Paralegal Specialist

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

About the role

This is a term position not-to-exceed September 30, 2029, subject to availability of funds. This position MAY be extended, or made permanent, without further advertising.

Responsibilities

• Perform research, evaluation and analysis of a variety of routine legal topics and points of law.
• Using multiple online legal systems, research references such as agency manuals, directives, issuances, court reports, appellate records or commercial legal publications to locate appropriate data such as applicable precedents, legislative history and commentaries which bear on legal issues.
• Determine which statutes, regulations, cases, procedures and/or policies need to be researched and assembled, prepare initial summary and make recommendations as to appropriateness of data.
• Following established USAO precedents, draft initial legal and administrative briefs, motions, oppositions to defense motions and correspondence for AUSA review.
• Draft legal documents that identify the legal or factual issues in the case, locate precedents and develop legally supportable conclusions.
• Manage discovery and evidence in electronic and hard copy formats and may present the exhibits using trial presentation software in court.
• Prepare and organize trial exhibits, documents, memoranda, reports and correspondence relating to cases for review by AUSAs.
• Select and interpret the pertinent guidelines and policies that govern work assignments.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

This is a temporary TERM position not-to-exceed 9/30/2029 subject to availability of funds. This position MAY be extended or made permanent without further competition.

Qualifications

GS-9: To be eligible at the GS-9 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a Combination of Education and Experience.

Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience which demonstrates basic knowledge of legal research and ability to interpret legal decisions. Examples of specialized experiences may include the following:

• Examining and processing a variety of legal documents.
• Conducting research, analysis and evaluation of data in response to complex or sensitive requests.
• Drafting briefs, pleadings, litigation recommendations, or other legal documents and correspondence.
• Using a variety of electronic or manual filing systems to acquire and store information; document findings and preparing recommendations.
• Searching and reviewing legal references, case files, and other sources for information and data required by attorneys or court personnel.

Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law):

• A master's or equivalent graduate degree (such as an LL.B. or J.D.); OR
• 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree.

Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 1 full year.

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials.

Benefits

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part:

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Telework opportunities.
• Life insurance.
• Health benefits.
• Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.