Legal Assistant

Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens, Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) applicants.

The duties and responsibilities for a Legal Assistant, GS-0986-5/6/7/8 generally include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Reviews and processes legal documents and case materials to determine completeness, procedural compliance, and appropriate case processing actions.
• Establishes and maintains paper and electronic case records to accurately document case status and support court proceedings.
• Prepares legal correspondence, notices, and court documents in accordance with established procedures and case requirements.
• Searches case files and legal records to obtain information needed for case processing, correspondence, and hearing preparation.
• Generates and maintains case status and workload reports to support monitoring of caseloads, motions, appeals, docket activity, and aged cases.
• Prepares case files and supporting documents for hearings to ensure required records are complete and available for court proceedings.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• 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 one-year probationary period.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31st 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
• Salary payments must be by direct deposit to a financial institution.
• If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. See “How to Apply” section for more information.
• Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for the Legal Assistant position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

FOR THE GS-05 LEVEL:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in the Federal service (or comparable experience outside the Federal service), performing 3 or more of the following duties:

1. Preparing routine correspondence or notices using established formats and procedures;
2. Providing information to visitors or telephone callers using established guidance;
3. Using office software or electronic systems to enter, retrieve, or update information; and
4. Maintaining paper or electronic files in accordance with established filing procedures.

(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

-OR-

Education: Applicants must have successfully completed 4 years of education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite is creditable. This education was obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school.
NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification.

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants must possess a combination of the described education and specialized experience such that they total 100% of the stated minimum qualifications for the GS-05 level. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. (Only post high school education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.) (You must submit a copy of your transcripts for verification.)
NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification.

FOR THE GS-06 LEVEL:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (or comparable experience outside the Federal service), performing 3 or more of the following duties:

1. Reviewing documents for accuracy, completeness, or required information before further processing;
2. Responding to written, telephone, electronic, or in-person inquiries concerning records or established procedures;
3. Preparing and maintaining official files or records in accordance with established procedures; and
4. Generating and reviewing status, workload, or tracking reports from electronic systems.

(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-06 level in the Federal service (or comparable experience outside the Federal service), performing 3 or more of the following duties:

1. Managing calendars, schedules, or time-sensitive activities to support meetings, hearings, appointments, or similar events;
2. Examining files or records to determine whether required documentation is complete for further processing;
3. Researching information through organized files, records, or electronic systems to support case or administrative actions; and
4. Generating, modifying, or interpreting computer-generated reports to monitor status, workload, or pending actions.

Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

FOR THE GS-08 LEVEL:

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 4 or more of the following duties:

1. Applying established rules, policies, or procedures to determine appropriate actions for case or administrative work;
2. Coordinating multiple assignments or time-sensitive activities to meet established priorities and deadlines;
3. Examining complex or extensive documents or files to identify required information and processing requirements;
4. Reviewing incoming documents or case files to determine the appropriate next action under established procedures; and
5. Scheduling meetings, hearings, appointments, or other engagements requiring coordination of participants, records, or deadlines.

(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application will be evaluated and rated using Rule of Many procedures under 5 C.F.R. § 332.402 based on a cut-off score (job analysis-based).

Preference eligibles will receive 5 or 10 points added to their score based on the adjudicated preference.All eligibles at or above the pre-determined cut-off score, including any preference eligibles with a service-connected disability of 10 percent or more, at any score, will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. All eligibles with a tied rating will be referred even if the results exceed the pre-established number or percentage.

The selecting official will receive a sufficient number of names, when available, to consider at least three candidates per vacancy. If fewer than three eligible and available candidates per vacancy result, the referral will be expanded in accordance with DOJ's guidance on supplemental certification. The selecting official will adhere to veterans' preference rules and Rule of Many procedures when making selections.

Please see OPM's Vet Guide for information on the different types of veterans' preference. Preference eligibles that are CPS, CP, or XP receive 10 points added to their numeric score. Preference eligibles that are TP receive 5 points added to their numeric score. SSP preference eligibles do not receive additional points.

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
• 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.

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.

NOTE: In order to be rated as meeting the minimum qualifications, we must be able to determine from your application package that you have the education and/or specialized experience that is required. Your resume should contain your full name, some form of contact information (phone number, email address and/or living address), and the following employment information:

• Employer name and location for each position held.
• From and to dates (MM/YY-MM/YY or from MM/YY to "present") for each position held. The month and year is required to fully credit your time.
• For part-time positions, please include number of hours worked per week, positions that do not include this information will be assumed as full-time (40 hours a week).
• Grade/levels held for each federal position. (Ex. GS-11; IR-06; FV-G…etc.)
• Detailed descriptions of experience under each position held. (Applicants must provide specific supporting examples to show that they meet the qualifications of the position shown in the announcement.)
• Any submitted documents not required or requested for this vacancy will not be considered (i.e. training certificates, case filings, letter of recommendations, etc.).

(ALL INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION PRIOR TO FINAL SELECTION.)

Your complete Application Package (containing the required documents) must be received no later than 11:59 pm Eastern on the closing date.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your Resume (2 pages) showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. (Please see the How You Will Be Evaluated section for more details on the resume)
2. A complete Application Questionnaire. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13069777
3. Complete the USA Hire Assessments, you will receive a notification with your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline if an assessment is required.
4. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable to you.

• Transcripts, if qualifying based on education. (Must include your name, college name and address, courses, dates attended, major and degree, cumulative grade point average (GPA), any honors received, and date the degree was awarded / conferred.) (Please see the Education Section)
• CTAP/ICTAP documents (Please see the Additional Information section)
• Veterans Preference Documentation:
  • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
  • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
  • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from https://www.va.gov/records/download-va-letters/ or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
• Any other supporting documentation required for verification as described in the announcement.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Remove photos from badges, licenses, or other documents, as hiring officials may not review documents containing images.

Failure to submit all required documents may result in your application being deemed incomplete and removed from consideration. It is your responsibility to ensure your application package is complete.

Note: Multiple selections may be made from this announcement. Salaries above are an approximation.

Next steps

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