Mail & File Clerk (OA)
What you'd do
Organizational Location: These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Legal Operations (Legal Ops) throughout the country. This is a non-bargaining unit position. Note: One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
Major duties
ICE OPLA is the largest legal department within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with more than 3,000 attorneys and 500 support staff working nationwide in 143 offices located within nine Regions throughout the United States. Pursuant to statute, OPLA serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review litigating cases involving criminal aliens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other priority aliens. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices. Legal Operations (Legal Ops) paralegals assist OPLA attorneys who serve as agency counsel before the DOJ Executive Office for Immigration Review, in federal litigation, and on a robust and diverse client services portfolio. Legal Ops attorneys serve as the exclusive representatives of the U.S. Government in immigration proceedings before the 73 immigration courts and three adjudication centers nationwide, as well as the Board of Immigration Appeals. Legal Ops attorneys and paralegals support the U.S. Attorney's Offices nationwide in handling federal litigation pending in the U.S. District Courts, including petitions for writs of habeas corpus, motions for injunctive relief, and class action lawsuits. At the full performance level, OPLA Legal Ops paralegal responsibilities include: Process a variety of incoming and outgoing mail in accordance with agency and postal service requirements; update old and establish new distribution patterns and codes and maintain suspense files. Perform general office duties in support of office staff; such as sort bulk mail, reroute misdirected mail, date stamp mail, and screen for priority items. File and route incoming materials, briefs and correspondence that concern legal and specialized matter. Maintain suspense files for communication with staff on overdue correspondence. Work requires walking, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, reaching, standing and carrying moderately heavy boxes. Other duties as assigned.
What you need to qualify
Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. Legal Ops Minimum Qualifications for GS-04: One (1) year of general experience equivalent to the GS-03 level in the federal service that includes experience such as: Receive, sort and distribute incoming mail; Prepare outgoing correspondence or packages; Maintain files and records; Retrieve and organize documents; Perform routine clerical support duties OR Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify for the GS-04 level. To qualify based on education you must have successful completion of two (2) years above the high school level in any field from an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university for experience at the GS-04 grade level. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed post-high school education and experience. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial/official transcripts submitted with your application. Minimum Qualifications for GS-05: One (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-04 grade level in the federal service that includes experience such as: Independently maintain office files and records; Apply filing systems and records procedures; Sort, process and distribute incoming and outgoing mail; Refer office calls and visitors to appropriate sources; Perform routine clerical support duties OR Education Substitution: You may substitute successful completion of a Bachelor's degree or a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a Bachelor's degree for the experience required at the GS-05 grade level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester or 45 quarter hours. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed post-high school education and experience. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial/official transcripts submitted with your application. Typing Proficiency: In addition to the above minimum qualification requirements, applicants must be able to type at least 40 words per minute based on a 5-minute sample, with three or fewer errors. 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, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
Before you apply
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