Summary For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/ Under this announcement, there is one (1) position to be filled in Binghamton, New York and one (1) position to be filled in Plattsburgh, New York. Responsibilities If selected for the position of Legal Administrative Specialist, you will serve as a member of the legal and support staff in a branch office of the United States Attorney's Office (USAO) for the Northern District of New York (NDNY). Under the direction of Supervisory Assistant United States Attorneys and Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs), the incumbent will actively participate in investigating some of the most complex/difficult civil and criminal cases by providing support services to manage and analyze case materials for trial teams. In coordination with the Administrative division, the incumbent will perform a variety of services to support the needs and operation of the branch office. Typical work assignments will include: Legal Administrative Support - Providing technical advice on legal automation requirements and systems capabilities to facilitate decisions, trial preparation, and trial presentation. Analyzing administrative support requirements to develop appropriate strategies, recommend alternative methods, and promote the use of automated approaches. Assisting and training attorneys and other legal support staff in organizing voluminous case information for efficient storage and retrieval through automated means such as scanning, indexing, and controlling of documents into a database. Recommending and preparing computerized trial presentation programs, including database, spreadsheet, and word processing applications for effective presentation of complex/voluminous evidence and production of demonstrative evidence. Managing and operating a variety of equipment, such as printers, plotters, and audio-visual devices to conceptualize exhibits. Tracking and assuring computers and recording equipment are in place and in good working order in courtrooms and grand jury sessions. Determining the placement and appearance of visual materials to effectively convey information to the court, jury, and/or witnesses. Grand Jury - Empaneling grand juries, preparing/processing orders related to grand jurors, coordinating grand jury sessions, and preparing the grand jury room. Serving as the branch office liaison to grand jurors and the Clerk's Office and Courts. Branch Administration Support - Coordinating, scheduling, and overseeing office maintenance, service contracts, and minor repairs. Managing supply inventories and procuring standard products and services. Conducting property inventory and maintaining related files. Promoting, training, and coordinating records management programs. Training employees on docketing processes and procedures. Maintaining and tracking various programmatic and statistical reporting requirements. Conducting physical security inspections, testing systems, analyzing results, and reporting findings. Coordinating/assisting with special events, press conferences, meetings, or community outreach activities. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To be eligible at the GS-11 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience; Education; OR a Combination of Specialized Experience and Education. Specialized Experience: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least work at the GS-09 level in Federal service, which has equipped you with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing the following types of duties: participating in trial preparation and presentations; working with attorneys and legal support staff to recommend effective strategies to meet litigation needs; identifying and utilizing software packages such as databases, spreadsheets, and word processing applications to present evidence; managing and operating a variety of computer hardware for trial use such as printers, plotters, and audio-visual devices; preparing demonstrative exhibits required for litigation; organizing and managing voluminous case specific information; and empaneling and scheduling grand jury sessions. OR Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice; Law): a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.M. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. OR Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: A combination of specialized experience and successfully completed graduate education as described above may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of two full years. 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/ Education All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov OR Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. Additional Information Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. EEO Statement: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a parent, genetic information, disability, age, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, or on the basis of personal favoritism. Diversity Statement: As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.