Paralegal

Paralegal
ROLE
We are seeking an experienced Paralegal to support the U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO), Eastern District of Louisiana (EDLA). The USAO EDLA prosecutes and defends cases on behalf of the federal government. In this role, you will provide direct legal, clerical, and administrative support assistance to AUSA staff, including preparing and processing voluminous and complex legal documents, assisting attorneys in trial preparation, maintaining case files and calendars, and producing a wide variety of written materials using multiple office software applications. This is a full-time opportunity. We can offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.
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RESPONSIBILITIES

• Examines, prepares, and processes a variety of technical legal documents that are characteristically voluminous and complex in format
• Reviews incoming material and independently determines the need for assembly and preparation of legal documents, including complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, and subpoenas
• Obtains needed information from files, law enforcement agencies, or other sources, and submits completed legal documents to the appropriate AUSA or, in limited cases, directly to the court
• With limited instructions from the AUSA, prepares legal actions such as indictments, criminal complaints, search warrants, judgments, applications, notices, affidavits, summonses, grand jury subpoenas, rules to show cause, proof of claim, and satisfaction of judgment
• Completes variable aspects of recurring legal documentation in conformance with applicable style and format rules
• Assists attorneys in trial preparation, including independently compiling trial notebooks, 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, and notifies appropriate individuals of victim/witness issues
• Verifies citations and statutory references contained in legal documents using original and online legal resources, ensuring citations are complete and consistent with source material
• Develops tables of contents and indices to briefs in accordance with established format, listing cited cases, opinions, and miscellaneous references
• Composes original correspondence requiring a good working knowledge of legal procedures and specialized terminology, such as transmittal of pleadings and requests for extensions of time
• Provides direct clerical and administrative support to AUSA staff, including receiving visitors and telephone callers and furnishing information concerning pending and closed matters
• Establishes and maintains case files, searches legal reference files for information needed by AUSAs, and assembles exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents from file material
• Performs docketing duties such as opening, updating, and closing cases through the automated case tracking system; obligates funds for litigation expenses and monitors continued necessity; reviews bills and invoices for payment
• Maintains a calendar of assigned active cases, tracking filing, hearing, and trial dates, and scheduling conferences and interviews
• Arranges travel by preparing itineraries and securing transportation and hotel reservations
• Produces a variety of written documents and materials using multiple office software applications, including complex tables, graphs, and charts incorporated into legal documents or courtroom presentations, ensuring proper format, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar
• Provides automated litigation assistance to attorneys in trial preparation and courtroom presentations, utilizing various software applications and graphics hardware such as scanners and plotters

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Specialized experience that has equipped the applicant with the competencies, knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled
• Computer skills: proficiency in MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook, MS Access, and other databases, as well as Adobe Acrobat Professional; experience with Relativity is a plus
• Strong communication skills; ability to work and interact professionally and effectively with all levels of staff
• Ability to meet established deadlines and work as a team player in a professional office
• Skill in meeting and dealing with people in a courteous and tactful manner
• Ability to review a wide variety of documents, both legal and non-legal, including Motions and Briefs

LOCATION

• U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana New Orleans, LA 70130 (On-site required)

CLEARANCE

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Must be eligible for a Minimum Background Investigation

CLIENT

• Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana

TRAVEL

• Local travel within the commuting area is not reimbursed; non-local travel may be required and must be authorized in advance by the Contracting Officer

WORK HOURS

• 40 hours per week, 8 working hours per day, Monday–Friday
• Office hours are 8:30 am to 5:00 pm; situational telework may be authorized per agency policy

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION

• Employment Classification Eligibility — W2

RELOCATION

• Not eligible for relocation benefits

West 4th Strategy is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, age, marital status, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, pregnancy, political affiliation, military or veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by federal or state law.

Other Considerations: applicants will be subject to a background investigation. This position requires access to Department of Justice facilities and systems, and as a condition of employment, selected candidates must complete and receive favorable adjudication from a federal government background investigation as required by the U.S. Department of Justice. Individual's primary workstation is located in an office area. The noise level in this environment is low to moderate. Regularly required to sit for extended periods up to 80% of the time; frequently required to move about to access file cabinets and use office equipment such as PC, copier, fax, telephone, cell phone, etc. Occasionally required to reach overhead, bend, and lift objects of up to 10 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the use of computer monitor screens up to 80% of the time.