Vacancy expired!
Legal AssistantDepartment of AgricultureOffice of the General CounselOverview
##### Open & closing dates
09/30/2019 to 10/28/2019This job will close when we have received 100 applications which
may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
##### Service
Competitive
##### Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 8
##### Salary
$42,053 to $60,543 per year
##### Appointment type
Permanent
##### Work schedule
Full-TimeLocation1 vacancy in the following location:-Little Rock, AR 1 vacancyRelocation expenses reimbursedNoTelework eligibleYes as determined by agency policy- DutiesSummaryThe Department of Agriculture's Office of the General Counsel (OGC)
provides legal services to all the agencies within the United States
Department of Agriculture.The position is located in the Little Rock branch office (part of
the Central Region headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri). The
incumbent provides legal assistance to the Associate Regional
Attorney and staff attorneys within the Central Region and its
Little Rock office in particular.Learn more about this agencyResponsibilities
Providing clerical and office support for all other staff,
including reviewing and preparing legal documents, opening and
inputting case data in filing systems, drafting correspondence,
gathering information and preparing reports.
Reads/reviews files to determine whether cases should be
assigned to attorneys in the Division or referred elsewhere.
Reads and evaluates documents and correspondence referred for
consideration to attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel.
Reviews relevant files, reports and other supporting documents
to determine that all information is available, accurate, and
ready for referral to the appropriate person.
Provides technical advice to agencies when legal documents or
reports of investigation are not accurate or need further
information prior to being finalized.
Responds to incoming inquiries received from clients or agencies
regarding the status of pending matters.
Provides clerical support for all other staff to include:
typing, copying, scanning, transmitting, mailing, reviewing,
prooing, filing, assisting with the preparation of travel
documents, budgeting, and purchasing.
Reviews outgoing correspondence and documents to ensure they are
grammatically correct, factually correct, and conform to
established USDA policy.
Prepares reports and tracks cases that are opened, closed, and
pending in the office.
Drafts and reviews a variety of documents using Excel, Word and
Microsoft Office Suite, as well as, other programs used in a
legal office.
Screens all telephone calls and responds to written requests,
telephone inquiries, and personal visits from persons seeking
information concerning the responsibilities of the Office of the
General Counsel
Tracks and records the status of all cases assigned to the
attorneys in the Little Rock branch of the Office of the General
Counsel.
Reviews all incoming cases and determines which cases should be
reviewed and assigned by the Associate Regional Attorney.
Examines, evaluates, and routes requests for legal assistance
from agencies of the Department.
Performs legal research to locate cases, statutes, regulations,
legal texts, and other materials pertinent to cases pending in
the Office of the General Counsel.
Processing procurement, travel, personnel and related documents,
consistent with proper grammar, legal requirements and staff
directives.
Travel RequiredNot requiredSupervisory statusNoPromotion Potential8
#### Job family (Series)
0986 Legal Assistance- RequirementsConditions of Employment
You must be a US Citizen or US National
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered
or exempt
Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation
and/or fingerprint check
May be subject to satisfactory completion of one year
probationary or trial period.
Direct Deposit ? Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees
are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to
their financial institution
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To
learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and
responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
The documentation you present for purposes of completing the
Department Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your
entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY"
system
You may need to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment
(OF-306)
This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work
arrangements. Employee participation is at the discretion of the
supervisor
More than one selection can be made from this announcement
Following a probationary period, this position is eligible for
telework and other flexible work arrangements on a limited basis
and consistent with the secretary's telework policy. Employee
participation is at the discretion of the supervisor.
QualificationsApplicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements
by the closing date of the announcement including specialized
experience and/or education, as defined below.GS-7: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the
GS-06 level in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in
the private sector/pay systems which demonstrates 3 of the 5
following competencies to successfully perform as a Legal
Assistant.Specialized experience is defined as experience providing assistance
to attorneys by drafting litigation hold memorandums and preparing
complaints, motions, subpoenas, orders, or other hearing and/or
trial documents accurately and in proper format and grammar;
researching and gathering legal information for preparing and
reviewing legal documents; recognizing issues that must be dealt
with timely, promptly, discreetly and confidentially; providing
administrative and clerical support such as typing, copying, and
transmitting; organizing and assembling documents and information
for use in response requests.GS-8: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the
GS-07 level in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in
the private sector/pay systems which demonstrates 5 of the 7
following competencies/knowledge to successfully perform as a Legal
Assistant.Specialized experience is defined as significant experience in
drafting litigation hold memorandums and preparing various legal
documents including complaints, motions, subpoenas, orders, or other
hearing and/or trial documents with diminutive error; extensive
researching and gathering of legal information for preparing and
reviewing legal documents; providing substantial clerical support to
a variety of staff such as copying, assembling, transmitting, and
reviewing various circumstances that require further attention to
detail and/or action; organizing and assembling documents and
information that is used for case files and requests in a high
volume environment; knowledge of law and policies governing the
effort to stay in accordance; knowledge of the law library and legal
research tools to support independent legal research; strong
knowledge of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and legal terminology
to prepare well written and error free documents.Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer
work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps,
AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional;
philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).
Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide
valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid
employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience,
including volunteer experience.EducationAdditional informationLittle Rock AR Pay Scale:
GS-07: $42,053.00 - $54,670.00
GS-08: $46,572.00 - $60,543.00
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority
List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
(ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply
as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection
priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet
the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors.
CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well
qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies
listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed
through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP
applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a
possible 100.
Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated
from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three
years or more of continuous active service are eligible for
consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act
(VEOA).
