Summary For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. This position is also being announced to applicants eligible to apply through Merit Staffing procedures under 25-SD-12772980-MS. Responsibilities If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for legal administrative support. At the full performance level, you will provide a variety of legal and technical support services to the United States Attorney's Office in Pierre, South Dakota. Duties include: Using technology and automated software to draft routine correspondence; examining, preparing and processing a variety of technical legal documents, including complaints, briefs, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, and subpoenas; providing assistance to attorneys in trial and grand jury preparation; assembling exhibits, affidavits, discovery and other legal documents; assembling and organizing files and documents for federal records retention; maintaining calendar of assigned active cases including case tracking, hearing, and trial dates, and scheduling conferences and interviews; prepare travel authorizations, itinerary, and securing transportation and hotel reservations; producing a variety of written documents and materials using a wide range of office software applications and electronically file legal pleadings. Proofread, format, and cite-check legal briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents for grammatical and spelling errors, as well as content and citation checks. Manage, organize, review, and summarize incoming and outgoing discovery in electronic or other format in compliance with the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Operates a variety of computer software and computer equipment, printers, scanners, and audio-visual devices to create special exhibits that can be effectively used as exhibits in hearing or trial, including charts, spreadsheets, diagrams, photographs, and models. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications GS-07: To be eligible at the GS-7 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in the Federal Service obtained in either the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing routine litigation support assignments such as assisting with organizing case information, including creating grand jury logs and organizing grand jury responses; preparing discovery productions, including scanning and coding documents and creating CDs; assisting attorneys in preparing for court such as preparing exhibits, compiling trial notebooks, compiling witness and exhibit lists; verifying citations; and preparing a variety of legal documents; assisting in the use of technology to organize digital evidence; and editing a variety of legal documents, such as information requests, subpoenas, correspondence and memos. OR Education: One (1) full year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading such to a degree in a related field (e.g., Legal Studies, Law, Criminal Justice). Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position OR Combination of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements, OR Superior Academic Achievement: Possess a Bachelor's Degree or expect to complete the requirements for a Bachelor's Degree within the next 9 months AND possess at least one of the following criteria: (1) Class standing- in the upper third of the graduating class in the college or university. (2) Grade-point average (G.P.A.) - have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. (3) Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society - Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies. These honor societies are listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. GS-09: To be eligible at the GS-9 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education OR a combination of Education and Experience. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience assisting attorneys and legal support personnel regarding court rules, regulations and procedures; recommending automated support methods for litigation and trials; customizing databases and programs for user needs in litigation; using automated resources and technology for the development, presentation, and litigation of cases (i.e., document management software, digital imaging applications, optical character recognition tools, audio visual equipment, and trial presentation programs); loading, tagging, researching, or maintaining documents in document review platforms typical of legal practice; assisting with trial preparation and presentations; preparing motions, orders, pleadings, subpoenas, notice of depositions, investigative demands, discovery reports, legal briefs, and pre-trial documents. OR Education: Master's Degree or equivalent graduate degree in a related field (e.g., Legal Studies, Law, Criminal Justice); or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D., if related. My education was obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. OR Combination of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 1 full year. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)- The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Education All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov OR Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. Additional Information Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov. Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. EEO Statement: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
