Legal Assistant

About the Role

As a CGS Legal Assistant, you will work under the direction of a Supervisory Paralegal or Project Supervisor, providing litigation and administrative support to a group of United States Attorneys. CGS brings motivated, highly skilled, and creative people together to solve the government’s most dynamic problems with cutting-edge technology. We seek candidates who are excited to contribute to government innovation, appreciate collaboration, and can anticipate the needs of others. Here at CGS, we offer an environment that supports professional growth through various learning opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Provide a variety of direct legal support assistance services, including:
  • Receive and review incoming material and independently determine the need for assembly and preparation of legal documents (e.g., charging instruments, motions, orders, pleadings, deposition notices, trial subpoenas, and grand jury subpoenas).
  • Consider the nature and status of cases when preparing documents.
  • Proofread and edit drafts of legal documents such as motions, orders, correspondence, discovery requests and responses, and other pleadings.
  • Prepare recurring legal documents that conform to style and format rules.
  • Electronically file documents on behalf of attorneys with state or federal courts, applying knowledge of local court rules and practices.
• Assist with trial preparation by:
  • Compiling trial notebooks and witness and exhibit lists.
  • Preparing and tracking grand jury subpoenas and returns.
  • Aiding in processing and organizing legal data and supportive materials.
• Organize, process, and copy documents for court filings and assemble record materials.
• Compose original letters requiring knowledge of legal procedures and specialized terminology (e.g., transmittal of pleadings, requests for extensions, case updates).
• Perform ancillary office support functions, including:
  • Docketing duties such as opening, updating, and closing cases using an automated case tracking system.
  • Obligating funds for litigation expenses and monitoring necessity.
  • Reviewing bills and invoices for payment submission.
  • Maintaining calendars for active cases, tracking filing, hearing, and trial dates, and scheduling conferences and interviews.
  • Developing and maintaining a suspense system for ongoing cases and informing attorneys of pending deadlines.
• Assemble physical and electronic files for new cases, including filing materials chronologically, preparing conflict-of-interest sheets, and numbering initial case materials.
• Prepare files for closing by organizing documents chronologically and ensuring completeness.
• Provide front-office support, including receiving visitors, answering phones, and referring callers to appropriate staff.
• Deliver and retrieve papers from the federal courthouse.
• Furnish requested information about pending and closed matters and general office procedures.
• Determine which matters require referral to an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and assess urgency.
• Attend meetings and trainings as required.
• Produce written documents using office software (e.g., MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, Adobe Acrobat) and integrate outputs from different applications (e.g., tables, charts, graphs) into legal documents or courtroom presentations.
• Provide automated litigation assistance for trial preparation and courtroom presentations, including transcribing dictation and preparing visual materials.
• Perform technical support tasks such as enlarging charts, duplicating tapes/videos, and marking exhibits.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• At least one year of specialized litigation experience (three or more years preferred).
• Specialized experience includes:
  • Reviewing legal documents (e.g., complaints, motions, orders, pleadings, subpoenas) for completeness.
  • Retrieving and assembling information for hearings or trials.
  • Researching legal sources to obtain or verify information.
  • Maintaining file systems.
  • Using automated software to produce legal reports, documents, and correspondence.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Hands-on familiarity with computer applications such as MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat.
• Ability to deliver high-quality work under extreme pressure.
• Ability to obtain a Public Trust Security Clearance.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance.
• 401k retirement plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for health, dependent care, and commuter expenses.
• Paid Time Off and observance of state/federal holidays.

About CGS

Contact Government Services (CGS) simplifies and enhances government bureaucracy through the optimization of human, technical, and financial resources. We combine cutting-edge technology with world-class personnel to deliver customized solutions tailored to our clients' specific needs. For the past seven years, we’ve grown our government contracting portfolio while demonstrating a commitment to honesty, professionalism, and quality work. CGS values employees and fosters an environment of support and professional growth.