Paralegal Specialist

Full Job Description

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-NE-12856418-MS.

GS-12 To be eligible at the GS-12 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level.

Specialized Experience is defined as experience that includes the following: providing trial support to attorneys by drafting complaints, motions, subpoenas, orders, or other hearing and/or trial documents accurately and in proper format.

assisting with discovery, hearing or trial preparation by performing duties such as compiling trial notebooks, assembling jury instructions, and compiling witness and exhibit lists.

utilizing legal software applications/databases to conduct legal research, prepare case reports and/or produce litigation reports and documents; and present oral and written facts and legal arguments to provide guidance and assistance to management and/or support staff on appellate matters.

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 researching, developing and writing final-form motions, legal memoranda, appellate briefs and other pleadings.

Typical work assignments will include: Discussing relevant facts, legal issues and case strategy with attorneys; Researching and analyzing case facts, and principles of law, demonstrating proficiency with Westlaw, Lexis CaseLink, and other internet resources; Completing background work required, including obtaining necessary reports and recordings; Identifying legal and factual issues in motions and briefs, including threshold legal issues, such as timeliness, standing, and jurisdiction; Preparing draft pleadings in consultation with attorneys for review and filing; Filing briefs for attorneys, using familiarity with district court and Tenth Circuit rules, filing procedures, and deadlines; Providing a variety of litigative support services by researching, interpreting and applying relevant statutes and caselaw; Assisting trial teams in preparing for hearings and trials, including mooting arguments, conducting time-critical research projects, and preparing bench briefs; Creating and maintaining research files and brief bank; Reviewing and editing district court pleadings and appellate briefs for consistency and clarity, checking legal citations and correcting typographical, formatting, and substantive errors; and Properly applying proper format, style, and correct citations in compliance with the USAO's style memorandum, the Federal Rules of Criminal Appellate Procedure, the local rules of the Court and the Court of Appeals, and the Bluebook.