Vulnerability 6

Cultivating a future-ready workforce and workplace

Vision 2032: Courts are designed to reflect the needs of those who use and work within them and are powered by a diverse, flexible, and motivated workforce.

Advancements in technology, data, and augmented intelligence affect the way work is done, and the cultural shift from physical to virtual spaces alters the expectations of the work environment and job satisfaction. As more physical and geographical boundaries dissolve in our virtual environment, courts face additional challenges. Failing to address these challenges could leave courts trying to operate with outdated workflows, technologies, and facilities and a workforce that is unprepared and unmotivated to meet the demands and expectations of those who use courts.

To address this vulnerability, those who work in courts must fully embrace the changing conceptualization of courts as service providers rather than as physical structures where court business takes place. This has implications for what work is done where, by whom, and with what technological assistance. It also has implications for the kind of workforce needed to accomplish the work, which likely includes new positions and incentives needed to recruit and retain highly motivated and innovative individuals in a competitive marketplace.

Key future-ready questions

6.1  We assess court employee satisfaction.
6.2  We review our recruitment, hiring, and retention practices to optimize a high-performing workforce.
6.3  We examine workflows and assign resources (e.g., judges, staff, technology) based on the level of effort needed to effectively perform each task.
6.4  We explore opportunities to meaningfully incorporate technology into the court’s infrastructure and work.
6.5  We explore opportunities to accommodate the changing needs (e.g., spaces for individual work, group collaboration, remote connection) of staff and court users.

Key resources for moving forward to consider