Senior Paralegal

Amentum•Albuquerque, NM

About The Position

The Contractor is responsible for directly providing a wide variety of technical assistant services and independently supporting Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) within the Criminal Division. At this level, the Paralegal/Legal Assistant II exercises more independent judgment than at the level I position. Prepares a variety of technical legal documents that are characteristically complex in format. Reviews incoming documents and material, considers the nature and the status of the case involved, and with limited instructions from AUSAs prepares indictments, arrest warrants, summonses, true bills, motions, orders, non-disclosure applications and orders, stipulations, plea agreements, grand jury and trial subpoenas, and legal memoranda; Obtains required information from criminal case files, law enforcement agencies, or other sources, to include in legal documents before submitting to the appropriate AUSA for review. Ensures when preparing recurring legal documents that they conform to local court rules and the rules governing style and format.; Assists attorneys to prepare for trial by independently compiling trial and witness notebooks, preparing and organizing trial exhibits, assembling jury instructions, and compiling witness and exhibit lists. Coordinates with the victim/witness specialist to ensure adherence to current Departmental guidelines relating to victims’ rights and services responsibilities. Notifies case agents and appropriate office staff of victim/witness issues; Using original and online legal resources including Westlaw and/or Lexis/Nexis, verifies legal citations and statutory references contained in legal documents. Research to confirm that citations are accurate, complete, and consistent with source material. Proofreads, edits, and revises legal briefs. Electronically files legal documents with the U.S. District Court using the CM/ECF system; Participates in pre-trial witness conferences, notes possible deficiencies in case materials (e.g., missing documents, conflicting statements) and additional issues or other questionable matters, and requests further investigation by other agency personnel to correct possible deficiencies or personally conducts limited investigations at the pre-trial stage; Composes original correspondence which requires a good working knowledge of legal procedures and specialized terminology, e.g., transmitting proposed orders to court, requesting extensions of time in certain cases, advising of actions taken or developments in cases referred by other federal departments and agencies, and notifying attorneys representing defendants of various issues; Scans/inputs and links case-related materials into electronic discovery databases and manages those databases; Maintains the electronic case files, enters data in the case management system, calendars deadlines using MS Outlook, prepares and files conflict of interest and case opening forms in the electronic case file; Performs docketing duties which involves tracking case filings using the case management system. As necessary, performs searches, generates reports, and analyzes data produced from the case management system to determine case status and reconcile inconsistencies; Maintains the electronic case files, enters data in the case management system, calendars deadlines using MS Outlook, prepares and files conflict of interest and case opening forms in the electronic case file; Prepares files for closing by ensuring all correspondence, relevant pleadings, conflict of interest forms, investigative materials, discovery produced, grand jury materials, court and witness transcripts, and closing sheet are included in electronic case file and are appropriately executed by the assigned AUS.

Requirements

Must be able to obtain and maintain a US government security clearance.
Requires paralegal certificate, or JD, or currently attending an ABA-accredited law school, having completed at least one year of study.
At least two years of litigation paralegal experience required; trial experience very helpful.
At least one year of experience in automated litigation support.
Requires sound working knowledge of federal and state court system, legal research procedures, and legal research resources.
Requires excellent written and oral communication skills and thorough knowledge of legal research tools such as LEXIS and Westlaw.
Must have hands-on familiarity with a variety of computer applications, including word processing, databases (such as document review and file management systems), spreadsheets, imaging, and hardware systems.
Role also requires hands-on familiarity with ESI tools and knowledge of eDiscovery procedures and resources.
Ability to consistently deliver highest quality work under extreme pressure will be very important.

Responsibilities

Prepares a variety of technical legal documents that are characteristically complex in format.
Reviews incoming documents and material, considers the nature and the status of the case involved, and with limited instructions from AUSAs prepares indictments, arrest warrants, summonses, true bills, motions, orders, non-disclosure applications and orders, stipulations, plea agreements, grand jury and trial subpoenas, and legal memoranda
Obtains required information from criminal case files, law enforcement agencies, or other sources, to include in legal documents before submitting to the appropriate AUSA for review.
Ensures when preparing recurring legal documents that they conform to local court rules and the rules governing style and format.
Assists attorneys to prepare for trial by independently compiling trial and witness notebooks, preparing and organizing trial exhibits, assembling jury instructions, and compiling witness and exhibit lists.
Coordinates with the victim/witness specialist to ensure adherence to current Departmental guidelines relating to victims’ rights and services responsibilities.
Notifies case agents and appropriate office staff of victim/witness issues
Using original and online legal resources including Westlaw and/or Lexis/Nexis, verifies legal citations and statutory references contained in legal documents.
Research to confirm that citations are accurate, complete, and consistent with source material.
Proofreads, edits, and revises legal briefs.
Electronically files legal documents with the U.S. District Court using the CM/ECF system
Participates in pre-trial witness conferences, notes possible deficiencies in case materials (e.g., missing documents, conflicting statements) and additional issues or other questionable matters, and requests further investigation by other agency personnel to correct possible deficiencies or personally conducts limited investigations at the pre-trial stage
Composes original correspondence which requires a good working knowledge of legal procedures and specialized terminology, e.g., transmitting proposed orders to court, requesting extensions of time in certain cases, advising of actions taken or developments in cases referred by other federal departments and agencies, and notifying attorneys representing defendants of various issues
Scans/inputs and links case-related materials into electronic discovery databases and manages those databases
Maintains the electronic case files, enters data in the case management system, calendars deadlines using MS Outlook, prepares and files conflict of interest and case opening forms in the electronic case file
Performs docketing duties which involves tracking case filings using the case management system.
As necessary, performs searches, generates reports, and analyzes data produced from the case management system to determine case status and reconcile inconsistencies
Prepares files for closing by ensuring all correspondence, relevant pleadings, conflict of interest forms, investigative materials, discovery produced, grand jury materials, court and witness transcripts, and closing sheet are included in electronic case file and are appropriately executed by the assigned AUS.