ProSidian Seeks a Legal Assistant - Fact Witness Support Specialist headquartered near Macon, GA to support an engagement for an office of the Department of Justice that represents the United States Federal Government in court. The United States Attorney is the chief federal law enforcement officer in their district and is also involved in civil litigation where the United States is a party.
This Full-Time position currently best aligns with the Junior Consultant Labor Category. ProSidian Team Members work to provide victim-witness management services, including preparing fact witnesses and victims for court, pre-trial conferences, and grand jury, and increasing the quality and quantity of direct services being provided to victims.
Legal Assistant - Fact Witness Support Specialist Candidates shall work to support requirements and provide a variety of assistance and support services to the U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO), Victim-Witnesses personnel, and of witnesses. The Legal Assistant will process travel vouchers, arrange for witness travel and lodging, work directly with witnesses to ensure appearance for court, pre-trial conference, and grand jury. The ideal candidate should have some knowledge and understanding of victim and witness rights and court proceedings, and understand the possibility of sensitivity or hostility surrounding some cases. Witnesses and victims may have suffered physical, financial, and/or emotional trauma, so it is expected that the Legal Assistant take that into consideration when working with those individuals.
The Legal Assistant will:
- 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, and grand jury.
- Receive visitors, field phone calls, questions and other inquiries from fact witnesses seeking information pertaining to court, pre-trial conferences, 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Perform general office procedures pertaining to fact witness management, including, but not limited to: 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; if requested, establish and maintain calendar and/or database of active and pending fact witness appearances; track hearings, trial dates, grand jury and scheduling conferences; perform other administrative and logistical fact witness management related duties as required/assigned.