Legal Assistant (Office Automation)

United States Attorneys' Offices; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The United States Attorneys' Offices in Tennessee seeks a legal assistant to support Assistant United States Attorneys in the Criminal Division with a range of legal and office support tasks.

Responsibilities include preparing and organizing legal documents, proofreading, legal research, assembling exhibits, and aiding discovery and trial preparation. A successful candidate must meet typing and qualification requirements and be prepared for a government benefits package.

Qualifications

• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level in trial support or related duties.
• Typing test of 40 words per minute with three or fewer errors (may be required later).
• ICTAP eligibility affords selection priority if displaced and well-qualified.
• CTAP eligibility provides selection priority for surplus/displaced employees if well-qualified.

Responsibilities

• Examine, prepare and process a variety of technical legal documents such as complaints, warrants, motions, orders, and subpoenas.
• Proofread and cite-check briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents.
• Conduct factual and legal research using legal and non-legal databases; list cited cases and references.
• Assemble exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents; organize discovery materials for production and trial.
• Prepare trial exhibits, witness binders, and jury instructions; compile witness and exhibit lists.
• Track case status, filings, hearings, and trials; schedule conferences and interviews; maintain calendars.

Skills

Typing speed 40 wpm

Education

No education substitution

Tools

Legal databases

Job description

Summary

The successful candidate will support Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in the Criminal Division by providing a variety of legal assistance and office support services.

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/.

As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Duties

If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for supporting Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in the Criminal Division by providing a variety of legal assistance and office support services. Duties include:

• examining, preparing and processing a variety of technical legal documents, including but not limited to complaints, search warrants, motions, orders, and subpoenas, etc.;


• proofreading and cite checking legal briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents;


• providing assistance to attorneys by conducting factual and legal research in legal and non-legal databases, listing cited cases, opinions, and miscellaneous references;


• conducting non-complex research of legislation, statutes, regulations and court cases;


• assembling exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents;


• preparing and organizing evidence for production as discovery and for use in trial;


• preparing trial exhibits, witness binders, trial notebooks, jury instructions, and compiling witness and exhibit lists;


• tracking case status, filings, hearings, and trials dates, and scheduling conference and interviews;


• maintaining calendars, scheduling appointments, interviews, and court appearances;


• arranging travel by preparing itinerary and securing transportation and hotel reservations; and


• producing a variety of written documents and materials using a wide range of office software applications.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National


• 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


• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable


• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.


• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

GS-7: To be eligible at the GS-7 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience providing trial support to attorneys by preparing complaints, motions, subpoenas, orders, or other hearing and/or trial documents accurately and in proper format; verifying citations and statutory references contained in legal documents; assisting with discovery, hearing or trial preparation by performing duties such as compiling trial notebooks, assembling jury instructions, and compiling witness and exhibit lists; and using software applications and legal and non-legal databases to produce legal related reports and documents, conduct factual research, develop tables of contents and indices to briefs, and prepare courtroom presentations.

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.)

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): The 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 the 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 receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component 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 receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Education

There is no education substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized.

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.

Selective Service

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

EEO Statement/Policy

EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.

Political Appointees (Current or Former)

Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

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.

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.