About the position
The Legal Assistant (OA) position at the Department of Justice, Middle District of Florida, is an excepted service appointment under the Pathways Recent Graduates Program. This role is designed as a one-year career development program, providing recent graduates with the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the legal field. Upon successful completion of the program requirements, participants may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a Federal career or career-conditional appointment. The position is located in Orlando, FL, and is a full-time role with occasional travel requirements. The salary range for this position is between $39,579 and $57,354 per year, classified under the GS-5 to GS-6 pay scale. As a Legal Assistant, you will support Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) by providing a variety of legal assistance and office support services. Your responsibilities will include examining, preparing, and processing a variety of technical legal documents such as complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, and subpoenas, utilizing a wide range of office software applications. You will also be tasked with proofreading and cite-checking legal briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents, as well as assisting attorneys in trial preparation by conducting non-complex research of litigation, statutes, regulations, and court cases. Additionally, you will be responsible for assembling exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents, maintaining calendars of assigned active cases, and arranging travel for attorneys. The position offers formal and on-the-job training, with responsibilities increasing in complexity as your training and experience progress. You will be expected to maintain organized files and records for disposition or transfer to a records depository, track filing, hearing, and trial dates, and schedule conferences and interviews. This role is ideal for individuals looking to start their career in the legal field and gain hands-on experience in a federal legal environment.
Responsibilities
- Examine, prepare, and process a variety of technical legal documents such as complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, and subpoenas.
- Proofread and cite-check legal briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents.
- Assist attorneys in trial preparation by conducting non-complex research of litigation, statutes, regulations, and court cases.
- Assemble exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents for trial use.
- Maintain calendars of assigned active cases, tracking filing, hearing, and trial dates, and scheduling conferences and interviews.
- Arrange travel by preparing itineraries and securing transportation and hotel reservations.
- Organize files and records material for disposition or transfer to records depository.
Requirements
- Must be a United States Citizen or National.
- Must have obtained a qualifying degree or certificate from an accredited educational institution within the last 2 years (or 6 years for veterans).
- Must successfully complete a background investigation to determine suitability for Federal employment.
- Typing proficiency of at least 40 words per minute with three or fewer errors.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience in a legal environment or with legal documents.
- Familiarity with office software applications and legal research tools.
Benefits
- Paid vacation and sick leave.
- Health benefits and life insurance.
- Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.
- Telework eligibility as determined by agency policy.
