Legal Assistant (Office Automation) Border District Surge Term

Please note: This is a term position not-to-exceed March 31 2028 subject to availability of funds. This position may be extended or made permanent without further advertising.

If selected for this position you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for support to the Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) 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. Typical work assignments will include:

• examining preparing and processing a variety of technical legal documents e.g. complaints motions orders answers pleadings subpoenas and libels;
• 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 trial dates and scheduling conference 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.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• You must be registered for Selective Service if applicable.
• If selected you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• Time-in-grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
• You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.
• Background investigation credit check and drug test required.

Qualifications

Please note: This is a term position not-to-exceed March 31 2028 subject to availability of funds.
This position may be extended or made permanent without further advertising.

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 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 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: 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 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: 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.