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Staff Attorney (Self Help Center)

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Nov 17, 2019
Duties

Summary

The Staff Attorney position is located in the Self-Help Center of the Probate Division of the District of Columbia Courts. The incumbent will provide analysis, advice and assistance on the laws, rules, and legal issues that currently affect the Probate Division and the Self Help Center and inform future enhancement for the District of Columbia.

This position is open until filled and resumes will be reviewed every two weeks. The first review date is November 4, 2019.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Brief Description of Duties:
  • Supervises, supports, and trains the Probate's Self Help Center staff, volunteer attorneys, and law students.
  • Manages the public and private partnerships coordinated to deliver pro bono services.
  • Prepares legal memoranda on case dispositive and emergency motions, complex procedural motions, Bar discipline matters, original actions, and other miscellaneous matters.
  • Performs legal analysis and issues identification of probate cases and assists the Court's judicial and non-legal staff.
  • Drafts concise and well-reasoned memoranda that include an appropriate dispositional recommendation.
  • Responds to inquiries from judicial officers, non-legal staff, and the public consistently with office policy.
  • Reviews documents of operational branches and volunteer pro bono partners to ensure legal issues are identified and addressed.
  • Responsible for special projects such as committee work, development, and updates training materials and informational materials for the public.


Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Background and security investigation are required.
  • A probationary period of one (1) year must be successfully completed.


To qualify for this position, you must submit the following:
  • Resume
  • Completed Vacancy Questionnaire
  • Documentation /Proof of Education (copy of law school degree or transcript)
  • Copy of the D.C. Courts' Management Training Program certificate if using to substitute for qualifying experience
  • Copy of D.C. Bar License
  • List of three (3) professional references


  • Qualifications

    Minimum Qualifications: A law degree from an accredited university or college plus three (3) years of legal experience, which includes two (2) years of supervisory experience in an office, public service agency, court system, or legal environment.

    One (1) year of experience dealing with probate matters or administration of the estates of deceased persons is preferred.

    Graduation from the Courts' Management Training Program may substitute for one (1) year of supervisory experience (You must provide documentation of your management training (i.e. copy of certificate) with your application.

    Must possess an active D.C. Bar membership in good standing, or be eligible to waive into the D.C. Bar. Documentation of education and Bar membership or eligibility must be included with the application. Applications will not be considered complete unless proof is attached. If not a member of the D.C. Bar, waiver into the D.C. Bar within six months after an offer of employment is a condition of employment.

    Have excellent legal research, writing, and editing skills.

    Have interpersonal and communication skills needed to successfully interact with the public, the judiciary, and other court personnel.

    The incumbent should be an enthusiastic and engaged professional who enjoys working with a diverse group of Court personnel and customers and lives the DC Courts' values of Accountability, Excellence, Fairness, Integrity, Respect, and Transparency.

    Please note that authorization for the release of your adult criminal record revealing any convictions and forfeitures, and any criminal cases currently pending before the courts are required. If you are selected for the position, a criminal history records check will be conducted.

    DC Court Policy 1060.VI. - Practice of Law: Judges, Magistrate Judges, law clerks, judicial administrative assistants and nonjudicial employees shall not engage in the practice of law while employed by the District of Columbia Courts. Notwithstanding this prohibition, an employee may act pro se and may, without compensation, give legal advice to and draft or review documents for a member of one's family.

    Education

    To qualify based on education, upload a copy of your college transcript or degree. The transcript must show the name of the college or university, your name, list of courses with credit hours, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking.

    Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for District of Columbia Courts employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

    Foreign Education: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must upload a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript at time of application to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

    Additional information

    This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive Federal civil service.

    Please note there is a mandatory one year probationary period for all non-judicial new employees.

    All required information must be received by the vacancy announcement closing date.

    How You Will Be Evaluated

    You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

    This position is open until filled and resumes will be reviewed every two weeks. The first review date is November 4, 2019.

    Upon receipt of your complete application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure that you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Answers submitted in the questionnaire must be supported on your resume.

    Your resume must reflect the relevant experience and that you meet the minimum qualifications or your application will not be considered.

    To preview questions please click here .

    Background checks and security clearance

    Security clearance
    Other

    Drug test required
    No

    Required Documents

  • Resume
  • Completed Vacancy Questionnaire
  • Documentation /Proof of Education (copy of law school degree or transcript)
  • Copy of the D.C. Courts' Management Training Program certificate if using to substitute for qualifying experience
  • Copy of D.C. Bar License
  • List of three (3) professional references


  • 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.

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