Paralegal Specialist
Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System
Posted: April 9, 2026 (0 days ago)
This job was posted recently. Fresh listings typically have less competition.
Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys
Department of Justice
Location
Salary
$52,766 - $83,911
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Legal jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $41,966 - $54,557
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-6. Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement or 1 year graduate study.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job involves supporting lawyers in federal court cases by organizing electronic files, loading documents into databases, and preparing materials for legal reviews and sharing.
It's a good fit for someone with basic tech skills and an interest in law or criminal justice, especially if you have a relevant degree or experience handling digital records.
The role is entry-level at GS-7 in Buffalo, NY, and focuses on keeping everything accurate and secure for U.S. Attorneys.
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. This position is also being announced to applicants eligible to apply through Merit Staffing procedures under 26-NYW-12889239-MS.
GS-7: To be eligible at the GS-7 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: To be eligible at the GS-07 level, have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in Federal service.
Specialized experience is defined as: Maintains accurate and current records regarding incoming electronic case materials; Organizes and prepares electronic files for processing; Loads image, native, or text files into document review databases; Uses basic document review database functions such as coding, tagging, basic searching, sorting, and filtering; Generates basic electronic discovery productions such as Bates-numbered images with redactions and searchable text; and maintains accurate and current records for out-going discovery productions.
Education: One full year of graduate level study in a related field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of the position (e.g., Information Technology, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Law); OR possess a Bachelor's Degree in a related field or expect to complete the requirements for a Bachelor's degree within the next 9 months AND possess at least one of the following criteria: (1) class standing in the upper third of the graduating class; (2) an overall GPA of 3.0 OR at least a 3.0 based on courses completed during the final two years of my curriculum; a GPA of at least 3.5 based on the average of required courses completed in my major field OR based on the average of required courses completed during the final two years of my curriculum; OR (3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.
Combination of Education and Experience: Some specialized experience as described above, but less than one year; and have less than one year of graduate level education as described above.
Compute the percentage of the requirements met, to meet a total of at least 100%. (To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12.
Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify).
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: To be eligible at the GS-09 level, have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in Federal service.
Specialized experience is defined as: Uses software applications to extract electronic case materials from storage devices or download electronic case materials from secure file transfer sites; Builds and maintains document review databases for litigation team use; Uses software applications to copy electronic discovery productions to external media or file transfer systems; and Assists with the creation of basic demonstrative exhibits.
Education: Possess a Masters or equivalent graduate degree in a related field (e.g., Information Technology, Computer Science, Law, Criminal Justice): OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LLB.
or J.D., if related. Education was obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of specialized experience as described in A and education as described in B which when combined equal at least 100 percent of the requirements.
In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 1 full year.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) - The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.
If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy.
To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria.
You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form.
Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) - The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.
If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy.
To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria.
You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application.
Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Major Duties:
If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for a wide range of legal support services in the Criminal and Civil Divisions.
Typical work assignments will include: Assistance with case management and case presentations as well as automated case litigation and management programs; Case management and organization of case files; Automated support necessary to prepare, organize, index, develop, and manage exhibits, evidence, and data; Analyzes automated litigation support functions and monitors system use and response time; Prepares cases for litigation by collecting and evaluating evidence to support the position of the Government.
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
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