Paralegal Specialist

About the role

CBP employees demonstrate the highest level of commitment to protect and serve the United States of America and to exemplify the CBP Core Values of Vigilance, Service to Country and Integrity. Learn more about CBP's mission, core values and careers at https://www.cbp.gov/about

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 the facts of the case in consultation with the Seized Asset Management Enforcement Procedures Handbook (SAMEPH).
• Monitoring the applicable statute of limitations for all assigned cases and soliciting waivers, when necessary, in order to ensure Customs and Border Protection (CBP) retains enforcement authority.
• Formulating a concise written response to petitions which include a summary of the arguments, analysis, and the conclusions of law supporting the decision.
• Ensuring uniform and consistent approach to accomplishing CBP's mission as it relates to the adjudication of civil liabilities stemming from enforcement actions.

Requirements

• You 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 (additional details below).
• All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English.
• You may be required to pass a background investigation.
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
• Once you enter on duty, ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees and to CBP employees specifically will apply, including obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity.

Qualifications

Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

GS-07

You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Reviewing routine program, administrative, or case-related documents to identify basic facts, issues, dates, missing information, and required supporting materials.
• Using established sources, such as policies, procedures, manuals, regulations, case files, and computer databases, to locate information related to assigned work.
• Preparing routine written materials, such as notes, summaries, correspondence, memoranda, or reports, using established formats and procedures.

OR

Successful completion of one year of full-time graduate education from an accredited college or university may substitute for the experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours. You are required to submit proof of your claim.

OR

A bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) may also substitute for the experience required. It is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (i.e., GPA 3.0 or higher of a possible 4.0, excluding pass/fail credits. Pass/fail credits cannot be more than 10% of total credits), or (3) honor society membership.

GS-09

You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Reviewing and processing legal, administrative, or civil enforcement case files to determine whether required facts, evidence, documentation, and due process elements are present and adequately supported.
• Analyzing petitions, claims, investigative reports, case records, or other submissions to identify legal and factual issues and recommend appropriate action consistent with laws, regulations, policies, or guidelines.
• Conducting legal research using statutes, regulations, agency manuals, directives, precedent decisions, court decisions, or other legal reference materials to support case analysis and recommendations.

OR

Successful completion of a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or a L.L.B. or J.D. from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours. You are required to submit proof of your claim.

Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-9.

Pay

This position starts at a salary of $59,465.00 (GS-07, Step 1) to $94,563.00 (GS-09, Step 10) with promotion potential to $137,128.00 (GS-12 Step 10). GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table. Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position. Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts.