Ardelle Associates is seeking a Legal Assistant to support the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Eastern District of Arkansas at the Little Rock branch office. This is an opportunity for personnel with Legal experience to support on-going criminal prosecutions. The USAO strive to defend the national security, improve the safety and quality of life in our communities, and protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States.
This is full time contract (40 hours/wk) for a one-year contract. Scheduled hours are 0830am to 0500 pm Monday to Friday. This is primarily an in-person position.
Pay rate: $19.36 per hour WITH health benefits OR $24.29 per hour WITHOUT health benefits.
DUTIES
- These positions are directly supporting the Assistant US Attorney
- Performs a variety of administrative duties in support of the assigned AUSAs, which typically involves automation support or other administrative tasks. Automation support may include:
- Maintain and update calendars for assigned prosecutors and check prosecutors mail daily, if requested. Schedule prosecutor’s meetings with agents, witnesses, etc. Reserve conference rooms for meetings, trial prep and trial.
- Update internal database(s) with defendant(s) and case information, court settings/hearings, etc.
- Assist prosecutors in preparing and submitting administrative request forms (transcript requests, etc.), and preparing indictment packets, subpoenas, and other court related filings, e.g., complaint and arrest warrant packets, search warrant packets, grand jury subpoenas, trial subpoenas, court notices, exhibit lists, etc. When appropriate, will also send pertinent court filings and documents to case agents, e.g., indictments, arrest warrants, case agent letter, judgments, etc.
- File documents with the Clerk’s office, as needed.
- Assist prosecutors and legal administrative specialists in organizing voluminous case information. Generally, legal administrative specialists will scan/load and index documents into a legal case management database. The legal assistant will assist with these responsibilities and perform data entry and indexing, as needed.
- Assist with special projects as determined by the prosecutors and legal administrative specialists.
- Assemble the physical files and electronic files for new cases by filing materials in chronological order, preparing and printing conflict of interest sheets for assigned AUSA, and numbering the initial case materials and discovery. Upon receipt, send additional discovery to outside parties as directed by the assigned AUSA
- The legal assistant will maintain the prosecutors case files and ensure they contain the pertinent documents, as well as assist with uploading/saving court filings and other documents to the appropriate cloud drives.
- Work closely with legal administrative specialists when preparing for trial and may assist with preparing photo boards, maps, charts, and other exhibits, as needed. Will also assemble trial notebooks for use by prosecutors, judges, defense counsel and witnesses.
- When appropriate, will close case files, close the same case in an internal database, and purge the appropriate documents before providing the closed files to the docketing personnel.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Two to four years related experience providing assistant to attorneys and preparing legal documents or paralegal certification.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of training / experience
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Strong interpersonal relations and good communication skills, both oral and written.
- Strong clerical skills including typing and filing.
- Ability to work in several, complex electronic data systems in order to enter and retrieve the information/data.
- Must be capable of performing advanced computer skills with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, and Excel).
- Possesses attention to detail, good organizational skills, the ability to manage multiple tasks, and demonstrated problem solving skills
- Demonstrate accurate recordkeeping.
- The Contractor shall provide two legal assistants to perform the following job duties to support attorneys, investigators, and paralegals:
1. Provide a variety of direct legal support assistance services to include:
- Receive and review incoming material and independently determines the need for assembly and preparation of a variety of legal documents, e.g., charging instruments, motions, orders, pleadings, deposition notices, trial subpoenas and grand jury subpoenas. In preparation of documents, considers the nature and the status of the case involved. Proofread and edit drafts of legal documents such as motions, orders, correspondence, discovery requests and responses, and other pleadings. Complete variable aspects of preparing recurring legal documents that conform to the rules governing their style and format.
- Electronically file documents on behalf of and at the directive of the attorneys with the appropriate state or federal court, applying knowledge of local court rules and practices.
- Provide assistance with trial preparation by performing duties such as independently compiling trial notebooks and witness and exhibit lists.
- Prepare and track grand jury subpoenas and returns. Aid in processing and organizing legal data and other supportive material. Organize, process and copy documents in accordance with requirements. Assemble record materials for court filings.
- Compose original letters that require a good working knowledge of legal procedures and specialized terminology, e.g., transmittal of pleadings, requests for extensions of time in certain cases, advising of actions taken or developments in cases referred by other federal departments and agencies, and notices to attorneys representing defendants.
2. Provide a variety of ancillary office support functions requiring some subject-matter knowledge of the United States Attorneys programs and operations. Typical assignments may include the following:
- Perform docketing duties such as opening, updating and closing cases through use of the automated case tracking system. As necessary, searches database for required information.
- Obligate funds for litigation expenses and monitors for continued necessity. Review bills and invoices and submits to budget office for payment.
- Maintain calendar of assigned active cases. Track filing, hearing, and trial dates, and scheduling conferences and interviews. Develop and maintain suspense system for ongoing cases and informs the attorneys of pending dates and deadlines. Maintain calendar(s) of the attorney(s), scheduling appointments, interviews, and conferences, and provides reminders of commitments and court appearances.
- Assemble the physical files and electronic files for new cases by filing materials in chronological order, preparing and printing conflict of interest sheets for assigned attorneys, and numbering the initial case materials and discovery. Upon receipt, send additional discovery to outside parties as directed by the assigned attorney.
- Prepare files for closing by putting the documents in chronological order, ensuring that the relevant documents are in the file, and prepare a closing sheet for the assigned attorney’s signature.
- Receive visitors, answer telephone and refer callers to staff members or take messages as appropriate. Deliver to and retrieve papers from the federal courthouse. Furnish requested information concerning pending and closed matters and cases, functions and general procedures of the office. Determine which matters should be referred to the AUSA and the urgency of the matter.
- Attend meetings and trainings as may be required and appropriate.
- Produce a variety of written documents and materials utilizing a wide range of office software applications, such as MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook, MS Access, Adobe Acrobat Professional or other databases. For example, assignments may include integrating output from different software types, e.g., tables produced by database applications and charts and graphs produced by electronic spreadsheet applications, into word processing or desktop publishing text. Products include complicated tables, graphs and charts, which may be incorporated into legal documents or courtroom presentations. Ensures all documents contain the proper format, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar.
- When appropriate, provide automated litigation assistance to attorneys in trial preparation and courtroom presentations, including transcribing dictation. Utilize various software applications and graphics hardware such as scanners and plotters. Prepare documents, charts, and visual materials used in trials. Provide technical support e.g., enlarging charts and photographs, duplicating tapes and videos, and marking exhibits.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Job Types: Full-time, Contract
Pay: $19.36 - $24.29 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Experience:
- Legal Administrative: 2 years (Required)
Work Location: In person
