Legal Assistant (OA)

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys•Roanoke, VA

About The Position

The Legal Assistant (OA) serves in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia. The role supports attorneys by preparing, processing, and reviewing complex legal documents and correspondence; conducting legal and factual research; and performing technical processing related to criminal and civil debt collection. Responsibilities increase in complexity as training and experience progress. The position requires at least one year of specialized experience at the GS-07 or GS-08 level, depending on the grade sought. GS-07 experience includes reviewing legal documents for completeness, gathering information from records and other sources, researching legal sources, and using automated software to create legal reports and documents. GS-08 experience includes preparing legal and hearing or trial documents, verifying citations and statutory references, assembling information for hearings or trials, and conducting factual research using legal and non-legal databases. GS-08 applicants must also type at least 40 words per minute with three or fewer errors on a five-minute sample; a typing test may be required. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals and meet applicable eligibility requirements. Appointment is subject to pre-employment adjudication, including fingerprint, credit, and tax checks and drug testing, and continued employment requires a favorable background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship or nationality.
At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level for GS-07, or equivalent to the GS-07 level for GS-08.
For GS-07, specialized experience includes supporting attorneys by reviewing legal documents for factual completeness, obtaining information from legal reference files and other sources, researching legal sources, and/or using automated software to produce legal reports, documents, or correspondence.
For GS-08, specialized experience includes preparing legal and hearing or trial documents in proper format, verifying citations and statutory references, retrieving and assembling hearing or trial information, and/or conducting factual research using legal and non-legal databases.
For GS-08, type at least 40 words per minute on a five-minute sample with no more than three errors; a typing test may be required.
Meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the announcement closing date and before placement.
Federal employees must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the announcement closing date.
Satisfactory pre-employment adjudication, including fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing; continued employment is subject to a favorable background investigation.
Register for Selective Service if applicable.
A one-year probationary period may be required if selected.

Responsibilities

Examine, prepare, and process technical legal correspondence and complex, voluminous legal documents using knowledge of legal regulations, precedents, and practices.
Proofread and cite-check legal briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents.
Compose original letters that do not require legal interpretation but require knowledge of legal procedures and specialized terminology.
Obtain information from files, law enforcement agencies, and other sources, and submit completed legal documents to attorneys or, in limited cases, directly to the court.
Search indices and computerized legal reference systems for legal precedent at attorneys’ direction.
Conduct factual research on individuals and companies using computerized databases and other sources.
Perform skip tracing to locate debtors, using discretion to select techniques and determine follow-up.
Perform technical processing associated with collecting criminal and/or civil debts.
Review debt collection documents and records for mathematical accuracy, proper documentation of payment transactions, and discrepancies.
Independently process cases and legal matters using knowledge of specialized legal processes, regulations, techniques, procedures, and litigation practices.