Legal Assistant

Summary This position is located in the Office of the Consolidated Adjudicatory Boards (the Boards) which are independent quasi-judicial bodies with jurisdiction to hear and decide appeals from decisions from the lower administrative bodies within the Department of Labor. This position is within the bargaining unit. Responsibilities Receives and processes incoming mail and prepares reports as necessary and reviews and files letters of appeal and supporting documents submitted by appellants or their representatives. Determines whether the appeal request is complete and complies with Board requirements and is suitable for review. Assists other Legal Assistants in preparing and mailing standardized correspondence to appellants or their representatives to secure further information if requirements are not met pursuant to the Board's Rules of Procedure. Ensures proper authorization by the appellant when a representative files on behalf of an appellant. Receives and processes incoming telephone calls and electronic inquiries, including congressional inquiries. Ensures that all actions in the docket folder are reflected in the CPS. Receives correspondence or pleadings and annotates the docket folder and CPS to reflect receipt and due date for response or other actions required. With guidance from the Lead Legal Assistant, determines whether oral argument has been requested. Initiates and completes timely and appropriate follow-up actions as required to complete the docket folder and obtain the case record, including running reports and taking action as needed. Determines when file is complete and ready for review by legal staff. Ensures that case records are filed appropriately. Directs all requests, after processing, for dismissal, attorney fee requests, petitions for reconsideration and motions submitted by the Solicitor's Office to the Supervisory Attorneys for action. Initiates and completes notice to all parties regarding pleadings received and ensures service of copies of pleadings on all parties. Receives requests from the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, appellants and attorneys for extension of time. Determines which form letter should be used in response in consultation with supervisor or legal staff if appropriate, or prepares appropriate new letter, as necessary. Prepares and issues standard, pre-programmed orders to OWCP to produce case records or to remand case, upon request of staff. Processes and issues other standard, preapproved orders as directed by the supervisor. Identifies cases for which oral argument has been requested. Assists in the preparation and mailing of letters clarifying request for oral argument. Transfer the case record between legal staff and Solicitor of Labor. Informs parties of oral' argument dates set by the supervisor and forwards to appellant copies of the standard procedures for oral argument along with the statement of issues to be addressed as identified by the staff attorney or supervisor. Processes requests for cancellations of oral argument and advises other parties; reschedules oral arguments as directed by the supervisor. Assists in the preparation of final decisions and orders of the Board for service. Ensures that copies of the final determination are timely served to all parties, the complete close-out data is entered in the Board computer-based case tracking system and in all hard-copy record systems (docket file, docket sheet, close-out log), and that copies of all appropriate documents, including the final decisions or order, are secured in the docket folder, and circulates the decision for signature. Files all correspondence and documents including the return receipt card in the docket folder. Ensures that the docket folders are promptly filed. Makes all appropriate CPS entries. Works with computer specialists in the Information Resources Management staff in resolving problems to ensure effective maintenance of the agency's case tracking and control systems. Coordinates activities with the Paralegal Teams to ensure smooth operations, compliance with Board policies and procedures, and accuracy and validity of management and case data. Performs other duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. Position titles alone cannot be used to determine if you are qualified. Please list dates in MM/DD/YYYY format. This is imperative in determining if you have at least one year of creditable specialized experience. Dates will not be assumed. For the GS-06: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-05 in the Federal Service. Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Qualifying specialized experience for GS-06 includes experience in performing legal support work relating to: -The preparation and processing of legal documents AND -Mail and incoming case related materials. You must have a typing proficiency of 40 words per minute based on a 5-minute sample with three or fewer errors. You must have a certificate of proficiency from an organization authorized to issue such certificates or self-certify your proficiency. Education Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information. Additional Information Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the Required Documents section for additional requirements. This position is inside the bargaining unit. If the duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. If the duty location is outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the NCFLL bargaining unit. GS-7 Click here for Career Ladder Promotion Information The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. As such, the Department is committed to fostering a workplace and workforce that promote equal employment opportunity, reflects the diversity of the people we seek to serve, and models a culture of respect, equity, inclusion, and accessibility where every employee feels heard, supported, and empowered. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION Click here for Telework Position Information This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy. Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy. The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click here for Additional Information. The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions. All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.