Paralegal Specialist

About the role

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, New Orleans Field Office, Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Staff located in Memphis, Tennessee. Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

Joining the Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations will allow you to use your expertise to provide legal support of those executing the law enforcement duties at the port level. Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen homeland security by performing paralegal activities such as reviewing and finalizing claims, preparing cases, and coordinating the work of a paralegal team.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing and adjudicating seizures, penalties, prior disclosures, immigration carrier fines, and claims for liquidated damages within the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures (FPF) Officer's authority through to resolution.
• Evaluating all evidence, facts, and circumstances relating to cases and making determinations and recommendations as appropriate within the requirements of the mitigation guidelines, policies, laws and regulations, and violators' participation in partnership programs.
• Reviewing and making determinations as to the presence of probable cause and/or the acceptability of evidence in order to ensure the sufficiency of cases within the jurisdiction of the FPF Officer.
• Examining, analyzing, drawing conclusions, recommending decisions and dispositions, based upon review of petitions, offers in compromise, and other submissions, filed by individuals, corporations, or attorneys seeking relief from seizures, penalties, fines, or liquidated damages.
• Maintaining proficiency with CBP automated systems and utilizes these systems to accurately track case management progress and optimize efficiency.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English.
• May be required to pass a background investigation.
• CBP follows the DHS Drug‑Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
• As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce dedicated to accomplishing the mission while maintaining the trust of the Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards; conduct subject to ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees and to CBP employees specifically, as well as criminal conflict of interest statutes.
• Obtain approval for outside employment or business activity to ensure such activity is not prohibited and does not interfere with official duties.
• DHS uses E‑Verify to confirm eligibility of newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).
• Position is a designated drug testing position.
• All employees new to the federal government must serve a one‑year probationary period during the first year of initial permanent federal appointment.
• If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible.
• 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.

Qualifications

• GS‑09 qualification: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, performing duties such as reviewing and processing legal, administrative, or civil enforcement case files; analyzing petitions, claims, investigative reports, case records, or other submissions to identify legal and factual issues; conducting legal research using statutes, regulations, agency manuals, directives, precedent decisions, court decisions, or other legal reference materials.
• GS‑11 qualification: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, performing duties such as reviewing and evaluating investigative reports and case records; developing and evaluating all evidence, facts and circumstances relating to cases; receiving, examining, and evaluating petitions filed by individuals, corporations, or attorneys seeking relief from enforcement actions; preparing and recommending decisions on cases within the jurisdiction of the Office's area(s