Legal Assistant I

About Rikka and the Opportunity

Rikka Law Group is a strategic law firm and federal contractor specializing in legal staffing, administrative support, and professional services for government clients. We hold a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract under SIN 541110 and are a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB).

We are seeking an experienced Legal Assistant I to serve in the criminal division providing support in both file creation and preservation. The work requires a specialized knowledge of the processes, procedures, and practices of the legal assistance activities in conjunction with a knowledge of clerical and administrative skills and an ability to apply these skills to increase the effectiveness of the assigned work.

Agency: Department of Justice, Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA), U.S. Attorney's Office — Middle District of Georgia

Location: 300 Mulberry Street, Suite 400, Macon, GA 31202 (on-site)

Openings: 1 position

Compensation: Based on experience. Rikka also offers medical, vision, dental benefits and 401K with employer match.

Schedule: Full-time, Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (or 8:30 AM–5:00 PM) Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays

Term: Base year (September 28, 2026 – September 27, 2027) plus four one-year option periods until September 27, 2031

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma/GED or higher. College preferred;
• Three (3) years of related legal experience preferred but not required;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software programs (i.e., Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, etc.);
• Ability to work and interact professionally and effectively with all levels of staff;
• Strong people skills that reflect a courteous and tactful manner;
• Organizational skills;
• Valid U.S. driver’s license;
• U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain adjudication for the requisite background investigation (Tier 4 Public Trust security is requisite)

Duties & Responsibilities

• Review of case files to determine status. The review will include the use of various databases, both internal and external to the USAO, i.e., LIONS/CaseView, Pacer, CourtLinks, etc. The review will determine if all actions, such as charges disposed, sentencing, appeals, motions to reduce sentencing and/or asset forfeiture have been resolved and closed.
• Upon verification and confirmation that all actions are closed, searches for and gathers all paper files to include any related civil matters, i.e., 2255 motions. Once it has been determined that all files have been located, reviews the paper documents and compares them to established district checklists, with regard to which type of documents must be retained within the paper file and which documents can and should be destroyed.
• Arranges remaining documents to be retained in a case file folder to include required GCO-1/3 forms. Ensures documents that contain sensitive or confidential information are placed in appropriate envelopes to ensure the safeguarding of such documents.
• Locates and reviews all portions of the electronic case and compares them to the established district checklists regarding which type of documents must be retained and which can and should be deleted. Each assigned AUSA and support staff will need to confirm if any such electronic file exists.
• Once the paper and electronic files are purged and organized, determines the retention period of the paper file(s) by applying existing records retention schedules. Completes a Notice to Close Legal File for the signature of the assigned AUSA. Once AUSA’s signature has been obtained, adds an entry in CaseView indicating file(s) have been filed in the records room with other closed files. For case files where the AUSA is no longer employed in the office, seeks assistance as needed and obtains signatures of Division Chief and Deputy Chief on closeout documents.
• Maintain lists, as needed, to track file status and facilitate file location and easy retrieval. Assists the division records custodians with filing and general clean-up, when needed. Also assists in inventorying and packing of records for transfer to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) on an annual basis.
• Serve as backup receptionist, as needed, including greeting visitors, answering telephones, and directing calls to appropriate personnel.
• Performs other Legal Assistant support activities that are reasonably related to the duties described herein and are necessary to accomplish the objectives of assigned cases, files, and tasks.

Important Information for All Applicants

Work Authorization

All candidates must have valid, legal authorization to work in the US. For three years (not necessarily consecutive years) out of the last five years immediately prior to employment with Rikka, the employee must have: (i) resided in the U.S.; (ii) worked for the U.S. in a foreign country as either an employee or contractor in a federal civilian or military capacity; or, (iii) been a dependent of a federal civilian or military employee or contractor working for the U.S. in a foreign country.

Federal Background Investigation

This position requires a Tier 4 Public Trust background investigation. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and able to obtain adjudication for a Tier 4 Public Trust investigation prior to starting work. The government reserves the right to suspend or withdraw access at any time.

Privacy Act

All applicants must safeguard confidential and personally identifiable information and use it only as authorized. Unauthorized disclosure may result in fines and/or criminal penalties.

NDA

Prior to commencing work, all personnel assigned to the contract will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement and the DOJ IT Rules of Behavior.

AI Tools

Contractor employees may not input, upload, transmit, or otherwise provide any data, case information, personally identifiable information, or other sensitive information to any artificial intelligence system. Candidates must perform all work using Government-furnished equipment and systems.

Equal Opportunity

Applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status.

HOW TO APPLY: To apply, submit your CV through this posting. Where applicable, include transcripts or proof of degree. Please also send a brief explanation of why you are interested in working for Rikka Law Group to ***email_hidden***, using the subject line "Role Applying for - [Your Name]." Selected applicants must be able to complete required federal credentialing forms and pass the required background investigation. For any questions, please reach out to us at ***email_hidden***.