Legal Assistant (Office Automation)

Full Job Description

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. This position is also being announced to applicants eligible to apply through Merit Staffing procedures under 26-IAN-12862682-MS.

GS-5: To be eligible at the GS-5 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions.

as defined below: Specialized Experience OR Education OR a combination of both specialized experience and education as explained below.

Specialized Experience: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level in Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector.

Specialized Experience is defined as experience reviewing documents with legal implications for accuracy and completeness (e.g., court documents, real estate documents, contracts, insurance or benefits claims, mortgage or loan applications, tax forms, or other types of legal documents); typing and formatting correspondence and forms; maintaining file systems; and obtaining needed information from files or general reference sources.

OR Education: Successfully completed 4 years above the high school level.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: Successfully completed post-high school education may be used to meet the total one year of specialized experience requirement equivalent to the GS-4 grade level.

Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement.

One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.

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: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector.

Specialized Experience is defined as 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; 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: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level in Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector.

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/. Major Duties:

If selected for this position, you will serve as a Legal Assistant with the United States Attorney's Office, District of Northern Iowa Criminal Division.

At the full performance level, you will support Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) by providing a variety of legal assistance and office support services.

Duties include but are not limited to: Examining, preparing, and processing a variety of technical legal documents, including complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, subpoenas, and libels.

Proofreading and cite-checking legal briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents to ensure accuracy and compliance with legal standards.

Assisting attorneys in trial preparation by conducting non-complex research on litigation, statutes, regulations, and court cases.

Assembling exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents necessary for court proceedings. Organizing and maintaining files and records for disposition or transfer to a records depository.

Maintaining a calendar of assigned active cases to ensure timely management of deadlines. Tracking filing, hearing, and trial dates, as well as scheduling conferences and interviews.

Arranging travel by preparing itineraries and securing transportation and hotel reservations. 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.