Student Trainee (Legal Assistant)

Summary If you are looking for an exciting and challenging career, this is the position for you! With a diverse and talented workforce of over 100,000 men and women, Justice leads the Nation in ensuring the protection of all Americans while preserving their constitutional freedoms. You can be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce Federal criminal and civil laws that protect life, liberty, and the property of citizens. Responsibilities This position is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. U.S. News and World Report: “Fort Wayne, the hub of Northeast Indiana and the states second-largest city, ranked first on U.S. News and World Reports Most Affordable Places to Live in the U.S. in 2024-2025 for its low cost of living. The median home and rent prices are well below the national average, and many households make a decent income to live comfortably in this city.” Northeast Indiana is in the middle of it all, located just three hours or less by car from Midwest cities including Chicago, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis – but with its own unique vibe and easygoing lifestyle. Fort Wayne consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the U.S. and boasts some of the nations lowest cost of living. The Northeast Indiana region fits all kinds of lifestyles for those who want to stay busy in Fort Waynes vibrant downtown, relax in the laid-back small communities, or seek outdoor adventure in the northern lake counties. For more information about the area, visit www.neindiana.com and www.visitfortwayne.com. For more information about the state of Indiana, visit www.visitindiana.com. The office is soliciting applications for Student Trainee (Clerk) positions within the Pathways Program. If selected, you will provide a variety of automated direct clerical and administrative support assistant services to AUSAs and legal support staff. Automated support may include use of one or more of the following software applications: word processing, electronic spreadsheets, database management, desk-top publishing, graphics, project management, calendar, and electronic mail. You will receive formal and/or on-the-job training as needed. Duties include: Examining, preparing, and processing a variety of technical legal documents, e.g., complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, subpoenas, and libels. Providing assistance to attorneys in trial preparation. Assembling exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents. Assembling and organizing files and records material for disposition or transfer to records depository. Maintaining calendar of assigned active cases. Tracking filing, hearing, and trials dates, and scheduling conference and interviews. Arranging travel by preparing itinerary and securing transportation and hotel reservations. Producing a variety of written documents and materials using a wide range of office software applications. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Incentive Pay: May be considered for superiorly qualified applicants and in accordance with 5 CFR Part 575. Relocation Expenses: Permanent Change in Station (PCS) Relocation expenses will not be authorized. Benefits: The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part: Paid vacation Sick Leave 11 paid holidays 12-weeks of Paid Parental Leave Reasonable Accommodations Health Insurance Benefits Dental and Vision benefits Flexible Spending Accounts for Healthcare and Dependent Care Federal Retirement Pension (Federal Employees Retirement System) Thrift Savings Plan (401k) with up to 5% employer matching Life Insurance Long-term care Insurance Other Benefits: In addition to the above benefits, we also offer: Telework Flexible Work Schedules Compressed Work Schedules Student Loan Forgiveness Performance Awards & Bonuses Employee Assistance Programs The Benefits link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal Employees. For more information visit OPMs site for Federal Employee Compensation Package. Requirements Conditions of Employment To be eligible for this position, you must meet the following requirements: U.S. Citizenship: You must be a United States Citizen or National. Student Interns must be United States citizens or owe permanent allegiance to the United States. (Currently, natives of American Samoa, Swains Island and certain inhabitants of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are the only groups that owe permanent allegiance to the United States.) Minimum Age: You must be at least 16 years of age or older. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov for additional information. Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. Student Status Requirements: Definition of a student – applicant must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited high school, technical or vocational school, two-year or four-year college or university, graduate/professional school, or certificate program equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study (go to http://www.ed.gov/accreditation to verify accreditation status) pursuant to 5 CFR 362. You must be considered in good academic standings by the school. Individuals must be taking at least a half-time academic, vocational, or technical course load leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate. “Half-time” is defined by the school in which the student is enrolled. Grade-Point-Average (GPA) Requirement: You must have at least a 2.5 GPA. Proof of Enrollment: You must submit an academic transcript or proof of enrollment with your application to verify that you meet the minimum eligibility requirements. You must apply online and submit a complete application by the closing date of this announcement in order to be considered for this position. (See Required Documents section of this announcement) All applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement. (See Qualifications section of this announcement) As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. Qualifications Conditions of Appointment: Pathways Participant Agreement: All interns are required to sign the Participant Agreement and meet the requirements of the Pathways Program throughout their appointment. Duration of Appointment: This is NOT intended to be a short-term position. The selected candidate will be expected to work year-round on a flexible schedule, which will accommodate class schedules during the school session. The ideal candidate will serve a minimum one (1) year appointment. Work Schedule: The work schedule for this position is primarily intended to be Full-Time (at least 40 hours per week). The agency may be able to accommodate Part-Time or other alternative work schedules for purposes of meeting academic obligations.. Any Part-Time hours worked must be a minimum of 20 hours per week, but no more than 32 hours per week. Work Location: If selected, you will be expected to work at the location designated in this vacancy announcement. This is NOT a remote-work position. Telework may be permitted on a limited basis as authorized by the agency. Conversion: Interns may be non-competitively converted to a term, career-conditional or career appointment within 120 days following successful completion of all of their educational and work experience requirements in accordance with 5 CFR 362.204. Promotion Requirements: The advancement of Interns to higher-graded positions, prior to conversion, is strictly at the agencys discretion. To qualify for promotions, the Interns must have the same level and type of experience and/or education usually required for an initial appointment. To qualify for this position, you must meet the experience/education requirements as described below: GS-5 Grade Level Qualification Requirements To be eligible at the GS-5 level you must meet at least one of the following conditions below: Specialized Experience: At least one (1) year of specialized experience reviewing documents with legal implications for accuracy and completeness (e.g., court documents, real estate documents, contracts, insurance or benefits claims, mortgage or loan applications, tax forms, or other types of legal documents); typing and formatting correspondence and forms; maintaining file systems; and obtaining needed information from files or general reference sources. This experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-4 level in the Federal service and could have been gained in the federal, public, or private sector. -OR- Education: Completion of at least four (4) years of education above the high school level. This education must have been 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. -OR- Combining experience and education: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this position. Successfully completed post-high school education may be used to meet the total one year of specialized experience requirement equivalent to the GS-04 grade level. Only 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 hour) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. -AND- Typing Proficiency Requirement In addition to the qualification requirements for each grade level identified above, you must type at least 40 words per minute based on a 5-minute sample with three or fewer errors. (A typing test may later be required.) The complete Qualification Standards used for this position may be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-Standards Pathways Internship Positions: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-PIP Education All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov. Foreign Education Note: You may use foreign education to meet qualification requirements if you send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency in with your transcript. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. Additional Information Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to Veterans Preference, you must indicate the type of preference you are claiming by checking the appropriate box in the assessment questionnaire to indicate your preference and submit the documentation as specified in the “Required Documents” section of this vacancy announcement. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. EEO Statement: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a parent, genetic information, disability, age, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, or on the basis of personal favoritism. Diversity Statement: As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.