Legal Assistant (Office Automation)

Summary

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Duties

If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for Civil Division and Social Security appeals and provide the spectrum of technical legal assistance work. Typical work assignments will include: Acting as liaison with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Clerk's Office and Operations Help Desk. Maintaining the master appellate calendar for Civil and Social Security Appeals. Having familiarity with the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and Ninth Circuit Rules relating to civil appeals to ensure that all pleadings, excerpts of record, and correspondence filed in the Ninth Circuit comply with all applicable rules. Examining, preparing and processing a variety of technical legal documents, including complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, subpoenas, and libels. Providing assistance to attorneys in trial preparation. Assembling and organizing files and records material for disposition or transfer to records depository. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Qualifications

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.) GS-8: To be eligible at the GS-8 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level. Specialized experience is defined as performing the following types of duties: providing assistant to attorneys by preparing and processing complaints, motions, subpoenas, orders, or other hearing and/or trial documents and requirements relating to civil appellate cases and social security appeals to make substantive determinations; obtaining needed information from files, law enforcement agencies, or other sources; completing legal documents in conformance with rules governing their style and format; conducting factual and legal research in legal and non-legal databases; using automated software to produce legal related reports and documents; .

How You Will Be Evaluated

Your complete application package (resume/supporting documentation, online questionnaire, and USA Hire Competency Based Assessment) will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. You will be rated on the following Competencies (see The OPM Website for definitions): Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Other Information

Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/. Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline. Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.