Legal Assistant (Criminal)

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys•Concord, NH

About The Position

The Legal Assistant (Criminal) supports Assistant United States Attorneys by providing legal assistance and office support. Duties include preparing and processing legal documents, proofreading and cite-checking legal materials, conducting non-complex legal research, assisting with trial preparation, maintaining case calendars and records, coordinating schedules and travel, and producing documents using office software. Responsibilities and assignment complexity increase as training and experience progress. The position is offered at GS-5, GS-6, and GS-7 levels, with qualifications varying by grade. GS-7 candidates must type at least 40 words per minute with no more than three errors on a five-minute sample; a typing test may be required.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Must meet the applicable qualification requirements for the grade level sought.
GS-5: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-4, four years of education above high school, or a qualifying combination of education and experience. Specialized experience includes reviewing documents with legal implications for accuracy and completeness; typing and formatting correspondence and forms; maintaining file systems; and obtaining information from files or general reference sources.
GS-6: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 reviewing legal documents for completeness, retrieving and assembling information for hearings or trials, researching legal sources, and using automated software to produce legal-related materials.
GS-7: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-6 providing trial support, preparing legal documents accurately and in proper format, verifying citations and statutory references, assisting with discovery or trial preparation, and using software and databases to produce documents, conduct factual research, and prepare courtroom presentations.
GS-7 candidates must type at least 40 words per minute on a five-minute sample with three or fewer errors; a typing test may later be required.
Must receive satisfactory pre-employment adjudication, including fingerprint, credit, tax, and drug checks; continued employment is subject to favorable background-investigation adjudication.
Must be registered for Selective Service if applicable.
Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the announcement closing date.
Must meet qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the announcement closing date and before placement.
If selected, may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
Education used to qualify must be from an accredited or pre-accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; foreign education must be shown to be comparable to U.S. education, and documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Responsibilities

Examine, prepare, and process technical legal documents, including complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, subpoenas, and libels.
Proofread and cite-check legal briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents.
Conduct non-complex research on litigation, statutes, regulations, and court cases to assist attorneys.
Assemble exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents for trial preparation.
Assemble and organize files and records for disposition or transfer to a records depository.
Maintain calendars for assigned active cases.
Track filing, hearing, and trial dates, and schedule conferences and interviews.
Arrange travel by preparing itineraries and securing transportation and hotel reservations.
Produce written documents and materials using office software applications.