Legal Clerk

Background

The Fact Witness Legal Clerk plays an integral role in facilitating the participation and cooperation of victims and witnesses throughout the federal judicial system. In addition to affording rights and providing services to victims pursuant to the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA) and other federal law, Victim-Witness personnel are responsible for witness management.

Position Description

· The employee shall provide all clerical services required to perform the tasks related to the support of the fact witness management process by providing a variety of direct assistance to Victim-Witness personnel, legal assistants, administrative staff, and other personnel.

· Provide witness management assistance prior to, during, and after trial. Typical assignments include: work directly with fact witnesses, provide assistance and support to ensure appearance for court, pre-trial conferences, hearings, and grand jury.

· Coordinates dissemination of information pertinent to witness protection policies, Department of Justice policy and programs on witness related matters and other relevant witness services.

· Receive visitors, field phone calls, questions and other inquiries from fact witnesses seeking information pertaining to court, pre-trial conferences, defendant’s custody, trial information, grand jury appearances and expense reimbursement. Obtain pertinent information for files and documents necessary to arrange witness travel and reimbursements.

· Initiate contact/notify fact witnesses concerning travel arrangements, appearance date/time, and determine any special circumstances or needs of the fact witness. Use judgment to determine when AUSA should be notified of special circumstances or needs of fact witnesses.

· Confer with AUSA concerning fact witness appearance and special circumstances regarding witnesses (special authorizations, international witnesses, military/federal employee witnesses, or hostile witnesses). Complete and submit proper documentation for special authorizations and obtain prior approval before proceeding with travel arrangements.

· Prior to fact witness’ appearance, ensure all travel documents and appearance date and time have been provided to witness. Make necessary arrangements for fact witness travel and lodging according to Department of Justice and USAO policies and procedures.

· Meet with fact witnesses upon arrival to designated hearing or pre-trial conference, offer and perform courtroom orientation, accompany witness to court, ensure a safe waiting area is available, and collect necessary documentation and signatures for fact witness reimbursement documents.

· Prepare and submit documentation for fact witness reimbursement, i.e. witness vouchers and other required documentation for fact witnesses. Furnish requested information concerning pending and completed fact witness vouchers. Maintain witness traveler profile records. Gather required documentation and reconcile Government Travel Accounts, Obtain information, confer, and coordinate with the Court, Probation, Pretrial, U.S. Marshals Service, investigative agencies, and other counterparts, when necessary. Refers witnesses to other agencies when necessary.

· Complete variable aspects of recurring documents in conformance with the rules governing their style and format. Compose original letters that do not require legal interpretations, but require a

good working knowledge of legal procedures and specialized terminology relevant to fact witness laws and regulations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Support the fact witness management process by completing and processing travel vouchers;

arranging for witness travel and lodging;

· Working directly with witnesses to ensure appearance for court, pre-trial conferences, and grand jury;

· Coordinating with other agencies as required, among other duties.

· Reduce the delay in witness payments and enable Victim-Witness personnel to increase the quality and quantity of direct services being provided to victims.

· Promote compliance with federal victim witness laws and Departmental guidelines including, but not limited to, the Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance, and any other applicable federal laws.

· Perform general office procedures pertaining to fact witness management

· Establish and maintain a variety of fact witness files, documents and databases;

· Assemble documents and other information for fact witness file material and retention in accordance with established procedures and Department of Justice regulations;

· Establish and maintain calendar and/or database of active and pending fact witness appearances;

· Track hearings, trial dates, grand jury and scheduling conferences; generates statistical and quantitative reports of program activity;

· Perform other administrative and logistical fact witness management related duties as required/assigned.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

· Good communication skills and organizational skills

· Provide word processing and data entry/retrieval

· Ability to review and analyze data and information from multiple sources

· Ability to establish case/project files

· Ability to enter and retrieve data from databases

· Ability to prepare and format management reports

· Ability to manipulate, transfer, compute and print information

· Ability to prepare and correct reports and correspondence using word processing software

· Schedule appointments

· Answer inquiries regarding case-related information as maintained in the database

· Answer inquiries regarding case-related status

· Obtain additional information from other agencies/organizations

· Maintain internal status information on the disposition of designated information, files, and assets

· Assure information is accurate and perform analytical computations necessary to process data

· Provide administrative information and assistance concerning case or file to other agencies or organizations

EDUCATION

High school Diploma is required, undergraduate degree is preferred

CERTIFICATION, LICENSE, PHYSCIAL REQUIREMENTS OR OTHER EXPERTISE REQUIRED

The contractor must have good communication and organizational skills, the ability to deliver highest quality work under pressure, and knowledge of software used by the USAO (or the ability to acquire knowledge about the USAO’s computer systems). The contractor must have the ability to prove U.S. citizenship and that the contractor personnel meet the Department of Justice residency requirements.

DELIVERABLES PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

The Employee shall prepare and deliver to the COR, or other designated government representative, weekly activity reports which detail daily tasks completed and program related activities. Employee performance will be monitored and assessed by the COR, or other designated government representative, by periodically sampling and reviewing documentation and records for quality and timeliness of work accomplished. The COR shall inform the employee of any problems as they arise. The performance standards for successfully completing the activities described above is 95 percent accuracy.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $20.00 - $22.87 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

COVID-19 considerations:
Starks Industries Inc. is a Federal Contractor and complies with Executive Order: 14042 ensuring adequent COVID saftey protecols for Federal Contractors.

Application Question(s):

• High School or equivalent; college degree preferred
• Will you agree to undergo a "Public Trust" Background Check?

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Preferred)

Experience:

• Legal software: 1 year (Required)
• Legal case management: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: One location