Legal Assistant

This position is located in the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, Executive Office for Immigration Review, U. S. Department of Justice. The position provides legal and administrative support for Immigration Court operations by processing legal documents, keeping case records, drafting correspondence, generating reports, and supporting court proceedings. This is a Competitive Service position; additional positions may be filled from this announcement within 90 days of certificate issuance.

Duties

The duties and responsibilities for a Legal Assistant, GS-0986-5/6/7/8 generally include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Reviews and processes legal documents and case materials to determine completeness, procedural compliance, and appropriate case processing actions.
• Establishes and maintains paper and electronic case records to accurately document case status and support court proceedings.
• Prepares legal correspondence, notices, and court documents in accordance with established procedures and case requirements.
• Searches case files and legal records to obtain information needed for case processing, correspondence, and hearing preparation.
• Generates and maintains case status and workload reports to support monitoring of caseloads, motions, appeals, docket activity, and aged cases.
• Prepares case files and supporting documents for hearings to ensure required records are complete and available for court proceedings.

Salary

• $34,799 - $62,057/year

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening.
• You may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31st 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
• Salary payments must be by direct deposit to a financial institution.
• If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. See “How to Apply” section for more information.
• Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

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

FOR THE GS-05 LEVEL:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in the Federal service (or comparable experience outside the Federal service), performing 3 or more of the following duties:

1. Preparing routine correspondence or notices using established formats and procedures;
2. Providing information to visitors or telephone callers using established guidance;
3. Using office software or electronic systems to enter, retrieve, or update information; and
4. Maintaining paper or electronic files in accordance with established filing procedures.

(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

-OR-

Education: Applicants must have successfully completed 4 years of education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite is creditable. This education was obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school.
NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification.

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants must possess a combination of the described education and specialized experience such that they total 100% of the stated minimum qualifications for the GS-05 level. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. (Only post high school education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.) (You must submit a copy of your transcripts for verification.)
NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification.

FOR THE GS-06 LEVEL:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (or comparable experience outside the Federal service), performing 3 or more of the following duties:

1. Reviewing documents for accuracy, completeness, or required information before further processing;
2. Responding to written, telephone, electronic, or in-person inquiries concerning records or established procedures;
3. Preparing and maintaining official files or records in accordance with established procedures; and
4. Generating and reviewing status, workload, or tracking reports from electronic systems.

(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-06 level in the Federal service (or comparable experience outside the Federal service), performing 3 or more of the following duties:

1. Managing calendars, schedules, or time-sensitive activities to support meetings, hearings, appointments, or similar events;
2. Examining files or records to determine whether required documentation is complete for further processing;
3. Researching information through organized files, records, or electronic systems to support case or administrative actions; and
4. Generating, modifying, or interpreting computer-generated reports to monitor status, workload, or pending actions.

Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

FOR THE GS-08 LEVEL:

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (or comparable experience outside the Federal service), performing 4 or more of the following duties:

1. Applying established rules, policies, or procedures to determine appropriate actions for case or administrative work;
2. Coordinating multiple assignments or time-sensitive activities to meet established priorities and deadlines;
3. Examining complex or extensive documents or files to identify required information and processing requirements;
4. Reviewing incoming documents or case files to determine the appropriate next action under established procedures; and
5. Scheduling meetings, hearings, appointments, or other engagements requiring coordination of participants, records, or deadlines.

(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

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 ARE YOU USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). You MUST provide a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking, or other documentation to support your educational claims. Applicants can verify accreditation by clicking here: Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP). All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. (Note: If you are selected for this position based on education, an official transcript will be required, prior to your first day.) You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. Translated transcripts are required. In addition, if a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Other 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 and must submit proof of eligibility for the special selection priority. Additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility can be found by clicking here. Note: Multiple selections may be made from this announcement. Salaries listed above are an approximation and are subject to duty station locality adjustment. Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Required Documents

Your complete Application Package (containing the required documents) must be received no later than 11:59 pm Eastern on the closing date.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your Resume (2 pages) showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. (Please see the How You Will Be Evaluated section for more details on the resume)
2. A complete Application Questionnaire. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13069777
3. Complete the USA Hire Assessments, you will receive a notification with your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline if an assessment is required.
4. 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.) (Please see the Education Section)
• CTAP/ICTAP documents (Please see the Additional Information section)
• Veterans Preference Documentation:
  • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
  • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
  • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from https://www.va.gov/records/download-va-letters/ or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
• Any other supporting documentation required for verification as described in the announcement.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Remove photos from badges, licenses, or other documents, as hiring officials may not review documents containing images.

Failure to submit all required documents may result in your application being deemed incomplete and removed from consideration. It is your responsibility to ensure your application package is complete.

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

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:

1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Occupational questionnaire can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13069777
3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date, 10/07/2026.
4. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
5. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
6. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
7. Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
8. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.

Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us.

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.