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-KS-12901423-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 include performing the following types of duties: experience drafting a variety of legal documents and correspondence; assisting in trial preparation by compiling, organizing and indexing various evidentiary exhibits; reviewing legal documents to extract information related to specific issues; verifying citations and statutory references contained in legal documents; and utilizing various computerized database programs to organize extensive documents.

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

Criminal Justice, Law): 1 year of graduate-level education 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.

For details on S.A.A., please refer to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=General-Policies.

Combining 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 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.

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:

As a Paralegal Specialist in the United States Attorney's office (USAO) for the District of Kansas, you will provide a wide range of legal support services to multiple Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) involved in primarily criminal proceedings.

Your duties will include: Using a variety of automated legal research tools as well as public information databases and other automated resources to research case law, statutory law, and/or program specific legal matters.

Preparing initial drafts of a variety of legal documents, including correspondence, subpoenas, court orders, motions, responses, sentencing memorandums, briefs, and memoranda.

Reviewing and organizing factual material and other documents for investigation and use in legal pleadings, such as responses to motions to suppress, sentencing memorandums, and responses to collateral attacks.

Preparing exhibits for hearings and trials, which may involve a wide range of visual materials including charts, diagrams, photographs, and models.

Assisting in receiving, evaluating, and producing discovery in cases in compliance with applicable law, rules, and policy.

Using automated litigation support (ALS) software applications and other resources to organize, review, analyze, and compile information for the optimal utilization of AUSAs in the litigation of a variety of cases.

Serving as Grand Jury Coordinator, or assisting that position, performing a range of support duties including scheduling activities, providing technical assistance to jurors, arranging the presence of court reporters, coordinating transcripts, communicating with witnesses to ensure timely travel and appearances, and monitoring grand jury actions.

Conducting a variety of legal assistance duties pertaining to legal actions, requests, or matters associated with grand jury operations, such as the preparation of subpoenas, correspondence, pleadings, and proposed orders.

Assisting AUSAs in hearings and trial by setting up and running courtroom presentation equipment and providing other assistance as needed.

Performing a variety of legal assistance and technical work to support AUSAs. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.