Paralegal Specialist (Financial Litigation)

About the role

The Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices are seeking a skilled individual to join their team. This position is also open to U.S. Citizens and Nationals under 26-MN-12978171-DE.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage complex financial litigation cases.
• Serve as the primary contact person for cases assigned and provide information and technical assistance concerning status and relevant issues.
• Analyze and document a defendant's ability to pay by reviewing financial statements, interviewing defendants, employers and others and conducting asset investigations.
• Enforce civil and criminal judgments.
• Determine the appropriate action to take to collect judgments based on agency policies and controlling state and federal statutes.
• Evaluate cases referred to the United States Attorney's Office (USAO) for litigation by client agencies.
• Advise the Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) on whether a case has merit for litigation based on agency and USAO standards.
• Aid AUSAs pre-judgment by evaluating issues related to restitution and using sound financial reasoning skills to support restitution determinations.
• Prepare a variety of substantive legal documents to include complaints, motions, foreclosures, garnishments, settlement agreements, and other legal actions to effect necessary pre-judgment and post-judgment action regarding debts owed to the United States.
• Perform in-depth research of statutes, legislative history, case law, administrative decisions, and Federal regulations on technical issues related to financial litigation cases.
• Afford assistance to AUSAs throughout the case by briefing them on pertinent facts, issues, and case law, and by compiling and organizing volumes of documents and information for effective use by the AUSA in negotiation or in court.

Qualifications

• To qualify for the GS-12 level, applicants must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in Federal service or equivalent paid/nonpaid experience in the private or public sector.
• Specialized experience includes the following: managing financial litigation cases; examining and processing a variety of legal and financial documents; independently conduct research, analysis and evaluation of data; documenting findings and making sound recommendations to Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) or attorneys; drafting briefs, pleadings, litigation recommendations or other legal documents and correspondence; using electronic and manual filing systems; and searching and reviewing legal references, case files, and other sources of information and data required by attorneys or court personnel.

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Your initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication, which includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing.
• Your continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.

Additional Information

• Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized.
• The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.
• Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.