Legal Assistant (Office Automation)

United States Attorneys' Offices; Paducah (KY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

United States Attorneys' Offices in Paducah, KY seeks a motivated legal support professional. You will support Assistant United States Attorneys by preparing and processing legal documents, proofreading briefs and memoranda, organizing files and calendars, and coordinating travel as needed.

This role offers on-the-job training and requires typing at least 40 wpm, attention to detail, and adherence to federal guidelines. A background check and citizenship requirements apply.

Qualifications

• Must type at least 40 words per minute with few errors.
• Experience reviewing legal documents for completeness and accuracy.
• Ability to conduct non-complex legal research and prepare reports.
• Proficient with standard office software applications.

Responsibilities

• Examine, prepare and process legal documents such as complaints and subpoenas.
• Proofread and cite-check briefs, memoranda and other materials.
• Assist attorneys in trial preparation with research and organization.
• Assemble exhibits, affidavits and other documents for cases.
• Maintain calendars and track filing/trial dates; schedule conferences.

Skills

Typing 40 wpm

Legal document preparation

Research

Office software proficiency

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Summary

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

At the full performance level, you will support Assistant United States Attorneys by providing a variety of legal assistance and office support services. If selected, you will receive formal and/or on-the-job training as needed. Duties include:

• examining, preparing and processing a variety of technical legal documents, e.g., complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, and subpoenas;
• proofreading and cite checking legal briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents;
• providing assistance to attorneys in trial preparation by conducting non-complex research of litigation, statutes, regulations and court cases;
• assembling exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents;
• assembling and organizing files and records material for disposition or transfer to records depository;
• maintaining calendar of assigned active cases;
• tracking filing, hearing, and trials dates, and scheduling conferences and interviews;
• 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-6: To be eligible at the GS-6 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level.

Specialized experience is defined as experience reviewing legal documents such as complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, and subpoenas 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; and using automated software to produce legal related reports, documents, correspondence and related materials.

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; 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