Legal Assistant – Docketing and Legal Reporting

Job Description

Docketing Technician (Office Automation) | United States Attorneys’​ Offices

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at United States Attorneys’ Offices, located in Cleveland/Akron and Toledo, Ohio. The United States Attorneys’ Offices are a critical component of the Department of Justice, responsible for prosecuting federal crimes, representing the U.S. in civil cases, and collecting debts owed to the federal government. This Docketing Technician position plays a vital role in upholding the rule of law by ensuring the accurate and timely management of legal documentation and case information for the Northern District of Ohio, directly supporting federal legal proceedings and the pursuit of justice.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Cleveland/Akron, OH and Toledo, OH
• Pay: $40736–$68496 yearly
• Mission: This person maintains accurate and comprehensive legal records and develops complex legal reports using computerized systems for the United States Attorney’s Office.
• Tech Stack: Automated docketing databases, computerized case tracking and record-keeping systems, office automation applications

What You’ll Actually Do
• Data Management: Maintain and extract data from automated docketing databases and systems, inputting information into databases and updating records.
• Reporting: Extract requested program or statistical data and produce a variety of written documents, tables, graphs, and charts utilizing a wide range of office automation applications.
• Case Processing: Receive and review incoming case files and documents, updating databases and systems to record status changes, and closing cases as directed.
• Record Review: Review recurring reports to ensure the accuracy and completeness of case records.
• Presentation Support: Incorporate tables, graphs, and charts into legal documents or courtroom presentations as needed.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Minimum qualification requires either at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in Federal service, or four years of education above the high school level, or a combination of both specialized experience and education. Specialized experience at the entry GS-05 level involves performing various clerical and administrative duties in support of an office operation, including reviewing documents with basic legal implications, handling mail, responding to inquiries, typing, formatting correspondence, maintaining filing systems, and performing data entry within an electronic automated database system. Eligibility for higher grades (GS-06 and GS-07) is contingent upon demonstrating increasingly complex specialized experience in legal support functions.
• Experience: Specialized experience is required, starting at the GS-04 level equivalent, involving clerical and administrative duties such as reviewing documents, managing mail, typing, maintaining filing systems, and performing data entry within electronic databases. As the grade level progresses (GS-06, GS-07), required experience includes utilizing a variety of electronic case management systems and office automation programs for docketing and record-keeping, determining appropriate legal actions, inputting and extracting legal data, researching legal sources, and producing complex legal-related reports and documents. Higher-level experience also encompasses applying comprehensive knowledge of legal terminology, litigation processes, and court proceedings to accurately docket and identify errors, potentially recommending procedural improvements and assisting with training new staff.
• Skills: Proficiency in typing at least 40 words per minute based on a five-minute sample with three or fewer errors is required. Strong skills in using a wide range of office automation applications to produce written documents, tables, graphs, and charts are essential. The role demands the ability to effectively maintain, input, update, and extract data from automated docketing databases and computerized case tracking systems. A working knowledge of legal terminology, litigation processes, and court proceedings is necessary to properly docket and identify errors in legal documents and computer records.
• Bonus: A comprehensive knowledge of rules and practices concerning administrative and legal hearings, along with legal terms and definitions, is a significant advantage. Experience in recommending revisions of office procedures to improve docketing and case management functions, or assisting with training new employees on system usage, is also beneficial for this role.