Legal Assistant

SGI Global•Macon, GA

About The Position

SGI Global is seeking a Legal Assistant to support the United States Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia (MDGA) to provide direct legal support, clerical and administrative support, and automated litigation assistance. These services require specialized knowledge of the processes, procedures, and practices of legal assistance activities in conjunction with a knowledge of clerical and administrative office skills and an ability to apply these skills to increase the effectiveness of Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs). Position is contingent upon award Resumes MUST include education, experience, security clearance level, location, and training

Requirements

High school diploma/GED. College preferred in a related field
Minimum three (3) years of relevant, professional legal experience.
Communication skills: Ability to interact professionally and effectively with all levels of staff including AUSAs, support staff, client agencies, debtors, debtor attorneys and their staff, court personnel, business executives, witnesses, and the public. Communication requires tact and diplomacy.
Technological skills: Ability to perform all basic computer functions. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
Qualified typist: Ability to type at least 40 words per minute with three or fewer errors.
U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain adjudication for the requisite background investigation.
Experience and expertise in performing the above job duties.

Responsibilities

Examine, prepare and process a variety of technical legal documents which are characteristically voluminous and complex in format.
Review incoming material and independently determining the need for assembly and preparation of a variety of legal documents, e.g., complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, and subpoenas.
Obtain needed information from files, law enforcement agencies, or other sources, and submitting completed legal documents to the appropriate AUSA. In preparation of documents, considers the nature and the status of the case involved.
With limited instructions from the AUSA, prepare such legal actions as subpoenas, motions/responses to motions, complaints, correspondence, and discovery requests and responses.
Complete variable aspects of recurring legal documents in conformance with the rules governing their style and format.
Provide assistance to attorneys in trial preparation by performing duties such as independently compiling trial notebooks, assembling jury instructions, and compiling witness and exhibit lists.
Coordinate with the victim/witness specialist to ensure adherence to current Departmental guidelines relating to victims' rights and services responsibilities. Notify appropriate individuals of victim/witness issues.
Use original and online legal resources, verify citations and statutory references contained in legal documents. Ensure citations are complete and consistent with source material. Develop tables of contents and indices to briefs in accordance with established format. List cited cases, opinions and miscellaneous us references in briefs.
Compose original letters that do not require legal interpretations but do require a good working knowledge of legal procedures and specialized terminology, e.g., transmittal of pleadings, requests for extensions of time in certain cases, advising of actions taken or developments in cases referred by other federal departments and agencies, and notices to attorneys representing defendants.
Provide a variety of direct clerical and administrative support assistance services to serviced AUSA staff, to include: Receive visitor 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.
Establish and maintain a variety of files. Search legal reference files for information needed by AUSAs in conducting interviews and preparing correspondence. Assemble exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents from file material. Separate, screen, select, assemble, and organize files and records material for disposition or transfer to records depository in accordance with established procedures.
Perform docketing duties such as opening, updating and closing cases through use of the automated case tracking system. As necessary, search database for required information. Obligate funds for litigation expenses and monitors for continued necessity. Review bills and invoices and submits to budget office for payment.
Maintain calendar of assigned active cases. Track filing, hearing, and trial dates, and schedule conferences and interviews. Develop and maintain suspense system for ongoing cases and informs the AUSA of pending dates and deadlines. Maintain calendars of the AUSA(s), scheduling appointments, interviews, and conferences, and provide reminders of commitments and court appearances. Arrange travel by preparing itinerary and securing transportation and hotel reservations. Prepare travel authorizations and vouchers.
Produce a variety of written documents and materials utilizing a wide range of office software applications. For example, assignments may include integrating output from different software types, e.g., tables produced by database applications and charts and graphs produced by electronic spreadsheet applications, into word processing or desk top publishing text. Products include complicated tables, graphs and charts which may be incorporated into legal documents or courtroom presentations. Ensure proper format, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar.
Provide automated litigation assistance to attorneys in trial preparation and courtroom presentations. Utilize various software applications and graphics hardware such as scanners. Prepare documents, charts, and visual materials for use in trials. Provide technical support e.g., enlarging charts and photographs, duplicating tapes and videos, and marking exhibits.
Other related duties as assigned and within scope