Organizational Location: This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, in multiple locations.

Duties

As a Legal Assistant (OA), at the GS-7 full performance level, you will perform the following duties: Researching, analyzing, and accurately compiling pertinent documentation for time-sensitive court proceedings. Updating appropriate databases to ensure case information is current and available. Performing a variety of support functions such as tracking, managing and/or maintaining court dockets, and/or preparing motions or appeals. Drafting non-legal memorandums and correspondence based on guidance from leadership. Preparing packages for mailing and ensuring files are shipped timely. For all grade levels, the work has a recurring requirement for long periods of standing, walking, bending, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting heavy items such as boxes of records and files (less than 50 pounds). This is a bargaining unit position that it is not currently covered by a bargaining unit agreement.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Time in Grade: Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the Federal service. Time in grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
• Probationary Period: This is a full-time permanent position (Career/Career-Conditional appointment). Upon appointment to this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.

Qualifications

Please limit your resume to 5 pages. If more than 5 pages are submitted, only the first 5 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. You qualify for the GS-05 grade level if you possess one of the following: Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-04 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: Using common computer software (e.g., Microsoft Office) to support basic office activities, such as inputting information into databases and templates. Assisting senior personnel in reviewing documents, forms, and records for accuracy and completeness. Assisting in researching and communicating information to stakeholders on items such as project statuses, schedule changes, and approaching deadlines. OR Education: You may substitute successful completion successfully completed four years of education above high school in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. 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. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed post-high school education and experience. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application. Appropriate combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience also may be used to meet the total qualification requirements for the GS-05 grade level. You qualify for the GS-06 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-05 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: Using common computer software (e.g., Microsoft Office) to support office activities such as using software applications to prepare complex documents containing tables and graphs. Maintaining, monitoring, and tracking docket calendars and other scheduling systems for court appearances and important deadlines. Preparing attorneys for courts by keeping records organized and current, filing forms, typing correspondence, and/or drafting letters. Performing online legal research and analyzing and compiling relevant information to assist attorneys for court preparation. You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-06 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as: Researching, analyzing, and accurately compiling pertinent documentation for time-sensitive court proceedings. Updating appropriate databases to ensure case information is current and available. Performing a variety of support functions such as tracking, managing and/or maintaining court dockets, and/or preparing motions or appeals. Drafting non-legal memorandums and correspondence based on guidance from attorneys, paralegals, etc. Typing Proficiency: In addition to meeting the experience requirements, applicants for this position must show possession of the ability to type at least 40 words per minute based on a 5-minute sample, with three or fewer errors. You may self-certify your proficiency in the Occupational Questionnaire. Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Current or Former Political Appointees: 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, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Education

For GS-05 only: Four years above high school. This education must have been 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.

Contacts

• Address
• Name: Kristine Kleppe
• Email: [email protected]