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-SDCA-12934900-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: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level.

Specialized experience is defined as experience performing paralegal or legal work which demonstrates a basic knowledge of legal research and the ability to interpret legal decisions.

Examples of specialized experience 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 legal documents and correspondence; using automated legal research tools and public information databases to perform legal research, and assisting with discovery and evidence.

Education: Possess one of the following types of education in a related field (e.g.

Criminal Justice, Law): one full year of graduate-level education leading to a Master's degree or higher; OR a completed Bachelor's degree or equivalent with superior academic achievement (S.A.A.) as defined by the Office of Personnel Management's Qualification Standards.

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

Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a related field such as Criminal Justice, Law (or expect to complete within 9 months) from an accredited institution AND have one of the following: Class standing -- must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.

OR Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- must have a grade-point average of: a.

3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or b.

3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

OR Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.

For details, please refer to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/.

Combining Graduate Level Education and Experience: A combination of specialized experience and education which when combined equal 100% of the requirements.

To calculate your percentage of education, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then, divide your semester hours of graduate education 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: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level.

Specialized experience is defined as experience performing paralegal or legal work which demonstrates a basic knowledge of legal research and the ability to interpret legal decisions.

Examples of specialized experience 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 annual 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 in law, criminal justice or a closely related field.

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 Graduate Level 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.

To calculate your percentage of graduate education, first determine the total number of graduate hours that exceed 18 semester hours (or your school's definition of one year of graduate study), then divide the total number of your excess graduate semester hours by 18 (or your school's definition of one year of graduate study).

To calculate your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by 12. Now, add the two percentages together.

The sum of the percentages must equal at least 100%.

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 providing a wide range of legal support services to one or more Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) involved in alien smuggling, deportation, and drug smuggling prosecution in the General Crimes Section, Fast Track Unit.

Typical work assignments will include: Prepares a variety of substantive documents to include offer letters, waiver of indictment, information, plea agreements, deportation paperwork, and stipulations under the fast track program.

Selects appropriate forms and adapts it to the facts of the case. In special situations, modifies charging document and/or plea agreement or requests assistance from AUSA.

Conducts interviews of agents and potential witnesses to assist the AUSA in preparation for grand jury or trial. Summarizes and outlines grand jury and/or trial testimony to assist the AUSA.

Researches, analyzes and summarizes relevant legal precedents for applicability to assigned cases. Analyzes legal records to isolate facts pertinent to distinct legal issues.

Utilizes a variety of automated legal research tools as well as public information databases and other automated resources to research case- or program-specific legal matters, and to participate in assigned areas of criminal proceedings, e.g.

electronic discovery. Reviews sentencing guidelines and calculates sentencing range in accordance with violation of law and criminal history of defendants.

Performs necessary legal research into the substance of alleged violations in order to select charges and compose applicable charging documents.

Monitors calendar of Magistrate's cases set for preliminary hearing and provides calendar AUSA with case files so that the indictment can be returned or information filed before date of preliminary examination.

Maintains computer log of assigned cases for preliminary hearing, disposition, or indictment.

Provides a wide range of direct legal support services requiring a specialized knowledge of processes, procedures, and practices to support legal activities.

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

This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GS-09.

If selected at a lower grade level, you may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level at the discretion of your supervisor and is contingent upon meeting regulatory and legal requirements for promotion, satisfactory performance, and the availability of higher-level work.

Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied.