Legal Administrative Specialist (Litigation Support) (Hiring Immediately)

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 26‑NTX‑12996710‑DE.

Responsibilities

If selected for this position, you will join a well‑respected team that is responsible for providing a wide range of legal support services to one or more AUSAs or SAUSAs responsible for conducting litigation in the Criminal Division. The subject matter will include a broad range of general criminal litigation, including violent crime and immigration matters. Legal support services include assistance with case management and case presentations as well as automated case litigation and management programs.

Prepare, organize, index, develop, and manage exhibits, evidence and data, including electronically stored information.

Prepare a variety of documents including information requests, pleadings, correspondence, memos, and other documentation related to the acquisition of evidence for criminal investigations.

Manage and operate a variety of computer hardware such as printers, plotters, audio‑visual devices, and other equipment to conceptualize exhibits and complete special presentation projects.

Analyze and summarize factual aspects of cases, including reading and analyzing reports of federal agencies on particular cases.

Organize and coordinate discovery, including indexes and production logs.

Assist in organizing voluminous case information for efficient retrieval through automated means such as scanning, indexing and controlling of documents into a data base.

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

Conditions of Employment

You must be a United States Citizen or National.

You will be required to complete a pre‑employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening.

You may be required to complete a probationary or trial period.

Selective Service registration is required for males born on or after December 31st, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.

You must meet all eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement and continue to meet these requirements throughout the hiring process. Offers can be rescinded if requirements are not met.

Time‑in‑Grade: Federal employees must meet time‑in‑grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.

A USA Hire assessment is required. An email will be sent with additional information after you submit your application. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement to complete the assessment.

Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized.

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.

Qualifications

Applicants must possess and demonstrate in their application package that they meet the following minimum qualifications:

GS‑07

Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑05 level in Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: operating litigation support hardware and software (e.g., Eclipse, Relativity, Trial Director, Camtasia Studio 8, advanced Microsoft Office Suite, etc.); performing routine litigation support assignments such as organizing case information; cataloging, organizing, reviewing, and producing discovery; assisting attorneys with trial preparation to include subpoenas, trial exhibits, information requests, pleadings, and correspondence; closing hard copy case files at the end of trial; and preparing appellate trial documents and exhibits.

Education: One full year of graduate‑level study, or possess a Master’s or higher degree, e.g., Ph.D., in a field that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of the position (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law).

Or possess a Bachelor’s Degree or expect to complete the requirements for a Bachelor’s degree within the next 9 months and possess at least one of the following criteria: (1) class standing in the upper third of the graduating class; (2) an overall GPA of 3.0; (3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. Transcripts required.

Combining Education and Experience: Combination of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required graduate education you have earned. Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess.

Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Transcripts required.

GS‑09

Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑07 level in Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: assisting attorneys by performing advanced and complex Litigation Support systems; preparing for hearings, trial, conferences and other projects by recommending and/or providing a variety of Litigation Support services; designing and implementing database management programs to assist with the storage, tabulation, and presentation of case facts, evidence, and other information; monitoring input of data into database management programs; assisting in the organization and assembly of evidence, exhibits, discovery and other documents; and assisting user's in the operation of Litigation Support hardware and software.

Education: Possess a Master’s or equivalent graduate degree in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law); or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or an LL.B. or J.D., if related. Transcripts required.

Combining Education and Experience: Combination of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required graduate education you have earned. Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess.

Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Transcripts 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. 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. Proof of eligibility may include a copy of written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of the separation personnel action form.

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. 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. Proof of eligibility may include a written notification of CTAP eligibility.

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA)

A veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three or more years of continuous active military service. If applying for a Merit Promotion announcement under VEOA, submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD‑214 and 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 may be eligible for non‑competitive appointments. Specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility.

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.

Foreign Education

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. Transcripts must be uploaded with your application to verify education. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Benefits

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.

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