0986 - Legal Assistance Series

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Federal Occupation Description

Federal Occupation Description

This series covers one-grade interval administrative support positions that supervise, lead, or perform legal assistance work not classifiable in any other series in the Legal and Kindred Group, 0900. The work requires specialized knowledge of processes, procedures, and practices to support legal activities.

For job opportunities in this series, go to the Office of Personnel Management USAJOBS website.

Other Federal Occupations

It is not uncommon for individuals in one federal occupational series to perform duties related to another series within the same federal occupational group. To find out about the certifications for another series in the LEGAL AND KINDRED GROUP, click on that series below. Note that credentials have not yet been identified for all series – links are provided only to those series for which the identification of credentials has been completed. Additional series will be added over time.

  • 0901 - General Legal and Kindred Administration Series
  • 0904 - Law Clerk Series
  • 0905 - General Attorney Series
  • 0930 - Hearings and Appeals Series
  • 0950 - Paralegal Specialist Series
  • 0958 - Employee Benefits Law Series
  • 0962 - Contact Representative Series
  • 0963 - Legal Instruments Examining Series
  • 0965 - Land Law Examining Series
  • 0967 - Passport and Visa Examining Series
  • 0987 - Tax Law Specialist Series
  • 0991 - Workers' Compensation Claims Examining Series
  • 0993 - Railroad Retirement Claims Examining Series
  • 0996 - Veterans Claims Examining Series
  • 0998 - Claims Assistance and Examining Series
  • 0999 - Legal Occupations Student Trainee Series

The following certifications have been identified as most relevant to the broad duties of this federal occupational series. Please note that these credentials may not reflect all of the unique job functions that you perform within your organization. Also these credentials may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about any credential, click on the credential title below.

Compare Credential Agency Related As GI Bill® Accreditation ID
Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) Is Not In Demand National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) someSome    
PACE Registered Paralegal (RP) Is Not In Demand National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) otherOther    
Certified Legal Manager (CLM) Is Not In Demand Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) otherOther    
Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) Is Not In Demand NALS - The Association for Legal Professionals mostMost GI BillGI Bill  
Professional Legal Secretary (PLS) Is Not In Demand NALS - The Association for Legal Professionals mostMost GI BillGI Bill  
Registered Merit Reporter (RMR) Is Not In Demand National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) someSome    
Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) Is Not In Demand International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) mostMost   AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Records Manager (CRM) In DemandIs In Demand Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM) mostMost    
Certified Paralegal (CP) Is Not In Demand National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) otherOther GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Reporting Instructor (CRI) Is Not In Demand National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) otherOther    
Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR) Is Not In Demand National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) someSome    
Certified Manager (CM) In DemandIs In Demand Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM) otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) Is Not In Demand National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI) otherOther    
Project Management Professional (PMP) In DemandIs In Demand Project Management Institute (PMI) otherOther GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Interpreter Is Not In Demand Administrative Office of the United States Courts otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) In DemandIs In Demand Project Management Institute (PMI) mostMost GI BillGI Bill  
Professional Paralegal (PP) Is Not In Demand NALS - The Association for Legal Professionals otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
GIAC Law of Data Security and Investigations (GLEG) Is Not In Demand Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
CORE Registered Paralegal (CRP) Is Not In Demand National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) otherOther    
Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) In DemandIs In Demand International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) otherOther   AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) Is Not In Demand International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) otherOther   AccreditationAccreditation
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Office 2013 Is Not In Demand Microsoft Corporation mostMost GI BillGI Bill  
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Office 2016 Is Not In Demand Microsoft Corporation mostMost GI BillGI Bill  
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Expert on Microsoft Office 2013 Is Not In Demand Microsoft Corporation someSome GI BillGI Bill  
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Expert on Microsoft Office 2016 Is Not In Demand Microsoft Corporation otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Master on Microsoft Office 2013 Is Not In Demand Microsoft Corporation someSome GI BillGI Bill  
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Master on Microsoft Office 2016 Is Not In Demand Microsoft Corporation someSome GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Records Analyst (CRA) Is Not In Demand Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM) mostMost    

State Licenses

Some states have specific licensing requirements for the following related civilian occupations. These state licenses may require additional education, training or experience. Click on the occupation below to get more information on state requirements from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Related Civilian Private Sector Occupations

The following civilian private sector occupations are similar to the duties performed by 0986 - Legal Assistance Series. These occupations may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about these occupations, click on the civilian occupation below.

Civilian Job Duties Matched Bright Outlook Registered Apprenticeship Local Salary Info
Correspondence Clerks someSome     find local salaryfind local salary
Court Reporters someSome     find local salaryfind local salary
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants someSome     find local salaryfind local salary
File Clerks someSome     find local salaryfind local salary
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers someSome Bright OutlookBright Outlook    find local salaryfind local salary
Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan someSome     find local salaryfind local salary
Judicial Law Clerks someSome     find local salaryfind local salary
Legal Secretaries mostMost   Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Office Clerks, General someSome Bright OutlookBright Outlook  Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Paralegals and Legal Assistants mostMost Bright OutlookBright Outlook  Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Word Processors and Typists someSome   Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Top
This is an official U.S. Navy websiteUpdated: October 16, 2019
Click here to go to Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) COOL Snapshot page.

Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) certification is for candidates that are stenographic reporters. To become an RPR, you must have the knowledge, skills, and ability to produce a high-quality verbatim record. The Written Knowledge Test is a 105-question, multiple-choice test that focuses on reporting, transcript production, operating practices, and professional issues and continuing education. There are no education requirements for this certification.

Click here to go to Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

Accredited Legal Secretary (ALS) is the basic certification for legal professionals. Candidates must have completed one of the following requirements to take the written examination; an accredited business/legal course, NALS Legal Training Course, or have one year of general office experience. Candidate needs to take and pass a four-hour, three-part exam that includes knowledge areas on written communications, office procedures and legal knowledge, and ethics, human relations, and judgment.

Click here to go to Professional Legal Secretary (PLS) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

Professional Legal Secretary (PLS) is the advanced certification for legal professionals. Candidates must have three years' experience in the legal field. A partial waiver of the three-year legal experience requirement may be granted for post-secondary degrees, successful completion of the ALS exam, or other certifications. The maximum waiver is one year. Candidate needs to take and pass a one day, four-part exam that includes knowledge areas on written communications, office procedures and technology, ethics and judgment, and legal knowledge and skills.

Click here to go to Registered Merit Reporter (RMR) COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) credential is recommended for mid-career level office management and business administrative professionals. Administrative professionals should have basic knowledge of office systems, technology, office administration, and management, and know how to apply the principles of human relations and communications. Candidates must take an pass a written examination based on knowledge acquired by the office professional through education and reading. Candidates must have 4 years of experience of which advanced education may be used in place of some experience.

Click here to go to Certified Records Manager (CRM) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

The Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM), Certified Records Manager (CRM) certification requires candidates to meet both educational and work experience certification requirements. A minimum of one year of professional records and information management (RIM) work experience is required, regardless of the level of education a candidate possesses. The minimum acceptable education is graduation from high school (completion of 12 grades) or equivalent (e.g., GED credential or equivalency diploma) in conjunction with five years of professional level RIM experience. The preferred qualifications are a college degree (four-year or bachelor’s degree) and one year of professional RIM experience. CRM candidates must pass a six-part written examination.

Click here to go to Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR) COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

Click here to go to Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

The Project Management Institute (PMI), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is an entry-level certification for project practitioners. Designed for those with less project experience, the CAPM demonstrates an understanding of the fundamental knowledge, terminology and processes of effective project management. The written exam covers project management areas such as initiation, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, closing, and professional and social responsibility. Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent and at least 1500 hours professional experience on a project team or 23 hours of project management education.

Click here to go to Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Office 2013 COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: Lifetime

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Office 2013 credential is an entry-level certification for individuals who wish to demonstrate expertise in using Microsoft Office programs. Key technologies include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, SharePoint and OneNote. Candidates must pass one certification exam. There are no experience requirements for this certification but Microsoft Learning recommends that a candidate have hands-on experience with the product prior to testing.

Click here to go to Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Office 2016 COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: Lifetime

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Office 2016 credential is an entry-level certification for individuals who wish to demonstrate expertise in using Microsoft Office programs. Key technologies include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook. Candidates must pass one certification exam. There are no experience requirements for this certification but Microsoft Learning recommends that a candidate have hands-on experience with the product prior to testing.

Click here to go to Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Expert on Microsoft Office 2013 COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: Lifetime

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Expert on Microsoft Office 2013 credential is a mid-level certification for candidates that have advanced skills in key Office programs.  Key technologies assessed by this certification include Microsoft Office Word 2013 and Microsoft Office Excel 2013. There are no prerequisites to sit for the two required qualifying exams for each program (Part One and Part Two).

Click here to go to Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Master on Microsoft Office 2013 COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: Lifetime

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Master on Microsoft Office 2013 credential is an advanced-level certification for candidates to demonstrate the deepest level of skills needed to proficiently use Office programs. Candidates must choose from one of three tracks: Word 2013, Excel 2013, or Traditional Office 2013 and pass the required exams for that track plus one elective exam. There are no education or experience requirements to sit for the exams.

Click here to go to Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Master on Microsoft Office 2016 COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: Lifetime

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Master on Microsoft Office 2016 credential is an advanced-level certification for candidates who demonstrate the deepest level of skills needed to proficiently use Office programs. Candidates must pass three core exams focusing on Word 2016, Excel 2016, and PowerPoint 2016 as well as one elective exam focusing on Access 2016 or Outlook 2016. There are no education or experience requirements to sit for the exams.

Click here to go to Certified Records Analyst (CRA) COOL Snapshot page.

Credential description coming soon.

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand

GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill. Click for external link to GI Bill licensing and certification information.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

Click here to go to the GI Bill site.

ANSI

This credential has been accredited by ANSI. Click for external link to the ANSI web site.

ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC. Click for external link to the ICAC web site.

NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA. Click for external link to the NCCA web site.

ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC. Click for external link to the ABSNC web site.

IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS. Click for external link to the IAS web site.

Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the rating (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the rating (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

Most – Tasks in these careers match most duties of the military job or specialty (approximately 80% or greater)
Some – Tasks in these careers match some duties of the military job or specialty (greater than 20% but less than 80%)
Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job
Registered Apprenticeship
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