Legal Assistant (Office Automation)

United States Department of Justice - Honolulu, HI

Full-time - Entry Level

Honolulu, HI

Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities

About the position

The Legal Assistant (Office Automation) position at the United States Attorney's Office, District of Hawaii, involves a variety of responsibilities that support the legal team in both the Civil and Criminal Divisions. As a Legal Assistant, you will be integral in examining, preparing, and processing a wide range of technical legal documents, including complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, subpoenas, and libels. Your role will require you to proofread and cite-check legal briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents to ensure accuracy and compliance with legal standards. You will also assist attorneys in trial preparation by conducting non-complex research on litigation, statutes, regulations, and court cases, which is essential for building strong legal arguments and cases. In addition to document preparation and research, you will be responsible for assembling exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents, as well as organizing files and records for disposition or transfer to a records depository. Maintaining a calendar of assigned active cases is crucial, as you will track filing, hearing, and trial dates, and schedule conferences and interviews accordingly. You will also arrange travel for attorneys by preparing itineraries and securing transportation and hotel reservations. The position requires proficiency in producing a variety of written documents and materials using a wide range of office software applications. As you gain experience and training, your responsibilities will increase, and assignments will become more complex, providing opportunities for professional growth within the legal field.

Responsibilities

• Examine, prepare, and process a variety of technical legal documents such as complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, subpoenas, and libels.
• Proofread and cite-check legal briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents for accuracy.
• 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 court use.
• Organize files and records material for disposition or transfer to records depository.
• Maintain a calendar of assigned active cases and track filing, hearing, and trial dates.
• Schedule conferences and interviews as needed.
• Arrange travel by preparing itineraries and securing transportation and hotel reservations.
• Produce a variety of written documents and materials using office software applications.

Requirements

• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level, or four years of education above the high school level, or a combination of both.
• Specialized experience includes reviewing legal documents for accuracy and completeness, typing and formatting correspondence, maintaining file systems, and obtaining needed information from files or general reference sources.
• For GS-6 level, at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level is required, including reviewing legal documents for completeness, retrieving and assembling information for hearings or trials, and using automated software to produce legal reports and documents.
• 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 documentation is preferred.
• Familiarity with legal research tools and resources is a plus.

Benefits

• Paid vacation
• Sick leave
• Holidays
• Telework options
• Life insurance
• Health benefits
• Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System