Legal Assistant (Office Automation) at Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys

About the role

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. For more information on the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. This position is also being announced via Merit Staffing principles under 26-SDTX-13039852-MS. If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for Legal Assistant work. Typical work assignments will include: Using knowledge of a variety of legal regulations, precedents, and practices, examines, prepares and processes technical legal correspondence and documents. Conducting factual and legal research in legal and non-legal databases and provide requested information. Preparing trial exhibits such as statistical charts, graphs, and timelines to be presented in court. Managing paper and electronic documents and evidence, correspondence, briefs, witness interviews, and other documentary materials. Arranging travel by preparing itinerary, and securing transportation and hotel reservations. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progresses. To qualify for the position of Legal Assistant (Office Automation), at GS-0986-6/7, you must meet the qualification requirements listed below. GS-6: To be eligible at the GS-6 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience as defined below: Specialized experience is defined as experience reviewing legal documents such as complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, subpoenas, and responsible for completeness of information; retrieving and assembling information for hearing and/or trial use; researching a variety of legal sources to obtain and/or verify information; and using automated software to produce legal related reports, documents, correspondence and related materials. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the GS-05 grade/level in the federal service. GS-7: To be eligible at the GS-7 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience as defined below: Specialized experience is defined as experience providing trial support to attorneys by preparing complaints, motions, subpoenas, proposed orders, or other hearing and/or trial documents accurately and in proper format; verifying citations and statutory references contained in legal documents; assisting with discovery, hearing or trial preparation by performing duties such as compiling trial notebooks, assembling jury instructions, and compiling witness and exhibit lists; and using software applications and legal and non-legal databases to produce legal related reports and documents, conduct factual research, develop tables of contents and tables of authorities to briefs, and prepare courtroom presentations. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the GS-06 grade/level in the federal service. To be qualified, you must type at least 40 words per minute based on a 5-minute sample with three or fewer errors. (A typing test may later be required.) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)- The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. You MUST meet all qualification requirements by the 08/28/2026 of this announcement. Your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating. See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume. After you submit your application, you will receive notification indicated whether or not the USA Hire assessment is required. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement 08/28/2026 to complete the assessment which is part of your application.