Paralegal Specialist

If selected for this position you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for criminal litigation. This position serves as a Paralegal Specialist in the Criminal Division. Typical work assignments will include but are not limited to:

• Analyzing a variety of electronic materials by types size or format to determine time and resources needed to complete processing and/or to determine the next steps for its handling and management.
• Using software tools to process voluminous electronic materials consistent with case requirements.
• Preparing a variety of substantive legal documents to include extradition requests grand jury and trial subpoenas interrogatory requests and documentation relevant to acquiring evidence or testimony.
• Advising litigation teams on the most effective tools and formats to use in presenting electronic evidence in court or other proceedings and presenting exhibits during court proceedings using electronic presentation software.
• Managing voluminous and complex documentation and evidence in electronic and hard copy formats and making recommendations following applicable laws policies or regulations as to its preparation for use in each stage of litigation and presenting the exhibits using trial presentation software in court.
• Participating in case meetings court hearings and individually conferring with case agents and attorneys through the investigation and pre-trial proceeding noting any deficiencies in case materials (e.g. missing documents conflicting statements) and additional issues or other matters requiring investigation prior to trial.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint credit and tax checks and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• You must be registered for Selective Service if applicable.
• If selected you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
• You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

Qualifications

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 Masters or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.B. or J.D.

Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification order to qualify based on a combination graduate education must be in excess of one full year.


To be eligible at the GS-11 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-9 Experience is defined as experience working in a legal environment providing technical advice to litigation teams on legal automation requirements and systems capabilities; organizing and managing case specific discovery; analyzing complex litigation support requirements to develop or recommend appropriate strategies to meet litigation needs; using automated litigation needs; using automated litigation support technology to organize voluminous case information for retrieval prepare computerized trial presentations and index digital evidence; researching analyzing and summarizing relevant legal precedents; and preparing and maintaining a variety of trial-related documents.

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.

Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification 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: 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 Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) -VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a VEOA appointment a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under VEOA you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement.

Special Employment Consideration - Persons with disabilities veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more certain other veterans spouses of certain members of the armed forces and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for non-competitive appointments. For further information click on the links provided below . You must specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility.
Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities Links:
All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria see
OR
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.