Legal Assistant (Office Automation)

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys in the Southern District of Texas invite applications for federal positions at the GS-6 and GS-7 levels.

Eligible applicants must have specialized experience reviewing legal documents and assisting with hearing and trial preparation, including assembling information and verifying references. Applicants should possess experience using legal databases to produce reports and be prepared to support attorneys during

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience at GS-5 level or equivalent.
• Experience reviewing complaints, motions, orders, and subpoenas.
• Ability to research legal sources and produce reports.

Responsibilities

• Assist attorneys by preparing hearing documents and trial notebooks.
• Verify citations and statutory references contained in legal documents.
• Assemble information for hearings and trial use.

Skills

Legal document review

Trial support

Legal databases

Tools

Legal databases

Job description

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. For more information on the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. This position is also being announced to the Public via Delegated Examining Principles under announcement 26-SDTX-13039847-DE.

GS-6

To be eligible at the GS-6 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience as defined below:

Specialized experience

is defined as experience reviewing legal documents such as complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, subpoenas, and responsible for completeness of information; retrieving and assembling information for hearing and/or trial use; researching a variety of legal sources to obtain and/or verify information; and using automated software to produce legal related reports, documents, correspondence and related materials. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the GS-05 grade/level in the federal service.

GS-7

To be eligible at the GS-7 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience as defined below:

Specialized experience

is defined as experience providing trial support to attorneys by preparing complaints, motions, subpoenas, proposed 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 tables of authorities to briefs, and prepare courtroom presentations. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the GS-06 grade/level in the federal service.

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/.

CTAP/ICTAP Documentation Requirements-

a copy of a separation notice or other proof of eligibility for priority selection; a copy of an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing current position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location; AND a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) -

VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement.

Special Employment Consideration -

Persons with disabilities, veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the armed forces, and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for non-competitive appointments. For further information, click on the links provided below. You must specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities Links:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments