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-VAW-12929132-MS.

GS-09: To be qualified at the GS-09 grade 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 for GS-09: At least one year of full-time specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in Federal service performing paralegal or legal work which demonstrates a basic knowledge of legal research and ability to interpret legal decisions.

Qualifying experience may involve performing the following types of duties: 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; documenting findings and preparing recommendations; searching and reviewing legal references, case files, and other sources for information and data required by attorneys or court personnel.

OR Education: One of the following types of education in a related field: a 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., if related.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: Combination of specialized experience and graduate-level education as described above which when combined equal 100% of the requirements.

Only graduate education in excess of 1 full year is creditable.

For example, if your school's requirement for 1 year of graduate study is 18 semester hours, only graduate education beyond the first 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours can be combined with GS-7 level experience to qualify for the GS-9 level.

Thus, 9 semester hours of graduate education and 6 months of GS-7 level experience cannot be combined to qualify for a GS-9 position.

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 serve as a Paralegal Specialist in the Western District of Virginia for the United States Attorney's Office, Western District of Virginia.

Typical work assignments will include, but are not limited to: Performing research, evaluation and analysis of routine legal topics and points of law.

Preparing digests of case decisions and evaluating the applicability of precedents. Organizing and preparing research material and determining information that is pertinent to the case.

Drafting initial legal and administrative briefs, motions, and oppositions to defense motions and correspondence for AUSA review.

Preparing and organizing documentation and evidence for production as discovery and for use in trial. Reviewing records and discovery production for sensitive content for redaction.

Organizing data and developing trial exhibits such as statistical charts, graphs, and timelines to be presented in court as corroborating evidence.

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

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