Skip to main content
U.S. flag

Judicial Assistant or Paralegal to the Chief Judge

Judicial Branch
U.S. Courts
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT

Summary

The Judicial Assistant to the Chief Judge/Paralegal to the Chief Judge will provide comprehensive legal and administrative support to an Article III Federal Chief Judge, ensuring the efficient operation of chambers and facilitating the judge's duties. This role requires an organized, proactive individual capable of handling confidential matters, coordinating high-level events, managing special projects, and supporting legal and administrative functions within a demanding environment.

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$63,940 - $111,087 per year
Pay scale & grade
JS 8 - 11
Promotion potential
11
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CAFC-26-18
Control number
881703700

Duties

Help

Responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

Administrative and Document Management:

  • Compose, prepare, and edit legal documents, correspondence, memoranda, and agendas for meetings and conferences.
  • Prepare, proofread, and edit various reports and materials, ensuring completeness and accuracy.
  • Take minutes during meetings and follow up on action items.
  • Oversee court committees and advisory council by tracking term end dates, preparing letters, and managing related correspondence.

Schedule and Event Coordination:
  • Efficiently manage the judge's schedule in coordination with the Executive Assistant.
  • Organize and prepare materials for the judges' administrative conferences and coordinate meetings, including setup and arrangements for refreshments.
  • Organize weekly judges' lunch meetings, including invitations, set up and clean up, and monthly special occasion recognition.
  • Assist with special court events, including court ceremonies, judicial conferences, and various events.

Correspondence and Communication:
  • Receive, screen, and direct inquiries in person, email, or via telephone; respond to basic questions regarding case status and scheduling.
  • Handle special correspondence with professionalism, including sensitive legal matters and high-profile communications.

Reporting and Case Management:
  • Develop, organize, and maintain detailed records for all reports required of the Chief Judge, ensuring accuracy and timely completion.
  • Oversee the monthly paneling of judges, including the visiting judges, ensuring accurate tracking and documentation of judge sittings.
  • Track and manage all en banc cases, ensuring compliance with procedural requirements and adherence to established timelines.

Operational Support:
  • Monitor chambers' day-to-day operations, coordinating resources and ensuring the efficient functioning of the Chief Judge's chambers.
  • Process judge intercircuit assignments, vet law clerk applicants, and provide guidance on internal rules and procedures.
  • Support the chambers by helping manage internal maintenance of the chambers and organization of chambers' materials.
  • Provide backup assistance to the chambers' Executive Assistant as needed or required.

Additional Duties:
  • Perform a wide variety of special projects at the request of the judge.
  • Support and participate in the court's periodic away sittings.
  • Assist the court's Learning Center with class trips and occasional projects.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted and must travel at their own expense. Reimbursement for relocation is not available. The court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this announcement, commence interviews immediately, withdraw the announcement, or fill the position at any time, any of which actions may occur without notice.

The position will report to downtown Washington, DC; however, telework may be available on an ad hoc basis and/or according to agency policy. Employees of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit are excepted service appointments. Federal government civil service classifications or regulations do not apply. All offers of employment are provisional pending successful completion of a background check or investigation and a favorable employment suitability determination. This position is subject to Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit.

Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible to work in the United States. Non-citizens may be interviewed and considered for employment, but employment offers will only be made to individuals who qualify under one of the exceptions in 8 U.S.C.§ 1324b(a)(3)(B). Under 8 U.S.C.§1324b(a)(3)(B), a lawful permanent resident seeking citizenship may not apply for citizenship until he or she has been a permanent resident for at least five years (three years if seeking naturalization as a spouse of a citizen), at which point he or she must apply for citizenship within six months of becoming eligible, and must complete the process within two years of applying (unless there is a delay caused by the processors of the application). Non-citizens who have not been permanent residents for five years will be required to execute an affidavit that they intend to apply for citizenship when they become eligible to do so.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate possesses strong organizational and multitasking abilities with keen attention to detail. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential, including experience in proofreading and editing documents. Proficiency with Office 365 and other applications for preparing and managing documents and spreadsheets is required. The ability to maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion is crucial. Prior experience in a legal or judicial setting is preferred.

Judicial Assistant

Education
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required.

Experience
JSP 8: Five (5) years of administrative experience of which three (3) years must be progressively responsible experience in the legal field.

JSP 9: Six (6) years of administrative experience of which four (4) years must be progressively responsible experience in the legal field.

JSP 10: Seven (7) years of administrative experience of which five (5) years must be progressively responsible experience in the legal field.

JSP 11: Eight (8) years of administrative experience of which six (6) years must be progressively responsible experience in the legal field.

Educational Substitutions:

  1. Education in a college, university, or secretarial school of recognized standing may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the general experience on the basis of 30 semester (45 quarter) hours equal nine months of experience.
  2. A bachelor's degree from a college or university of recognized standing may be substituted for two years of general experience.
  3. Education in a legal or paralegal curriculum may be substituted for a maximum of two years of specialized experience on the basis of one full academic year (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) equals one year of experience. Less than one year will be credited on a pro-rata basis.

Paralegal

Education
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or a paralegal certificate from an accredited paralegal program.

Experience
JSP 8: Six (6) months of progressively responsible experience that is in or closely related to the work of the position that has provided the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

JSP 9: One (1) year of progressively responsible experience that is in or closely related to the work of the position that has provided the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

JSP 10: Two (2) years of progressively responsible experience that is in or closely related to the work of the position that has provided the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

JSP 11: Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience that is in or closely related to the work of the position that has provided the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position or a juris doctor (JD) from a law school of recognized standing.

Education

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or a paralegal certificate from an accredited paralegal program.

Additional information

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants will be evaluated based upon review of their qualifications and the application package.

U.S. Courts

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) is unique among the thirteen Circuit Courts of Appeal. It has nationwide jurisdiction in a variety of subject areas, including international trade, government contracts, patents, trademarks, certain money claims against the United States government, federal personnel, veterans' benefits, and public safety officers' benefits claims.

Agency contact information

Human Resources
Email
HR@cafc.uscourts.gov
Address
US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
717 Madison Place, N.W.
Suite 410
Human Resources
Washington, DC 20439
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at U.S. Courts, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/the-court/human-resources/careers/

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.