Paralegal Specialist

Full Job Description

Join the fast-paced federal litigation practitioners of the U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of the Principal Legal Advisor Enforcement and Litigation Division and leverage your legal experience to protect the homeland.

These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Enforcement and Litigation in Los Angeles, CA and Washington, D.C. This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-07: Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service that included experience such as: Conducting research to assist with identifying factual and legal issues; Extracting data from manuals, directives, court reports.

appellate records, or legal publications; and Assisting with reviewing cases to determine the need for additional data from claimants, officials, or attorneys.

OR Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement.

In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled.

Superior Academic Achievement is based on:(1) Class Standing - Applicants 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 (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your 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 (3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/).

OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.

To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18.

Add the two percentages.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-09: Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service that included experience such as: Conducting research to identify and analyze factual and legal issues and relevant evidence to prepare for cases; Extracting and analyzing data from manuals, directives, court reports.

appellate records, or legal publications; and Preparing drafts of briefs, other litigation papers, or reports outlining case precedents.

OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D.

in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.

To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12.

Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-11: Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service that included experience such as: Assisting in collection, review, and summarization of facts, law, and special circumstances relating to administrative tort claims filed against agencies for attorneys Receiving, analyzing, and recommending changes to practices in processing claims based upon research into emerging precedents or legal theories to Senior Paralegal Specialists Preparing responses to discovery requests, dispositive motions, settlements, and charges for disciplinary and adverse actions to assist attorneys in case work.

OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M.

in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.

To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12.

Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-12: Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service that included experience such as: Collecting, organizing, reviewing, and summarizing facts, law and special circumstances relating to administrative tort claims filed against agency for attorneys Receiving, analyzing, and recommending changes to practices in processing claims based upon research of precedents or legal theories Preparing responses to requests regarding discovery, dispositive motions, settlements, and charges for disciplinary and adverse actions to assist attorneys in case work.; and Preparing documents for signature by attorneys after incorporating legal analyses and citations of precedent case law NOTE: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Major Duties:

ICE OPLA is the largest legal department within the U.S.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with more than 1,800 attorneys and 260 support staff working in 98 locations throughout the United States and at ICE Headquarters.

OPLA provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices and serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

OPLA also provides specialized legal advice and legal support to U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) entities in civil litigation and through the adjudication of administrative tort claims.

DCLD's paralegals assist OPLA attorneys who serve as agency counsel and manage certain federal civil litigation cases filed against ICE.

DCLD assists in all aspects of federal litigation, including strategy, motion practice, discovery, and settlement negotiations, in cases ranging from common-law tort suits, Bivens suits (suits seeking money damages against ICE employees in their individual capacities), and claims seeking injunctive or declaratory relief, including class action habeas corpus relief.

DCLD attorneys and paralegals adjudicate administrative claims for personal injuries and property damage pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act.At the full performance level, DCLD paralegals' responsibilities include: Collecting, organizing, reviewing, and summarizing for OPLA attorneys the facts, law and special circumstances relating to administrative tort claims filed against ICE.

Performing complex legal research using generally accessible sources and commercial databases.

Appling law to facts to make recommendations to ICE attorneys and supervisors with respect to the adjudication of federal tort claims.

Maintaining assigned reporting and electronic recordkeeping systems that tracks the progress of admin claims and litigation cases.

Processing payments of vouchers billing to the appropriate specific programs in HSI, ERO or other funding sources using the Treasury system for claimants.

Processing fees to be paid from Equal Access to Justice claims Assisting ICE attorneys with civil discovery including collection, review and production of agency records, medical records, depositions and other litigation documents.

Other duties as assigned