, law enforcement and more; coordinates with social services as needed; reviews discovery; prepares for bench trials/jury trials/plea dates; and files and argues motions. This position operates within established legal and organizational guidelines while exercising independent judgment in case management.**SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**Essential Functions:* Prepares and argues criminal cases in court. Prepares and argues motions; negotiates plea bargains on behalf of criminally charged clients; represents clients at preliminary hearings; participates in case investigations including crime scene investigations; interviews witnesses and victims; reviews and examines evidence; reviews discovery; researches and evaluates legal issues; prepares witnesses for trial; prepares for trials; makes court appearances; selects juries; etc.* Receives and responds to client or public inquiries, concerns, and complaints in areas of responsibility.* Drafts own legal documents with little to no supervision or oversight.* Meets with clients in the courthouse, at jails, and at correctional or detention facilities; meets with partner agencies.* Plans and gives presentations to various community civic organizations as requested.* Maintains files and notes related to representation.* Attends professional conferences, training, seminars, workshops, etc., as necessary to maintain job knowledge and skills.* Contributes to internal and external trainings.* Completion of SCCID training PD 101, 102, and 103.* Handles trials with senior supervision.* Performs other duties as assigned.**MINIMUM EDUCATION AND TRAINING*** Juris Doctor.* No experience required. Experience in criminal law preferred.Licenses/Certifications/Other:* Must possess a valid state driver’s license.* Must have a license to practice law in South Carolina.* Must possess and maintain current membership in the S.C. Bar Association.* Requires transportation to attend court hearings in other locations and to visit clients in jails and prisons.**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS REQUIRED**Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:* **Data Involvement:** Requires synthesizing or integrating analysis of data or information to discover facts or develop knowledge or interpretations; changes policies, procedures, or methodologies based on new facts, knowledge, or interpretations.* **People Involvement:** Requires interaction with clients, with clients’ families, with agency service providers, with court personnel, with the Solicitor’s Office, and with law enforcement; requires negotiating; and requires exchanging ideas, information, and opinions with others in an effort to arrive jointly at decisions, conclusions, or solutions. Requires client consultation in correctional and detention facilities.* **Involvement with Things:** Requires handling or using machines, tools, or equipment requiring brief instruction or experience, such as computers, fax machines, copiers, telephones, or similar equipment; may service office machines, including adding paper and changing toner.* **Reasoning Requirements:** Requires performing work involving the application of principles of logical thinking or legal practice to diagnose or define problems; collects data; solves abstract problems with widespread unit or organizational impact; and requires the ability to interpret and apply law and judicial decisions and prepare opinions, briefs, memoranda, and other documents. Requires the ability to prepare motions, briefs, memoranda, and other documents in support of representation of individual clients with little to no supervision or oversight; requires the ability to formulate and make arguments to advance the interests of clients in court.* **Mathematical Requirements:** Requires using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and/or calculating ratios, rates, and percentages.* **Language Requirements:** Requires reading and interpreting professional materials involving advanced bodies of knowledge related to law and other complex disciplines; writing extremely complex papers and reports; and speaking to high-level political, legal, or other such groups.* **Mental Requirements:** Requires using advanced professional-level work methods and practices in the analysis, coordination, or interpretation of work of a professional, legal, or managerial nature; requires the ability to formulate important recommendations or make technical decisions that have an organization-wide impact; and requires sustained, intense concentration for accurate results and continuous exposure to sustained, unusual pressure.* **Computer Requirements****:** Requires using MS Office Suite programs and knowledge and skills in general computer and web-based database systems.* **Judgments and Decisions****:** Responsible for actions of others, requiring making decisions affecting co-workers, clients or others in the general public; works in a moderately fluid environment with guidelines and rules, but with frequent variations from the routine.Physical Requirements:The work is sedentary work which requires the person in this position to occasionally exert up to 10 pounds of force to grasp, lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:* **Grasping:** Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.* **Hearing:** Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound.* **Lifting:** Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.* **Manual Dexterity:** Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.* **Mental Acuity****:** Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.* **Speaking:** Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.* **Standing:** Particularly for sustained periods of time.* **Talking:** Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly. Shouting in order to be heard above ambient noise level.* **Visual Acuity:** Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading. Including color, depth perception, and field vision.* **Walking:** Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.**WORK ENVIRONMENT**May be required to work hours other than the regular schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays. This position requires regular and reliable attendance and the employee’s physical presence at the workplace. The job risks exposure to no known environmental hazards. Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.**EEO AND ADA MESSAGE***To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions described herein. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were written out in this job description.**Richland County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.****Richland County has the right to revise this job description at any time. This description does not represent in any way a contract of employment.*** #J-18808-Ljbffr