Paralegal / Legal Assistant IV Supporting the US Attorney's Office

About the role

FSA Federal (FSA) is focused on delivering unsurpassed services in support of law enforcement and homeland security. We currently have a vacancy for a Paralegal/Legal Assistant IV supporting the overall mission of the United States Attorney's Office (USAO).

Responsibilities

• Review investigative reports for probable cause, determine the need for additional information and evidence, and plan a comprehensive approach to obtain needed information and evidence.
• Provide Legal Clerk/Paralegal II review as assigned.
• Receive, examine, and evaluate new and complex cases referred for judicial forfeiture proceedings with reference to the facts of the case and agency standards to determine case litigation worthiness, appropriate titles of law, and pertinent case law.
• Prepare legal pleadings to start judicial forfeiture proceedings and motions; papers and proposed orders to complete forfeiture, settlement, or dismissal; and draft legal memoranda/briefs for the forfeiture attorney.
• Confer with the forfeiture attorney regarding the merits of the potential forfeiture and the probabilities of success while considering the strengths and weaknesses of probable cause and potential defenses.
• Assist forfeiture attorney in pretrial preparations.
• Prepare, review, and organize discovery; notify, interview, prepare summaries of, and manage witnesses; and research case law.
• Use various databases and programs to extrapolate data for reports, charts, graphs, and trial exhibits.
• Assist in preparing court proceedings by compiling, organizing, and indexing various evidentiary exhibits.
• Utilize automated legal research tools, public information databases, and other resources to research specialized case or program-specific legal matters including case law and slip opinions.
• Participate in assigned areas of criminal or civil proceedings, e.g., electronic discovery.
• Interview federal agents and other law enforcement officers regarding the probable cause for forfeiture and the availability of evidence and witnesses.
• Support forfeiture attorney in influencing claimants and claimants' attorneys of the accuracy of the agency's legal position and the appropriateness of the agency's proposed settlement.
• Prepare appropriate documents for settlement or other appropriate disposition.
• Prepare all necessary pleadings for the court in order to attain the issuance of default decrees of forfeiture when settlements cannot be agreed upon.
• Prepare summaries for attorneys using transcripts of depositions.
• Assist third parties or lien holders seeking remission or mitigation of forfeiture.
• Provide training to other paralegals as necessary.
• Supervise other employees as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Paralegal Studies; or an Undergraduate Degree in another field with a Paralegal Certificate; or a Paralegal Certificate with at least two-years' paralegal experience; or High School Diploma/GED with at least four-years' paralegal experience.
• One year of automated litigation support experience with knowledge of the capabilities and use of automated resources and technology for the development, presentation, and prosecution of federal cases.
• Trial experience preferred.
• Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and methods of legal research and analysis to perform assigned case development and documentation assignments which are typically covered by established precedents.
• Knowledge of forfeiture laws, policies, and procedures, and trial experience preferred.
• Excellent communication skills; oral and written, to include legal writing skills.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, and ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Experience with the Microsoft Office suite of applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), and other common software applications, to include databases.
• Proven commitment and expertise to provide excellent customer service; positive and flexible; ability to multi-task.
• Ability to work in a team environment, deliver the highest quality of work, and maintain a professional disposition under extreme pressure.
• U.S. Citizenship and a 7 (or 10) year minimum background investigation.

Benefits

• A package providing employee only coverage at $0 employee cost for: Medical, Dental, Vision, Term Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Employee Assistance Program.