Summary of Work
The North Dakota Office of Attorney General is seeking to hire a Legal Assistant to assist the United States Attorney's office and the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force. This Legal Assistant will be responsible for directly and independently supporting the Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) by providing a wide variety of technical assistance services. The work requires a specialized knowledge of the processes, procedures, and practices of legal assistance activities in conjunction with a knowledge of clerical and administrative office skills and an ability to apply these skills to increase the effectiveness of the SAUSA in various ways with major duties including, but not limited to:
- Legal Support
- Examine, prepare, and process complex legal correspondence and documents according to legal requirements.
- Draft pleadings, motions, stipulations, briefs, affidavits, and other legal filings.
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Proofread and cite-check legal briefs, memoranda, and related documents.
- Assemble tables of authorities and tables of contents for briefs.
- Compile and organize record materials for court filings.
- Prepare evidence summaries indicating potential violations of federal law.
- Prepare summaries of witness interviews and meetings with counsel.
- Assist with processing, organizing, and managing legal data and support materials.
- Review incoming materials and determine which legal documents need to be prepared.
- Draft original correspondence requiring knowledge of legal procedures and terminology.
- Obtain required information from files, law enforcement agencies, and other sources.
- Submit completed legal documents to the SAUSA or, in limited cases, directly to the court.
- Prepare legal actions (e.g., indictments, complaints, search warrants, affidavits, subpoenas, judgments, applications) with limited instruction from the SAUSA.
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Legal Research
- Conduct factual and legal research in legal and non-legal databases and provide requested information following instructions from the SAUSA
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Preparation and Management of Evidence and Discovery
- Aids in preparing and organizing evidence for production as discovery and for use in trial.
- Utilizes various software applications and graphics hardware such as scanners and plotters
- Provides technical support, such as enlarging charts and photographs, duplicating tapes and videos, and marking exhibits.
- Case Management
- Contributes to reports summarizing the case status, including legal issues, factual issues, and case developments.
- Conducts document searches, organizes documents, conducts first level document review, and coordinates document production.
- Coordinates with the victim/witness specialist to ensure adherence to guidelines relating to victims' rights and services responsibilities.
- Administrative Support
- Receives visitors and telephone callers and furnishes requested information concerning pending and closed matters and cases, functions and general procedures of the office.
- Maintains the calendar of the SAUSA, schedules appointments, interviews, and conferences and provides reminders of commitments and court appearances.
- Prepares travel authorizations and vouchers
- Orders supplies and equipment, processes time and attendance records, and maintains administrative files
- Other duties as assigned.
This position is a temporary, part-time position, with the potential to be up to 40 hours per week, depending upon availability.
Minimum Qualifications
- An associate degree and two (2) years of work experience performing a variety of complex office support, clerical, or secretarial work preferred. The hiring authority will consider substituting additional work experience for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis if the experience provides the knowledge and skills required to perform the duties of this position.
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Demonstrates working knowledge and understanding of personal computer operations, including experience in navigating Microsoft Office, utilizing word processing and spreadsheet applications, and managing databases.
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Legal assistance experience preferred.
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Proven skill in communicating tactfully with a strong focus on delivering exceptional customer service.
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Ability to establish and maintain effective harmonious working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, and the public.
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Capable of preserving sensitive information with discretion.
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Excellent prioritization, time management, and organizational skills.
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Displays exceptional speed and accuracy in typing/keying.
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Successful completion of the interview process, along with reference checks, and extensive background and criminal record checks.
About Team ND
"Far and away the best prize life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." - Theodore Roosevelt
More than 7,500 talented, hard-working people across sixty-three agencies have come together as Team North Dakota. At Team ND, we are driven to succeed through gratitude, humility, curiosity and courage. Our purpose is to empower people, improve lives, and inspire success. Join us in being legendary.
Total Rewards: The State of North Dakota is committed to providing team members with a strong and competitive rewards package that support you, your health and your family.
Considering a new position on Team ND? How does your current position stack up? Use our Total Rewards Calculator to estimate.
Application Procedures
Applicants are screened based on qualifications, successful completion of the interview process and a background and criminal investigation. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The Office of Attorney General does not provide sponsorships.
Application package must be received by 11:59 PM Central Standard Time (CST) on the closing date listed on the opening.
TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE AT: ND Careers website
Documents to be submitted:
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Resume
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Cover letter with a summary that clearly explains how the applicant's work experience is related to the summary of work and minimum/preferred qualifications
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3 Professional References
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College Transcripts (copies or unofficial versions are acceptable for the initial application process but when the top candidate is given a conditional employment offer, they are required to present official transcripts)
The North Dakota Office of Attorney General prohibits candidates from plagiarizing any portion of their employment application and interview process to include responses to questions in which you must provide a narrative and/or verbal response. You must create your own responses originally and not copy or adapt them from other sources. While the North Dakota Office of Attorney General encourages you to create your narratives and interview responses with great care, including correct use of grammar and style, you are prohibited from using any artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool, to include but not limited to ChatGPT during the interview process. Any information you provide during the application and interview process is subject to verification. The North Dakota Office of Attorney General will discontinue your candidacy if we find you have violated this prohibition on use of AI tools in the application and interview process.
All hiring decisions are subject to approval by the Attorney General. No offer of employment is final or binding until approved by the Attorney General.
Anyone needing assistance or accommodations during any part of the application or interview process please contact Ashley, Office of Attorney General: E-mail: [email protected]; phone: (701) 328-1256 or TTY: (800) 366-6888.
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Learn more about Office of Attorney General at: ND Attorney General
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Learn more about Employment Benefits at: Team ND Benefits
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Visit North Dakota State government: ND State Government website
To learn more about living in North Dakota, visit Find the Good Life ND website
Equal Employment Opportunity
The State of North Dakota and this hiring agency do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), genetics, religion, age or disability in employment or the provisions of services and complies with the provisions of the North Dakota Human Rights Act.
As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. Sect. 23-12-10.
