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.

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.

Requirements

• 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.

Contacts

• Address Office of the Chief Immigration Judge 5107 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA 22041 US
• Name: Midwest Services Branch
• Phone: 8164265706
• Email: [email protected]