Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Title:   Legal Assistant

Location:  Atlanta, Georgia (United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia

Organization:  Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (ACHIDTA), funded by the

Office of National Drug Control Policy

Overview:

AC-HIDTA is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the position of Legal Assistant.  This position will be responsible for directly supporting ACHIDTA Prosecutors providing a wide variety of legal assistance and office support services.  The work requires a specialized knowledge of the process, procedures, and practices of legal support activities in conjunction with a knowledge of office skills, and an ability to apply these skills to increase the effectiveness of the assigned Assistant United States Attorney staff.

Responsibilities: 

Providing a variety of legal support to United States Attorney’s Office (hereinafter “USAO”) staff: Typical assignments include:

•       Preparing, processing, and examining of a wide variety of technical legal documents, which are complex in format and can be voluminous in content.  Reviewing incoming pleadings, court notices and mail, and independently determining the need for action.  Preparing a variety of legal documents, e.g., complaints, motions, responses, proposed orders, indictment packages, and grand jury and trial subpoenas.  Obtaining necessary information from files, law enforcement agencies, or other sources, and submitting completed legal documents to the appropriate Assistant United States Attorney or Special Assistant Unites States Attorney (hereinafter “AUSA”) or, in limited cases, directly to the court.  In preparation of documents, considering the nature and the status of the case involved.  With limited instructions from the AUSA, preparing such legal pleadings as indictments, informations, criminal complaints, search warrants, writs, affidavits, arraignment requests, grand jury and trial subpoenas, and orders for production of prisoners.  Preparing legal documents in conformance with the local court rules governing their style and format.

•       Providing assistance to attorneys with trial preparation by performing duties such as compiling trial notebooks, preparing voir dire, jury charge instructions, and compiling witness and exhibit lists.  Coordinating with the victim/witness specialist to ensure adherence to current Departmental guidelines relating to victims’ rights and services responsibilities.  Notifying appropriate individuals of victim/witness issues.

•       Using books and electronic legal research resources to verify that citations and statutory references contained in legal documents are complete, accurate, and consistent with source material.

•       Composing letters that do not require legal interpretations but do require a working knowledge of legal procedures and specialized terminology.  Drafting transmittal letters for pleadings, requests for extensions of time in certain cases, advising of actions taken or developments in cases referred by other federal departments and agencies, and notices to attorneys representing defendants.

Providing a wide variety of direct clerical and administrative support services to USAO staff. Typical assignments include:

•       Receiving visitors and telephone calls.  When requested and appropriate, furnishing information concerning pending and closed matters and cases, functions, and general procedures of the office.  Determining which matters should be referred to the AUSA and the urgency of the matter.

•       Establishing and maintaining a variety of files.  Compiling information needed by AUSAs in conducting interviews and preparing correspondence by searching case and legal reference files.  Assembling exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents from case file materials.  Timely closing case files by organizing case materials, purging duplicate items, and sealing or returning grand jury information in accordance with established procedures.

•       Performing docketing duties such as opening and closing cases through use of the automated case tracking system.  As necessary, searching database for required information.

•       Obligating funds for litigation expenses and follows up as necessary.  Reviewing bills and invoices and timely submits to the budget office for payment.

•       Maintaining calendars of the AUSAs, scheduling appointments, interviews, and conferences, and providing reminders of commitments and court appearances.  Also scheduling conferences and interviews for AUSAs as directed.  Developing and maintaining suspense system for ongoing cases and advising AUSAs of pending dates and deadlines.  Timely providing court calendar information for inclusion in weekly criminal calendar.

•       Arranging travel using authorized travel agency to arrange flight, hotel, and rental car, if necessary.  Preparing travel authorizations and vouchers.

•       Performing general clerical/administrative functions, e.g., ordering supplies and equipment, processing time and attendance records, maintaining administrative files, and assisting with updating loose- leaf legal publications.

•       Managing discovery and evidence in paper copies and electronically.  Scanning or photocopying assorted materials or making arrangements for scanning to be done by litigation support or outside vendors when materials are voluminous.  Copying for discovery requests.

Producing a variety of written documents and materials utilizing a wide range of office software applications.  Typical assignments include:

•       Processing and utilizing fully the features present in word processing package, such as spell check, Grammatik, thesaurus, etc., travel authorizations and vouchers utilizing E2, USA-5 data input, LIONS, Alcatraz, CaseView, Westlaw (including West Cite Link), LEXIS, Access, Excel, drafting PowerPoint presentations and use of Internet for research.

Additional Duties:

•       All other duties as assigned in support of the Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA mission.

Qualifications & Skills Requirements:

·       Five years professional secretarial experience required—prior legal, public safety and/or administrative support experience preferred.

·       Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills and formal training on Microsoft Office products.

Salary Pay Scale equivalent to the 2022 OPM GS-7/Step 1 – on the U.S. Federal Salaries Pay Scale for the locality pay area of Atlanta—Athens, Clarke County—Sandy Springs, GA-AL.  Plus, partial Employee Only benefits. 

No relocation expenses will be incurred by AC HIDTA. 

Background Check/Credit Check:  All applicants must successfully pass a thorough 

background and credit investigation.  Continuation of the employment is contingent upon the ability of the applicant to obtain/possess and maintain a Security Clearance. 

How to Apply:  If you are a U.S. citizen, qualified, and interested in applying for this position, please send your resume to: careers@achidta.org by COB 2-3-2023  

The Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA is an equal opportunity employer