Duties

Trial Clerks are expected to exercise initiative and resourcefulness, to demonstrate exceptional organizational skills, to have high ethical standards, and to exhibit excellent professional written and verbal communication skills. This is a great position for you if you embrace new challenges, are eager to spend time in the courtroom, and are just as comfortable with solo travel as you are with hosting a virtual meeting.

Responsibilities

Trial clerks are responsible for providing judicial support related to trials and hearings including:

• Participating in court proceedings. Assists with the orderly flow of court proceedings that includes, but is not limited to, setting up the courtroom, assuring presence of all necessary participants, coordinating with the court reporter, managing exhibits, calling court to order, administering oaths, swearing in witnesses, hosting and directing virtual hearings/trials (i.e., Zoomgov), and operating courtroom technology.
• Taking notes of proceedings, notices, and rulings to prepare Court orders and minutes.
• Responding to procedural questions from litigants, pro bono counsel, and the public.
• Reviewing and preparing case filings using the Court's electronic filing and case management system, DAWSON, in accordance with the U.S. Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure and case processing guidelines.
• Working closely with the Court's Docket Section to process exhibits, minutes, transcripts, orders, decisions, and other official case documents.
• Serving as a liaison between judges and other Court staff, the United States Marshals Service, the General Services Administration, attorneys, practitioners, low-income taxpayer clinic and pro bono representatives, taxpayers, the press, and the public.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Trial clerks are assigned to both in-person and remote Court proceedings. For in-person proceedings, there is extensive travel required throughout the United States. For remote trials and hearings, the trial clerk is responsible for creating and managing the video platform (currently Zoomgov) and ensuring that the proceeding is live-streamed, while also performing other duties.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Applicants must be United States citizens or Nationals.
• All Court employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for US Tax Court Employees .
• Employees of the United States Tax Court serve under "excepted appointments" and are considered "At-Will" employees, and, as such, may be terminated with or without cause. Federal Civil Service classifications or regulations do not apply; however, Court employees are entitled to substantially the same benefits as other Federal Government employees.
• Those who are required must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• Selection of this position is contingent on a favorable suitability determination and security background check, to include credit check, Federal income tax check, and criminal check. A candidate selected for this position must be current on their Federal income tax obligations before employment with the Tax Court, and must remain current at all times while employed by the Tax Court. Continued employment post appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of the background investigation and credit check, and favorable adjudication. A background reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time.
• The candidate selected for this position must show that they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or show a weekly COVID-19 negative test report from an approved source.
• All applicant information is subject to verification.
• The Federal Financial Reform Act requires direct deposit of federal wages for Court employees.

Qualifications

THIS IS AN AT-WILL POSITION

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Special Rating Factors (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required by the Position): Applicants are required to address each Special Rating Factor providing detailed evidence of the listed factors in the form of clear, concise examples of accomplishment and degree of responsibility. Please use specific examples to illustrate how your qualifications and accomplishments are relevant.

A. the ability to communicate effectively and tactfully with individuals or groups representing widely different backgrounds, interests and points of view;
B. strong attention to detail;
C. ability to exercise discretion, mature judgment and independence; and
D. ability to be a self-starter, resourceful, technologically adept and comfortable traveling alone.

Qualified candidates must be willing to commit to a minimum two-year tour of duty.
Applicants must meet all qualifications and time-in-grade requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Work at the higher grades: This position is a two-grade interval position that provides a progressive career ladder with full- performance level to GS-11. In order to progress through the career ladder, an employee must work at least 52 weeks at the next lower grade, must be performing their current position at a fully-successful level, and must show evidence of performing duties at the next higher grade level. Promotion consideration is subject to the supervisor's discretion.

Education

To qualify for the position of Trial Clerk, applicants MUST submit proof that they have received a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND that they meet at least one of the following criteria based on (1) class standing or (2) grade-point average, or (3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.

1. To qualify based on class standing, applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
2. To qualify based on grade-point average, applicants must have a grade-point average of:
3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final two years of the curriculum.
3. Applicants may also qualify based on election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. See the Association of College Honor Societies for a list of qualifying honor societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

Additional information

THIS IS AN AT-WILL POSITION

The United States Tax Court is an equal opportunity employer.