Legal Administrative Specialist

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. This position is also being announced to All U.S. Citizens and Nationals under Job Announcement 26-ALN-12904651-MS Learn more about this agency Duties If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for providing litigation support to Assistant United States Attorneys as they prosecute and defend civil cases. Typical work assignments will include: 1. Legal Support. Using knowledge of a variety of legal regulations, precedents, and practices, examines prepares, and processes technical legal correspondence and documents which are characteristically voluminous and complex in format. 2. Preparation and Management of Evidence and Discovery. Aids in preparing and organizing evidence for production as discovery and for use in trial. Prepares trial exhibits such as statistical charts, graphs, and timelines to be presented in court. Manages discovery and evidence in paper copies and electronically and in conjunction with automated litigation support staff, may present the exhibits using trial presentation software in court, and train other legal support staff. Assists in preparing witness binders and for use during investigations and trial. 3. Legal Research and Case Management. In response to requests from attorneys, conducts factual and legal research in legal and non-legal databases and provides requested information. Following instructions from attorneys, searches for legal precedent in indices and computerized legal reference systems. Contributes to reports summarizing the case status, including legal issues, factual issues, and case developments. 4. Administrative Support. Provides general administrative support in conjunction with assigned legal areas. Receives visitors and telephone callers. Furnishes requested information concerning pending and closed matters and cases, functions, and general procedures of the office. Determines which matters should be referred to the AUSA and the urgency of the matter. Establishes and maintains a variety of files. 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 To be eligible at the GS 09 level, you must meet the definition of Specialized Experience, as defined below: Specialized experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS 07 level performing the following types of duties: Providing legal and administrative support to one or more attorneys including examining, preparing, editing, cite-checking and processing legal documents, tracking cases, evaluating, producing and presenting discovery. Providing training and support in Legal databases and software (i.e. Eclipse, Relativity, Trial Director, etc). Assisting attorneys with trial preparation to include items such as subpoenas, trial exhibits, information requests, pleadings, and correspondence. Completion of factual legal research in legal and non-legal databases. Receiving visitors and telephone calls. Establishing and maintaining a variety of files. OR Education: A Master's, LL.B., J.D., Ph.D., or equivalent graduate degree in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law, English, Information Technology); or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree that is related to the position and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. Transcripts are required. OR Combining Education and Experience: A combination of specialized experience as described above and graduate education described above which when combined equal 100% of the requirements. (Please note: Only education in excess of 1 full year is creditable.) To calculate your percentage of education, first determine the total number of hours that exceed 18 semester hours. Then divide the total number of your excess semester hours by 18. To calculate your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by 12. Now, add the two percentages together. The sum of the percentages must equal at least 100%. Transcripts are 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 All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov OR Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. 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: 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: 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: 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. Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a 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. Expand Hide  additional information 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. Benefits 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.