Legal Administrative Specialist (In-Court Services)

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current or former federal employees and specific hiring authorities.

The duties and responsibilities for a Legal Administrative Specialist (In-Court Services), GS-0901-9/11 generally include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Reviews legal case files for scheduled hearings to verify required documents, notices, and case information are complete and available for court proceedings.
• Processes case actions during real-time court proceedings by organizing and providing required case files and supporting documents to the adjudicating official.
• Provides technical information on legal notices, hearing schedules, case status, and established court procedures to attorneys, parties, and the public.
• Maintains official case records by processing filings, updating dockets, authenticating court documents, and retaining or archiving records in accordance with established requirements.
• Supports courtroom operations by preparing hearing spaces and operating video teleconferencing or internet-based hearing equipment.
• Processes legal documents and case-related correspondence using automated systems to support motions, petitions, hearing notices, and other case actions.
• Researches case information and prepares case management reports to support the timely processing and tracking of legal proceedings.

Conditions of employment

• You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening
• You may be required to complete a probationary or trial period. See “Additional Information” for specific details.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• You must meet all eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement and continue to meet these requirements throughout the hiring process. Offers can be rescinded if requirements are not met.
• Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
• A USA Hire assessment is required. An email will be sent with additional information after you submit your application. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement to complete the assessment.
• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for the Legal Administrative Specialist (In-Court Services) 0901 -09 position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (or comparable experience outside the Federal service), performing 3 or more of the following duties:

1. Reviewing legal or administrative case files to identify required documents, notices, or information needed for scheduled proceedings;
2. Processing legal or administrative documents in accordance with established policies, procedures, regulations, or filing requirements;
3. Providing technical information to customers or parties concerning case status, hearing schedules, notices, or procedural requirements; and
4. Using automated case management or records systems to update, retrieve, or track case information.

(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

-OR-

Education: Applicants must have completed a master's OR equivalent graduate degree, OR two (2) full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, or LL.B. or J.D. in a directly related field, that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification.

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants must possess a combination of the above-described education and specialized experience such that they total 100% of the stated minimum qualifications for the GS-09 level. Only graduate education beyond one year, i.e., 18 semester hours, may be combined with experience under this provision.
NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification.

In order to qualify for the Legal Administrative Specialist (In-Court Services) 0901 -11 position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (or comparable experience outside the Federal service), performing 3 or more of the following duties:

1. Analyzing legal or administrative case files to identify procedural issues, missing information, or actions needed to support scheduled proceedings;
2. Applying established legal or administrative policies, regulations, precedents, or procedural guidance to resolve case-processing issues with limited supervision;
3. Providing substantive procedural information to staff, customers, or other parties regarding case status, schedules, notices, or administrative requirements; and
4. Evaluating case-processing issues to determine appropriate administrative action when information is incomplete, conflicting, or requires further research.

(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

-OR-

Education: Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. OR equivalent doctoral degree, OR three (3) full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or LL.M. in a directly related field, that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification.

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants must possess a combination of the above described education and specialized experience such that they total 100% of the stated minimum qualifications for the GS-11 level. Only graduate education beyond two (2) years, i.e., 36 semester hours, may be combined with experience under this provision.
NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here.

You MUST meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade, by the closing date of this announcement, (09/16/2026).

Your resume must support your responses to the application questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating.See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.
After you submit this application, you will receive an e-mail informing you that a USA Hire assessment is required of you. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement (09/16/2026) to complete the assessment as this assessment is part of your application.

Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

How You Will be EvaluatedIn order 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. You must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cut score on the required assessments.

Your USAHIRE assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.

Additionally, we will review your supporting documents and resume to determine if you are in the "Area of Consideration" for this vacancy. Government-Wide Merit Promotion vacancies may only accept applications from a limited audience, pay careful attention to the "Who May Apply" and the "Hiring Paths" information. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

In order 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.

BASIS OF FINAL RATING: DOJ's Merit Promotion Procedures will be used to evaluate candidates. If you would like to preview the application questionnaire, please see: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13059893

Please carefully review the list of required documents below and submit the necessary documentation based on your eligibility.

Resume - All Applicants: You must submit a resume (a two page or less resume is required) containing the following pieces of information for each job entry listed in your employment history:

• Official position title,
• Employer name and contact information,
• Start and end dates (including month and year),
• Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and
• A list of duties performed and accomplishments.

If you are a current or former Federal employee:

1. You must submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) or equivalent agency form. Do not submit an award SF-50. Your SF-50 should list the full position title, series, grade and step,organization, duty location, service computation date, effective date, and your service type and tenure status.

Due Weight for Performance:

1. Submit a copy of your most recent performance evaluation or appraisal, signed, showing your final rating. If a performance appraisal is not available submit a statement explaining why one is not available. Note: See USAJOBS Current & Former Employees for more information.
2. A list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official.

If you are a Veteran or a qualifying parent or spouse:

1. When claiming a Veteran's Preference, you must submit your last DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) form, specifically the Member #4 Copy, indicating dates and character of service and discharge type.
2. If you are a Veteran with a service-connected disability rating, you will need to additionally submit the SF-15 (Application for 10-point Veterans Preference) and a copy of your VA Letter stating your disability rating.
3. If you are the qualifying parent or spouse of a disabled, deceased, or deployed Veteran, and are seeking a derived preference eligibility, you must submit appropriate supporting documentation such as the Veterans DD-214, SF-15, VA Letter, and/or Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. See Veteran Family Preference for more information.
4. For more information see FedsHireVets.

If you are applying for consideration under the Military Spouse Appointing Authority:

1. Spouse of a member of the armed forces on active duty: documentation showing 1) your spouse's active-duty status and 2) your marriage to the member of the armed forces (i.e., a marriage certificate or other legal documentation verifying marriage).
2. Spouse of service members who incurred a 100% disability because of the service member's active-duty service: documentation showing 1) the member of the armed forces retired, or was released or discharged from active duty, with a disability rating of 100 percent; and 2) documentation of marriage to the member of the armed forces (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage).
3. Spouse of service members killed while on active duty: documentation showing a) the member was released or discharged from active duty due to his or her death while on active duty; b) the member of the armed forces was killed while serving on active duty; c) proof of the widow or widower's marriage to the member of the armed forces (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage); and d) a statement certifying that the individual seeking to use the authority is the un-remarried widow or widower of the service member.

If you are a person with a disability, claiming eligibility under Schedule A:

1. You must submit "proof of a disability" documentation ("Proof of a disability" is a letter stating that you have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability or psychiatric disability). You must get this letter from your doctor, a licensed medical professional, a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or any Federal, state, or local agency that issues or provides disability benefits.
2. For more information see OPM's Schedule A site.

If you are a displaced Federal employee claiming eligibility under CTAP or ICTAP:

1. You must submit your separation notice or agency RIF letter from your agency OR if you have not yet been separated, you can provide the letter of intent to separate you from the agency because of reduction-in-force.
2. Submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal and SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location OR Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.

If you are using education to qualify for this position, or education is required: See Education Field.

Next steps

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