Legal Assistant

Summary

This position is located in an Immigration Court in the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge (OCIJ), Executive Office for Immigration Review, U. S. Department of Justice. Incumbent serves as a Legal Assistant (OA) who processes, analyzes and researches legal documents, generates reports, develops Record of Proceedings, and responds to FOIA requests.

This is a Competitive Service position; additional positions may be filled from this announcement within 90 days of certificate issuance.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

02/23/2024 to 03/08/2024

• Salary

$39,576 - $87,851 per year

The salary range listed is an approximation and subject to locality adjustment.

• Pay scale & grade

GS 5 - 8

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Locations

Many vacancies in the following locations:

• Concord, CA

• Los Angeles, CA

• Sacramento, CA

• San Diego, CA

• Show more locations (13)

• San Francisco, CA

• Orlando, FL

• Chicago, IL

• Louisville, KY

• New Orleans, LA

• Boston, MA

• Lowell, MA

• Baltimore, MD

• Detroit, MI

• New York, NY

• Memphis, TN

• Annandale, VA

• Sterling, VA

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time -

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

8

• Job family (Series)

0986 Legal Assistance

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Moderate Risk (MR)

• Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

DE-12269599-24-BS

• Control number

777945200

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This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

• Individuals with disabilities

• Veterans

Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens. CTAP/ICTAP; Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA); and/or Schedule A Hiring Authority Eligibles may also be considered.

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Duties

If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for directly and independently providing a wide variety of technical legal assistance services. The wide variety of technical legal assistance services are performed before, during and after immigration proceedings, in and out of the courtroom.

The major duties of Legal Assistant GS-0986-05 include the above mentioned and:

• Receiving visitors and telephone callers;

• Reviewing documents;

• Establishing and maintaining case files; and

• Preparing and processing legal correspondence.

The major duties of Legal Assistant GS-0986-06 include the above mentioned and:

• Responding to Freedom of Information Act requests;

• Conducting research related to legal cases;

• Maintaining statistical data on cases; and

• Examining a variety of technical legal documents.

The major duties of Legal Assistant GS-0986-07 include the above mentioned and:

• Responding to Freedom of Information Act requests;

• Enter information into an electronic case management system;

• Draft written replies to correspondence;

• Providing assistance in generating statistical reports;

The major duties of Legal Assistant GS-0986-08 include the above mentioned and:

• Responding to Freedom of Information Act requests;

• Generating statistical reports;

• Applying legal regulation and procedures when conducting research; and

• Providing In-Court services staff with docket preparation and coordination of files and records needed for hearing.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Complete the initial online assessment and USA Hire Assessment, if required

• You must complete a background investigation, credit check, and drug test.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.

• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.

• Probationary period will apply.

• May be required to file a Financial Disclosure.

• Salary payments must be by direct deposit to a financial institution.

• 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 or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties:

• Preparing and processing standard, routine legal correspondence;

• Providing information to visitors and telephone callers;

• Using word processing software and printing devices to produce a variety of standardized documents such as letters and reports; and

• Maintaining legal files.

(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 and is creditable up to the GS-5. 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: Applicants must have a combination of specialized experience described above and post high school education described above in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) that totals at least one year. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification.

FOR THE GS-06 LEVEL:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties:

• Processing motions, petitions and other legal documents;

• Responding to written, telephonic, electronic and personal inquiries regarding legal proceedings and records;

• Assisting in the preparation of legal case file materials; and

• Maintaining and analyzing statistical data.

(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties:

• Scheduling hearings, meetings and engagements;

• Examining case files to determine sufficiency of documentation and to identify material that may be pertinent to issues or cases;

• Conducting research for case information through records, reference and historical material;

• Assisting in retiring files; and

• Generating, modifying, and interpreting computer-generated reports.

(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

FOR THE GS-08 LEVEL:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties:

• Applying comprehensive legal regulations, techniques, and procedures to perform assistance work requiring extensive searches of records, reference or historical material and comparisons with complex, voluminous or broadly written criteria;

• Examining and processing charging documents which are voluminous and complex in format;

• Reviewing incoming documents/files and determining the need to create or reassemble a Record of Proceeding (ROP) file and process a variety of legal documents; and

• Conducting extensive searches for case information applying comprehensive legal regulations, specialized techniques, and procedures.

(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.

Education

ARE YOU USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Applicants can verify accreditation by clicking here. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. (Note: If you are selected for this position based on education, an official transcript will be required, prior to your first day.) You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in accredited U.S. education programs; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, click here.

Translated transcripts are required.

Additional information

Alternative work schedule options may be available. Tour of duty may include Saturdays and Sundays.

Conditions of Employment: Only U.S. Citizens or Nationals are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ applicants, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens, whose job location is with the U.S., must meet the residency requirement. For a total of three (not necessarily consecutive years) of the five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the U.S., 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a Federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a Federal or military employee serving oversees.

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and (for scored examining) score 85 or better on established ranking criteria OR (for category rating criteria) rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria and must submit proof of eligibility for the special selection priority. Additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility can be found by clicking here.

Note: Multiple selections may be made from this announcement. Salaries listed above are an approximation and are subject to duty station locality adjustment.

As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Applicants applying under Delegated Examining (all U.S. citizens) procedures will be rated under DOJ's Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your score may be lowered and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If it is determined you meet minimum qualification requirements, your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles. Candidates placed in the "Best Qualified" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager for further review and consideration.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

• Administration and Management

• Attention to Detail

• Customer Service

• Database Administration

• Decision Making

• Flexibility

• Integrity/Honesty

• Interpersonal Skills

• Legal, Government and Jurisprudence

• Oral Communication

• 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.