Fact Witness Coordinator / Paralegal II Supporting the US Attorney's Office

About the Role

Support the overall mission of the U.S. Attorney's Office District of RI as a Fact Witness Coordinator/Paralegal II, delivering witness management assistance for law enforcement and homeland security initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide witness management assistance prior to, during, and after both grand jury proceedings and trials.
• Work directly with witnesses to ensure appearance for court, pre-trial conferences, and grand jury.
• Receive visitors, field phone calls, and address inquiries from witnesses regarding court appearances, pre-trial conferences, grand jury appearances, and expense reimbursement.
• Obtain pertinent information for files and documents necessary to arrange witness travel and reimbursements.
• Coordinate the Grand Jury witness program by scheduling witness appearances, notifying witnesses, coordinating logistics, and ensuring witnesses receive appropriate travel instructions and reimbursement information.
• Use judgment to determine when the Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) should be notified of special circumstances or needs of witnesses.
• Confer with AUSA concerning witness appearance and special circumstances (e.g., special authorizations, international witnesses, military/federal employee witnesses, or hostile witnesses).
• Complete and submit proper documentation for special authorizations and obtain prior approval before proceeding with travel arrangements.
• Ensure all travel documents and appearance details are provided to witnesses prior to their appearance.
• Make necessary arrangements for witness travel and lodging according to Department of Justice and USAO policies and procedures.
• Meet with witnesses upon arrival, provide courtroom orientation, accompany them to court, ensure a safe waiting area, and collect necessary documentation for witness reimbursement.
• Prepare and submit documentation for witness reimbursement, including witness vouchers and other required forms.
• Furnish requested information concerning pending and completed witness vouchers to the payment center in a timely fashion.
• Maintain organized files, gather required documentation, and reconcile Government Travel Accounts.
• Obtain information, confer, and coordinate with the Court, Probation, Pretrial, U.S. Marshals Service, investigative agencies, and other counterparts as necessary.
• Complete variable aspects of recurring documents in conformance with rules governing their style and format.
• Compose original letters requiring a good working knowledge of legal procedures and specialized terminology relevant to fact witness laws and regulations.
• Perform general office procedures pertaining to witness management, including establishing and maintaining witness files, documents, and databases.
• Assemble documents and other information for witness file material and retention in accordance with established procedures and Department of Justice regulations.
• Establish and maintain calendars and/or databases of active and pending witness appearances, track hearings, trial dates, grand jury, and scheduling conferences.
• Perform other administrative and logistical witness management duties as required or assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; thorough knowledge of legal research tools.
• Ability to work and interact professionally, cooperatively, 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.
• Demonstrated ability to review a wide variety of documents, including legal and non-legal documents, motions, briefs, and legal correspondence.
• Ability to consistently produce accurate work while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• U.S. Citizenship and a 7 (or 10) year minimum background investigation required.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package with greater choice and flexibility to support health, work-life balance, and professional growth. A package providing employee-only coverage can be built around basic plans at $0 employee cost for:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Term Life Insurance
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Short-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program