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Legal Assistant (BM Support)

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Falls Church, Virginia
Closing date
Jan 19, 2021
Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), Executive Office for Immigration Review, U. S. Department of Justice.

This is a Competitive Service position; additional positions maybe filled from this announcement within 90 days of certificate issuance.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

This position serves as a Legal Assistant to the Chairman and Board Members of the Board of Immigration Appeals and performs a variety of technical legal and administrative duties in connection with immigration and nationality cases on appeal within the jurisdiction of the Board.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:
  • Providing legal and administrative support to the members and attorneys of the Board of Immigration Appeals in the review of formal orders issued by District Directors of DHS and Immigration Judges of EOIR in formal due process hearings.
  • Retrieving and furnishes case-related information and answers procedural questions.
  • Identifying and tracking those cases involving detained aliens or those requiring expeditious review for the immediate attention of the Chairman and Board Members.
  • Monitoring actions through the automated case management system for review of critical data fields and to ensure accurate identification of each case.
  • Reviewing various publications, directives, and periodicals and brings significant issues involving various determinations made, collateral factors, including moral character of the respondent, economic circumstances, family ties and responsibilities and action sought by the respondent's counsel to Chairman and/or Board Members for use in conferences, oral arguments, and in cases reviews.
  • Monitoring and updating files with regard to Board interim decisions, dissenting and concurring opinions, recent court cases of special interest, and individual correspondence files.


Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
9

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • You must complete a background investigation, credit check, and drug test.
  • Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
  • Probationary period will apply.
  • May be required to file a Financial Disclosure.
  • Salary payments must be by direct deposit to a financial institution.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.


Qualifications

In order to qualify for the Legal Assistant (BM Support) position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

FOR THE GS-08 LEVEL:

Specialized Experience:
Applicants must have at least one or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties:
  • Performing research of precedents and case law using automated systems;
  • Training colleagues, and/or new staff on the use of computer programs;
  • Identifying and tracking legal cases requiring expeditious review; and
  • Preparing responses that address clerical and administrative issues.
  • (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

    FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL:

    Specialized Experience:
    Applicants must have at least one or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-08 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties:
  • Identifying and tracking legal cases requiring expeditious review;
  • Providing information on technical aspects of cases;
  • Reviewing case related documents for conformity to format, grammar, style, and correct procedures;
  • Processing legal case related actions; and
  • Applying appropriate statutes, regulations or precedents for compliance to regulatory requirements.
  • (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

    Note, if your qualifying experience is from federal employment, please provide your SF-50 showing the highest grade level held in the federal service.

    Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

    IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

    For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here .

    Education

    This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

    Additional information

    Conditions of Employment: Only U.S. Citizens or Nationals are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ applicants, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens, whose job location is with the U.S., must meet the residency requirement. For a total of three (not necessarily consecutive years) of the five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the U.S., 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a Federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a Federal or military employee serving oversees.

    Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and (for scored examining) score 85 or better on established ranking criteria OR (for category rating criteria) rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria and must submit proof of eligibility for the special selection priority. Additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility can be found by clicking here .

    Active Duty Service Members expected to be released or discharged from active duty service may submit a written document from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. Without this documentation, you will not receive tentative veterans' preference and your application will be evaluated based on the job application materials submitted. Veterans' preference must be verified prior to appointment.

    How You Will Be Evaluated

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

    Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job.

    Applicants applying under Delegated Examining (all U.S. citizens) procedures will be rated under DOJ's Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your score may be lowered and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If it is determined you meet minimum qualification requirements, your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles. Candidates placed in the "Best Qualified" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager for further review and consideration.

    You will be rated based on the following knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs) or competencies:
    • Conscientiousness
    • Database Administration
    • Oral Communication
    • Technical Competence
    • Writing


    NOTE : In order to be rated as meeting the minimum qualifications, we must be able to determine from your application package that you have the education and/or specialized experience that is required. Applicants who have qualifying experience performed on less than a full-time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties. Your resume MUST contain your full name, address, phone number, and the following employment information:
    • Employer name and location for each position held.
    • From and to dates (MM/YY-MM/YY or from MM/YY to "present") for each position held. The month and year is required to fully credit your time.
    • For part-time positions, please include number of hours worked per week, positions that do not include this information will be assumed as full-time (40 hours a week).
    • Grade levels held for each federal position.
    • Detailed descriptions of experience under each position held. (Applicants must provide specific supporting examples to show that they meet the qualifications of the position shown in the announcement.)
    • Any submitted documents not required or requested for this vacancy will not be considered (i.e. training certificates, case filings, letter of recommendations, etc.).
    (ALL INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION PRIOR TO FINAL SELECTION.)

    Background checks and security clearance

    Security clearance
    Not Required

    Drug test required
    Yes

    Position sensitivity and risk
    Moderate Risk (MR)

    Trust determination process
    Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness

    Required Documents

    To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package by the closing date of this announcement, which includes:

    1. Your Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. (Please see the How You Will Be Evaluated section)
    2. A complete initial Assessment Questionnaire.
    3. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable to you:
    • Transcripts, if qualifying based on education. (Must include your name, college name and address, courses, dates attended, major and degree, cumulative grade point average (GPA), any honors received, and date the degree was awarded/conferred.)
    • CTAP/ICTAP documents (Please see the Additional Information section)
    • If your qualifying experience is from Federal employment, please provide your SF50 showing the highest grade level held in the Federal service.
    • Veterans' Preference and documents: (DD214 MEMBER-4 copy, SF-15, and required documentation that is acceptable proof of your claim for preference.) If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you claim on your resume. You must submit a DD214 Member-4 Copy,"Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and separation under honorable conditions. If you are entitled to veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, award of the Purple Heart, or derived preference, you must submit an SF15, "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference," and required documentation that is acceptable proof of your claim for preference. (e.g. An official statement, dated 1991 or later , from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying the veteran's service-connected disability and combined disability rating.) For more information on Veterans' Preference click here .
    • Schedule A: To be considered for a Schedule A appointment, you must submit proof of your disability. This proof may be in the form of documentation obtained from licensed medical professionals, state or private vocational rehabilitation specialists, or any Government agency that issues or provides disability benefits. You must submit valid documentation regardless of the date of determination of your disability. Proof of disability documentation needs to specify that you are eligible to apply using Schedule A. It does NOT need to detail your specific disability, medical history or need for accommodation. To view sample Schedule A proof of disability letters click here .The Schedule A letter must be separate from any Veterans' Preference documentation.
    • Veterans eligible for a Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA). You must submit a copy of your DD-214. NOTE: VRA only applies to positions at the GS-11 level and below.
    • Any other supporting documentation required for verification as described in the announcement.
    Note: Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

    Note: Multiple selections may be made from this announcement. Salaries above are an approximation.

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