For more information on applying under special hiring
authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30
percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A
Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the
USAJOBS website.
Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County
employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a
Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a
career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year
probationary period.
Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides
current or former temporary or term employees of federal land
management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent
competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than
24 months of service without a break between appointments of two
or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and
have been at a successful level of performance or better. Refer
to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015 for more information.
E-Verify: Federal law requires agencies to use the E-Verify
system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.
If you are selected as a newly hired employee, the documentation
you present for purposes of completing the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will
be verified through the DHS 'E-VERIFY' system. Under the system,
the new hire is required to resolve any identified discrepancies
as a condition of continued employment.
Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees
are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to
a financial institution of your choosing.
Special Hiring Authorities Information: Click here for more
information
https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/SpecialHiringOptions
regarding applying under the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30
percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, and
Schedule A Disabled.
EEO Policy Statement: Click here
Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement: Click here
Veterans Information: Click here
How You Will Be EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the
qualifications above.Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of
Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA
policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum
qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best
Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories,
applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection
priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined
based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they
possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or
competencies:
Customer Service
Manages and Organizes Information
Integrity/Honesty
Teamwork
Organizational Awareness
Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire,
will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification
requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the
job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your
responses to all the questions addressing experience and education
relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best
qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for
consideration.Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting
documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your
qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more
accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible.
Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may
affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal
documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action
up to including removal from the Federal service.Background checks and security clearanceSecurity clearanceOtherDrug test requiredNoPosition sensitivity and riskModerate Risk (MR)Trust determination processSuitability/Fitness- Required DocumentsThe following documents are required for your applicant package to
be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible
software, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be
accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result
in loss of consideration.
Resume that includes:1) personal information such as name,
address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work
experience related to this position as described in the major
duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of
employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other
qualifications.
If education is required or you are using education to qualify,
you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An
unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it
includes your name and the necessary course information;
however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit
official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must
have been successfully obtained from an accredited school,
college or university. If any education was completed at a
foreign institute, you must submit with your application
evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an
accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private
organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is
normally associated with this service. For a list of private
organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website.
All transcripts must be in English or include an English
translation.
If claiming veteran's preference, you must submit a DD-214,
Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of
service and discharge under honorable conditions.If currently on
active duty you must submit a certification of expected
discharge or release from active duty service under honorable
conditions not later than 120 days after the date the
certification is submitted.Veteran's preference must be verified
prior to appointment.Without this documentation, you will not
receive veteran's preference and your application will be
evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.
If claiming 10-point veteran's preference you must provide the
DD-214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus
the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the
SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15
should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these
documents could result in the determination that there is
insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point
preference. For more information on veterans' preference visit
FEDSHIREVETS
Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP
priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation
notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of
function or directed reassignment to another commuting area,
notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting
separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting
position, grade level, and duty location with your application
per 5 CFR 330.
Schedule A, Persons with Disabilities Appointment: Sch A letter
from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office
citing eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u). See eCFR Part 213.
Other Special Hiring Authorities: If claiming eligibility under
a Special Hiring Authority not listed above submit appropriate
supporting documentation. See Hiring Authorities.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution
recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be
credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the
attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting
institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this
vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may
affect the overall rating.- BenefitsA career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a
comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your
family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to
make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal
benefits.Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold
and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.
Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific
benefits offered.- How to ApplyPlease read the entire announcement and all instructions before you
begin. You must complete this application process and submit all
required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on
the closing date of this announcement.Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you
during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Monday -
Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency
Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate
method. All hardship application packages must be complete and
submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the
announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its
closing.This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with
disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to
request this.To begin, click "Apply Online" and follow the instructions to
complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all
required documents.NOTE: If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous
submission, which means the previous document is no longer available
to the Human Resources Office. If you are adding to, rather than
replacing a previous submission, you must upload both the old
document and the new document. You must verify that uploaded
documents from USAJOBS transfer into the Agency's staffing system as
there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be
transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will
have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Applicants may
combine all like required documents (e.g. SF-50s or veteran docs)
into one or more files and scan for uploading into the application.
Each file must not exceed 3MB. Grouping like documents into files
will simplify the application process. Documents must be in one of
the following formats: GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, RTF, or Word (DOC
or DOCX). Uploaded documents may not require a password, digital
signature, or other encryption to open.Agency contact informationAngela ErvinPhone202-239-4528EmailAngela.Ervin@ogc.usda.govAddressOffice of the General Counsel
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250
USLearn more about this agencyNext stepsYour application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the
eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to
issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further
evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in
to your USAJOBS to check your application status. We expect to make
a final job offer approximately 40 days after the deadline for
applications.Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement- Fair & TransparentThe Federal hiring process is setup to be fair and transparent.
Please read the following guidance.Equal Employment Opportunity PolicyThe United States Government does not discriminate in employment on
the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and
gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual
orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age,
membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental
status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job
applicants
Reasonable Accommodation PolicyFederal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants
with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable
accommodation for any part of the application process should follow
the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part
of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the
hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable
accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work
environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an
individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties
or receive equal access to job benefits.Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide
reasonable accommodations when:
An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an
equal opportunity to apply for a job.
An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform
the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive
equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and
office-sponsored events.
You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the
application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are
considered on a case-by-case basis.Learn more about disability employment and reasonable accommodations
or how to contact an agency.Legal and regulatory guidance
Financial suitability
Social security number request
Privacy Act
Signature and false statements
Selective Service
New employee probationary period
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to
apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/547013200. Only resumes
submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed
at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
