Paralegal Specialist (Appellate)

Full Job Description

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon is seeking a Paralegal Specialist (Appellate) position within our Criminal Division. This position is located in Portland, OR.

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/.

This position is also being announced to applicants eligible to apply through Merit Staffing procedures under: 26-OR-12903870-MS.

GS-11: To be eligible at the GS-11 level, you must meet at least ONE (1) 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-9 level.

Specialized Experience is defined as experience performing a variety of analytical paralegal or legal work which demonstrates a practical knowledge of law, the litigation and judicial process, and applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Examples of specialized experiences may include the following: analyzing and evaluating legal decisions and case files to identify relevant issues and potential evidence; conducting legal research concerning precedents and past court decisions; composing legal briefs, summaries of analyses and decisions, and pre-trial documents; interviewing witnesses and various individuals who can provide insight into cases under review; and preparing evidence and documents to support recommendations.

Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law): a Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree; OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M., if related.

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 2 full years.

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:

The Appellate Paralegal for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Oregon is the office expert on Ninth Circuit and Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.

The position requires someone who is detail-oriented and organized.

Among other duties that will increase with experience, the Appellate Paralegal will regularly perform the following: Tracks all Ninth Circuit court notices (ECF) and promptly updates the appellate deadline calendar; Tracks all new case filings and updates the Appellate Case spreadsheet; Reviews, edits, formats, and cite-checks all appellate briefs to ensure briefs comply with Ninth Circuit rules and Blue Book strictures, and for substantive accuracy.

Drafts correspondence to the court; Conducts legal research using Westlaw, Lexis, and DOJ library resources; Files motions for extensions of time, notices of appearance, argument calendar acknowledgments, and other procedural requests; Organizes and files records and supplemental records of excerpts; Prepares appellate argument notebooks and schedules moot court sessions.

The position works closely with the office's appellate team, and the work may involve both civil and criminal matters.

The work is interesting and fast-paced, and the Appellate Paralegal is a key participant who may also draft substantive motions and briefs when needed.