Legal Assistant (OA)

United States Attorneys' Offices; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is seeking a Legal Assistant (OA) to join the Appellate Division in Washington, DC. The role focuses on collecting, organizing, and providing docket-related information in oral or written form, supporting a high‑performing team.

Typical assignments include assembling records for filings, maintaining case-tracking databases, and performing routine administrative duties at local courts.

Qualifications

• Typing at least 40 words per minute.
• Reviewing complaints, motions, orders, pleadings, subpoenas and related documents for completeness.
• Retrieving and assembling information for hearings and trial use.
• Using automated software to produce legal reports, documents and correspondence.

Responsibilities

• Assemble record material for court filings.
• Organize, process, and copy documents per requirements.
• Examine, prepare and process a variety of legal documents.
• Maintain automated case-tracking database and enter/retrieve data.
• Manage paper and electronic documents, correspondence, briefs and materials.
• Perform docketing duties using the automated case tracking system.

Skills

Typing 40 wpm

Legal document review

Records management

Research skills

Job description

Summary

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia's mission is to enforce the criminal laws of the United States and the District of Columbia, represent the interests of the United States in civil litigation, and respond to the public safety needs of the community by leading an effective, well-coordinated law enforcement effort that contributes to the overall goal of improving the quality of life in the District of Columbia.

Duties

Help

This Legal Assistant (OA) provides legal assistant/docket work within the Appellate Division.

If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for providing Legal Assistant (OA) support in the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia, located in Washington, District of Columbia, focusing in the areas of independently collecting, selecting, organizing, and providing docket-related information in oral or written form.

Typical Work Assignments Will Include

• Assembling record material for court filings;
• Organizing, processing, and copying documents in accordance with requirements;
• Examining, preparing, and processing a variety of technical legal documents;
• Maintaining automated case-tracking database and enters/retrieves data or pertinent information;
• Managing paper and electronic documents, correspondence, briefs, and other documentary materials;
• Performing docketing duties such as opening, updating and closing cases through use of the automated case tracking system. As necessary, searches databases for required information;
• Performing administrative functions such as copying, binding and preparing record materials for court filings. Routinely goes to local courts (Superior and District) for document research and retrieval;
• Receiving visitors and callers, establishing a variety of files, maintaining calendars;
• Performing other legal administrative duties as assigned.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen or National to apply for this position.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• A probationary period may be required.
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• Must provide resume and supporting documents (See required documents).
• You must meet all qualifications requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• As needed, additional selections may be made using this announcement.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required basic requirement and specialized experience for the respective grade level in which you are applying:

Typing Proficiency

To be qualified, you must type at least 40 words per minute based on a 5 minute sample with three or fewer errors. (A typing test may later be required.)

To Qualify At The GS-07 Level, You Must Possess

Specialized Experience:

• Reviewing legal documents such as complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, subpoenas, and libels for completeness of factual information.
• Retrieving and assembling information for hearing and/or trial use.
• Researching a variety of legal sources to obtain and/or verify information.
• Using automated software to produce legal related reports, documents, correspondence and related materials.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here.

Additional information

Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized.

Background Investigation:

To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Justice requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for a clearance as a condition of placement in this High Risk position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility, click here.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. Additional information about CTAP eligibility, click here.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests

If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case‑by‑case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments: Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.