Paralegal/Legal Assistant

Description

Job Description:

Be part of a dynamic team in providing legal and technical services to support the Department of Justice and other U.S. Government agencies. From emails and instant messages, to serves, electronic devices, and social media systems, we’re equipped to meet the challenge of forensically capturing, reviewing, and illuminating the “smoking gun” evidence. Join us and make a difference.

Leidos is looking for a top notch Paralegal candidate to provide a variety of direct paralegal support services in support of one of our federal agency customers in Atlanta, GA.

Overtime and travel may be required as needed with proper authorization. Individual may support any division/section within depending on the needs of the office at time of hire.

Typical assignments include the following but not limited to:

• Examines, prepares and processes a variety of technical legal documents which are characteristically voluminous and complex in format.

• Reviews incoming material and independently determines the need for assembly and preparation of a variety of legal documents, e.g., complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, and subpoenas.

• Obtains needed information from files, law enforcement agencies, or other sources, and submits completed legal documents to the appropriate AUSA or, in limited cases, directly to the court.

• In preparation of documents, considers the nature and the status of the case involved. With limited instructions from the AUSA, prepares such legal actions as indictments, criminal complaints, search warrants, judgments, applications, notices, affidavits, summonses, grand jury subpoenas, rules to show cause, proofs of claim, and satisfaction of judgment.

• Completes variable aspects of recurring legal documents in conformance with the rules governing their style and format.

• Provides assistance to attorneys in trial preparation by performing duties such as independently compiling trial notebooks, assembling jury instructions, and compiling witness and exhibit lists.

• Coordinates with the victim/witness specialist to ensure adherence to current Departmental guidelines relating to victims’ rights and services responsibilities.

• Notifies appropriate individuals of victim/witness issues.

• Using original and online legal resources, verifies citations and statutory references contained in legal documents. Ensures citations are complete and consistent with source material.

• Develops tables of contents and indices to briefs in accordance with established format. Lists cited cases, opinions and miscellaneous references in briefs.

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

Provides a variety of direct clerical and administrative support assistance services to AUSA staff including:

• Receives visitors and telephone callers. Furnishes requested information concerning pending and closed matters and cases, functions and general procedures of the office. Determines which matters should be referred to the AUSA and the urgency of the matter.

• Establishes and maintains a variety of files.

• Searches legal reference files for information needed by AUSAs in conducting interviews and preparing correspondence.

• Assembles exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents from file material.

• Separates, screens, selects, assembles, and organizes files and records material for disposition or transfer to records depository in accordance with established procedures.

• Performs docketing duties such as opening, updating and closing cases through use of the automated case tracking system.

• As necessary, searches database for required information.

• Enters information into various databases and monitors for continued necessity. Reviews bills and invoices and submits to budget office for payment.

• Maintains calendar of assigned active cases. Tracks filing, hearing, and trial dates, and scheduling conferences and interviews. Develops and maintains suspense system for ongoing cases and informs the AUSA of pending dates and deadlines. Maintains calendar(s) of the AUSA(s), scheduling appointments, interviews, and conferences, and provides reminders of commitments and court appearances.

• Arranges travel by preparing itinerary, and securing transportation and hotel reservations. Prepares travel authorizations and vouchers for traveler signature and Government approval.

• Provides automated litigation assistance to attorneys in trial preparation and courtroom presentations. Utilizes various software applications and graphics hardware such as scanners and plotters. Prepares documents, charts, and visual materials for use in trials. Provides technical support e.g., enlarging charts and photographs, duplicating tapes and videos, and marking exhibits.

• Produces a variety of written documents and materials utilizing a wide range of office software applications. For example, assignments may include integrating output from different software types, e.g., tables produced by database applications and charts and graphs produced by electronic spreadsheet applications, into word processing or desk top publishing text. Products include complicated tables, graphs and charts which may be incorporated into legal documents or courtroom presentations. Ensures proper format, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar.

The above mentioned duties may be performed as single functions or in combination with one another. One is expected to perform paralegal/legal assistant duties as defined by the contract

Basic Qualifications:

- Excellent written and oral communication skills.

- Requires paralegal certificate, or currently attending an ABA-accredited law school, having completed at least one year of study. One year of legal training or legal experience may be substituted for the paralegal certificate.

- At least one year of litigation paralegal experience.

- Basic legal knowledge, including knowledge of standard legal citation to cite check legal motions and memorandum.

- Sufficient experience with legal research tools such as LEXIS and Westlaw to perform basic legal research.

- Thorough knowledge and hands-on familiarity with a variety of computer applications, including word processing, databases (such as document review and file management systems), spreadsheets, imaging, and hardware systems.

- Basic familiarity with ESI tools and knowledge of eDiscovery procedures and resources.

- Ability to consistently deliver highest quality work under extreme pressure.

- Some walking, standing, bending and carrying of small office items

- Ability to obtain a security clearance.

- Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Experience working in a Government and/or Litigation Support environment in conjunction with basic qualifications, preferred.

- Automated litigation support experience.

- Trial experience very helpful.

- Tech savvy.

- Experience in working on Civil and/or Criminal cases.

- Experience with organization and management of a large volume of documents/discovery.

- Current or active clearance.

This position is covered under the Service Contract Act and is subject to minimum wage requirements as well as the minimum Health and Welfare benefit. Leidos will ensure that all provisions are met through their wages and benefits. The pay for this position will be $21.05/hr.

MEGA

Pay Range: