Paralegal Specialist

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Baltimore Field Office, Port of Washington, DC, Fines, Penalties & Forfeiture, located in one of the following locations:

• Baltimore, Maryland
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Dulles Airport, Virginia

About the role

This is a Recent Graduate appointment in the Pathways Program. Selected individuals are placed in a dynamic one-year development program in the excepted service designed to lead to a competitive civil service career in the Federal government. At the successful conclusion of this program, the agency may non-competitively convert individuals to a term (position lasting 1-4 years with an extension up to 120 days) or permanent position within the competitive service. Conversion to a Federal competitive service position will be at the discretion of the agency and is neither guaranteed nor implied.

Pay

This position starts at a salary of $50,460.00 (GS-07, Step 1) to $80,243.00 (GS-09, Step 10) with promotion potential to $133,142.00 (GS-12 Step 10). Salary listed reflects the rest of U.S. scale and, if applicable, will be adjusted to meet the locality pay or cost of living expenses of the duty location upon selection. View locality pay tables by geographic area. If your geographic area is not listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table.

Responsibilities

In this Paralegal Specialist position, you will become a key member of a team of Homeland Security professionals providing key legal support for the law enforcement duties at the port level. Typical work assignments include:

• Reviewing and processing cases within the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeiture Officer's authority through to solution.
• Assuring that all due process considerations are met and that the elements necessary to establish violation are present and supported by appropriate documentation.
• Reviewing investigative reports and case records, requesting additional information from appropriate officers and special agents within DHS.
• Reviewing all evidence, facts, and circumstances relating to cases and making recommendations as appropriate within the requirements of the mitigation guidelines, laws, and regulations.
• Receiving and examining petitions filed by individuals, corporations, or attorneys seeking relief from seizures, penalties, fines, or liquidated damages and reviewing acceptability of evidence.

Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above. After CBP completes its hiring, the resumes of the remaining candidates referred for selection consideration may be shared with other DHS Components and other federal agencies. During the application process, you may choose to opt-in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results to be shared.

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.
• As an employee of CBP, your conduct will be subject to ethics rules, including obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity.

This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Unions - NTEU.

DHS uses E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.

Residency

There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military.
• A dependent authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military working for the U.S. government.
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university.
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant, or volunteer supporting the U.S. government.

Qualifications

Experience: 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:

• Assisting in reviewing legal documents to extract selected data and information relating to specified items.
• Assisting in reviewing and summarizing legal information in prescribed format on case precedents and decisions.
• Searching for and extracting legal references in libraries and computer data banks.
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing.

Experience: 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:

• Assisting in reviewing and processing cases through to solution.
• Assisting in assuring that all due process considerations are met and that the elements necessary to establish a violation are present and are supported by appropriate documentation.
• Receiving and examining petitions filed by individuals, corporations, or attorneys seeking relief from seizures, penalties, fines, or liquidated damages.
• Reviewing acceptability of evidence in some seizure, fines, and penalty cases and all liquidated damages.

Education

GS-07: 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 skills necessary to do this job. 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.

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. Review Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) to see if you qualify under this provision.

GS-09: 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 the experience required at the GS-09 grade level. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours.

Combining Experience and Education: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified. 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.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 08/14/2026.

Eligibility

You are eligible for this appointing authority if you are an individual who:

• Completed, within the previous two years by 08/14/2026, a qualifying associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps).

If you are a veteran who was unable to apply within two years of receiving your degree due to military service obligation, you have as long as six years after degree completion to apply. You must submit a copy of your transcripts showing type of degree received and date degree was received. In addition, if you are a veteran who was unable to apply within two years of receiving your degree due to military service obligation, please provide a copy of your DD-214 or a written statement from the armed forces certifying your dates of service and your rank, expected type of discharge and anticipated date of separation.

Training and Development

To be eligible for conversion, Recent Graduates must:

• Successfully complete at least one year of continuous service in addition to all requirements of the program.
• Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted.
• Meet agency-specific requirements and expectations as specified in the Participant's Agreement.
• Perform their job successfully.

Expected training and development includes:

• Orientation program for Recent Graduates hired for the program.
• Mentorship throughout the program.
• Individual Development Plan to create and track career planning, professional development, and training activities.
• At least 40 hours of formal, interactive training each year of the program.
• Positions offer opportunity for career advancement.