Paralegal Specialist (Civil)

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-NH-12907429-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: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector demonstrating the following: examining and processing a variety of legal documents; preparing and organizing evidence for production as discovery and for use in trial; drafting pleadings, motions, orders, subpoenas, or other legal documents and correspondence; searching and reviewing case files and other sources for information and data required by attorneys or court personnel; and entering data into a case management tracking system.

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 as described above, and graduate-level education as described above in which when combined equal 100% of the requirements.

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

To calculate your percentage of education, first determine the total number of hours that exceed 36 semester hours or your school's definition of two full years of study.

Then divide the total number of your excess semester hours by 18 or your school's definition of one year of 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%. For example, if you had if you had 9 months of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09, then you would have 75% of the required experience.

If you also had 45 semester hours of creditable graduate level education, then 45-36=9 semester hours. 9 divided by 18 is 50% of the required education, and therefore, 75% + 50% = 125%.

You would qualify for this position).

GS-11: To be qualified at the GS-11 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: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector demonstrating the following: drafting motions, orders, subpoenas, pleadings, or other legal documents and correspondence; reviewing cases for strengths and weaknesses and advises for or against judicial proceedings; utilizing a variety of automated legal research tools as well as public information databases to research case or program specific legal matters; and performing analysis of investigative reports and/or evidence.

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

OR Combining Education and Experience: A combination of specialized experience and graduate education which when combined equal 100% of the 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:

If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team serving as a Paralegal Specialist, in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Hampshire.

At the full performance level, the Paralegal Specialist is responsible for independently 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.

Duties will include, but are not limited to: Using an in-depth knowledge of the application of various laws, court and/or administrative decisions and interpretations related to criminal prosecutions, performs substantive research, evaluation and analysis of a variety of specialized legal topics and points of law.

Managing discovery and evidence in electronic and hard copy formats and may present the exhibits using trial presentation software in court.

Drafting legal documents that identify the legal or factual issues in the case, locate precedents, and develops legally supportable conclusions.

Organizing and preparing research material, determines pertinent information, reconciles conflicting facts, identifies and gathers additional information, when necessary, weighs diverse and complex facts, makes sound interpretations, prepares initial summary and makes recommendations as to appropriateness of data and compatibility with applicable laws, policies or regulations.

Participating in pre-trial witness conferences, noting any deficiencies in case materials (e.g., missing documents, conflicting statements) and additional issues or other matters requiring investigation prior to trial.

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

Preparing documents that pertain to the analysis, evaluation and relevance of technical evidence or questions which arise during the litigative process and require reconciliation of conflicting policies and facts.

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