Legal Assistant (Office Automation)

Summary For more information on the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorneys' Offices, visit Additional information about the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas, is available at As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. Responsibilities Use knowledge of a variety of legal regulations, precedents, and practices to examine, prepare and process technical legal correspondence and documents. Conduct factual and legal research in legal and non‑legal databases and provide requested information. Prepare trial exhibits such as statistical charts, graphs, and timelines to be presented in court. Manage paper and electronic documents and evidence, correspondence, briefs, witness interviews, and other documentary materials. Arrange travel by preparing itinerary and securing transportation and hotel reservations. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as training and experience progress. Requirements You must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre‑employment adjudication, including fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable. If selected, you may be required to complete a one‑year probationary period. Time‑in‑Grade: Federal employees must meet time‑in‑grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position. Qualifications GS‑6 : To be eligible, you must have at least one year of specialized experience as defined below. Reviewing legal documents such as complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, subpoenas, and libels for completeness of information. Retrieving and assembling information for hearing and/or trial use. Researching a variety of legal sources to obtain and/or verify information. Using automated software to produce legal‑related reports, documents, correspondence and related materials. Some federal jobs allow substitution of education for required experience. For this grade, education cannot substitute for experience. GS‑7 : To be eligible, you must have at least one year of specialized experience as defined below. Providing trial support to attorneys by preparing complaints, motions, subpoenas, orders, or other hearing and/or trial documents accurately and in proper format. Verifying citations and statutory references in legal documents. Assisting with discovery, hearing or trial preparation by compiling trial notebooks, assembling jury instructions, and compiling witness and exhibit lists. Using software applications and legal and non‑legal databases to produce legal‑related reports and documents, conduct factual research, develop tables of contents and indices to briefs, and prepare courtroom presentations. Some federal jobs allow substitution of education for required experience. For this grade, education cannot substitute for experience. To be qualified, you must type at least forty words per minute based on a five‑minute sample with three or fewer errors. A typing test may later be required. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Eligibility and Other Considerations Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) : Eligible displaced federal competitive service employees have selection priority for competitive service vacancies under ICTAP. Eligibility requires a written notification of displacement, selection priority if the vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility, application under the announcement instructions, and a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. Proof of eligibility must be provided. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) : Eligible surplus and displaced DOJ competitive service employees have selection priority for DOJ competitive service vacancies under CTAP. Eligibility requires a written notification of surplus/displacement, application under the announcement instructions, and a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. Proof of eligibility must be provided. Benefits and Additional Information Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, 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 that you are exempt. See Reasonable Accommodation Statement : Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring accommodation should contact the hiring agency directly. EEO Statement : 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 at Political Appointees (Current or Former) : The Office of Personnel Management must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last five 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 may result in disciplinary action, including removal from Federal Service. #J-18808-Ljbffr