Legal Administrative Specialist (Litigation Support)

This position may be located in either the Austin or San Antonio office. The final location will be determined upon applicant selection. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Responsibilities

• Provide a wide variety of legal administrative support to office legal staff and Assistant United States Attorneys.
• Perform detailed, complex legal research in connection with appeals from cases involving criminal jurisdiction.
• Interpret case facts and applicable points of law.
• Prepare appellate briefs, appellate motions, responses to appellate motions, and memoranda of law.
• Submit completed briefs to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Maintain calendars and track deadlines for court filings.
• Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your 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.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

GS-7:

To be eligible at the GS-7 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions:

• Specialized Experience: Possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in Federal service performing legal work which demonstrates a basic knowledge of legal research and ability to interpret legal decisions. Examples include:
  • Examining and processing a variety of legal documents.
  • Conducting research, analysis, and evaluation of data in response to complex or sensitive requests.
  • Drafting basic legal documents and correspondence.
  • Using a variety of electronic or manual filing systems to acquire and store information.
  • Documenting findings and preparing summaries.
  • Searching and reviewing routine legal references, case files, and other sources for information and data required by attorneys or court personnel.
• Education: One full year of graduate-level education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Paralegal Sciences, Law) leading to a Master's degree or higher.
• Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements.
• Superior Academic Achievement: Possess a Bachelor's Degree or expect to complete the requirements within the next 9 months AND meet one of the following criteria:
  • Class standing in the upper third of the graduating class.
  • An overall GPA of 3.0 or at least a 3.0 based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum.
  • A GPA of at least 3.5 based on the average of required courses completed in the major field or during the final two years of the curriculum.
  • Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.

GS-9:

To be eligible at the GS-9 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions:

• Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level. Specialized experience includes:
  • Examining and processing a variety of legal documents.
  • Conducting research, analysis, and evaluation of data in response to complex or sensitive requests.
  • Drafting briefs, pleadings, litigation recommendations, or other legal documents and correspondence.
  • Using a variety of electronic or manual filing systems to acquire and store information.
  • Documenting findings and preparing recommendations.
  • Searching and reviewing legal references, case files, and other sources for information and data required by attorneys or court personnel.
• Education: One of the following in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Paralegal Sciences, Law):
  • A Master's or equivalent graduate degree (such as an LL.B.).
  • Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree.

  Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

• Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. Graduate education must be in excess of 1 full year.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To qualify, you must be found well-qualified (score of 85 or better) and provide proof of eligibility.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): Provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority. To qualify, you must be found well-qualified (score of 85 or better) and provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility.

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university accredited by a recognized accrediting body. Foreign education must be evaluated as comparable to that received in an accredited U.S. institution, and you must provide proof of creditability with your application materials.

Benefits

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part:

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Telework options.
• Life insurance.
• Health benefits.
• Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.

Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized.