Paralegal Specialist

Summary

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit www.justice.gov/usao/ As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. This position is also being announced under Merit Promotion Procedures under 27-NH-13096118-MS.

Duties

If selected for this position, you will serve as a Paralegal Specialist with the Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office. Duties will include, but are not limited to: Reviewing and organizing complex factual material and other documentary data for investigations and trials. 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. Providing advice on the most efficient method for preparing legal documents. Using tables and citation checking with efficiency. Developing and entering various case material into a computer database. Preparing charts, graphs, and tables to illustrate results. Developing, compiling, and maintaining jury instructions in preparing for trial. Preparing exhibits for trial, which typically involve a wide range of visual materials. Providing litigation case management and organize cases for court presentation. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Qualifications

GS-07: To be eligible at the GS-07 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-05 grade level in federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector demonstrating the following: drafting a variety of legal documents and correspondence; assisting in trial preparation by compiling, organizing and indexing various evidentiary exhibits; reviewing legal documents to extract information related to specific issues; verifying citations and statutory references contained in legal documents; and utilizing various computerized database programs to organize extensive documents. OR Education: Successful completion of one (1) full year of progressively higher level graduate education (18 semester hours or the number of units your school uses to describe one graduate year of academic study) in a related field (e.g. Criminal Justice, Law, Legal Studies, Sociology, etc.) leading to a master's degree or higher. OR Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of specialized experience and graduate-level education which when combined equal 100% of the requirements. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, first determine the total number of graduate hours then divide the total number of your graduate semester hours by 18 (or your school's definition of one year of graduate 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%. (Only graduate education in excess of the first full year may be used in this calculation.) OR Superior Academic Achievement: To be eligible, you must have a bachelor's degree or expect to complete the requirements for a bachelor's degree within the next 9 months AND possess at least one of the following criteria: class standing in the upper third of the graduating class; an overall GPA of 3.0 OR at least a 3.0 based on courses completed during the final two years of my curriculum; a GPA of at least 3.5 based on the average of required courses completed in my major field OR based on the average of required courses completed during the final two years of my curriculum; OR election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. GS-09: To be eligible at the GS-09 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: drafting pleadings, motions, orders, subpoenas, or other legal documents and correspondence; preparing and organizing evidence for production as discovery for use in trial; conducting legal research by searching databases, reviewing case files and other sources for information; and entering data into a case management tracking system. OR Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g. Criminal Justice, Law, Legal Studies, Sociology, etc.): 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 Combining 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. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of one full year. GS-11: 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: 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: analyzing and evaluating legal decisions and case files to identify issues and/or evidence; conducting legal research concerning past court decisions and precedents; composing legal briefs, summaries of analysis and decisions, and/or pre-trial documents; interviewing witnesses and various individuals who can provide insight into cases under review; and assisting in trial preparation by compiling, organizing, and indexing various evidentiary exhibits. OR Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g. Criminal Justice, Law, Legal Studies, Sociology, etc.): 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/

Education

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 www.ed.gov. 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 www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Your application will be evaluated and rated using Rule of Many procedures under 5 C.F.R. § 332.402 based on cut-off score (job analysis-based), cut-off score (business necessity), set number of highest ranked eligibles, or set percentage of highest ranked eligibles. Preference eligibles will receive 5 or 10 points added to their score based on the adjudicated preference. All eligibles at or above the pre-determined set number including any preference eligibles with a service-connected disability of 10 percent or more, at any score, will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. All eligibles with a tied rating will be referred even if the results exceed the pre-established number. The selecting official will receive a sufficient number of names, when available, to consider at least three candidates per vacancy. If fewer than three eligible and available candidates per vacancy result, the referral will be expanded in accordance with DOJ's guidance on supplemental certification. The selecting official will adhere to veterans' preference rules and Rule of Many procedures when making selections. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Your USAHIRE assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments. If you would like to preview the application questionnaire, please see: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13096117

Required Documents

You must provide a complete Application Package which includes: - Required: Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process). - Required: Your resume cannot exceed two pages - you will be deemed ineligible and receive no further consideration if your resume exceeds two pages - see USAJOBS for formatting requirements. Include relevant employment history as outlined below for each job: Official position title (if Federal, include series/grade), Employer name and contact information, Start and end dates (for full consideration you must include month, day, and year), Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and A list of duties performed and accomplishments. 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. - Required if you meet qualifications based on education: An unofficial college transcript.(Note: If you are selected for this position, official transcript will be required prior to your first day.) and foreign education evaluation documentation, if applicable, as described under the "Education" section of this vacancy announcement. - Required, if applicable: CTAP/ICTAP documentation (a copy of a separation notice or other proof of eligibility for priority selection; a copy of an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing current position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location; AND a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.) - Required, if applicable: Veterans' Preference documentation. See Required Veterans' Preference Documentation below. Please note, if you are entitled to Veterans' Preference, you must indicate the type of preference you are claiming in your application, check the appropriate box in the assessment questionnaire to indicate your preference, and submit the required documentation as specified below. - Required Veterans' Preference Documentation: In order to verify your Veterans' Preference entitlement, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); or if you are a current Active Duty member you must submit a certification on appropriate military branch letterhead that indicates: 1) your service dates, 2) expected discharge or release date from active duty with a release/discharge date no later than 120 days from the closing date of this announcement, and 3) the character of service (e.g., Honorable); In addition, if you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower if a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the parent of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference" dated Oc...

GS-07: To be eligible at the GS-07 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-05 grade level in federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector demonstrating the following: drafting a variety of legal documents and correspondence; assisting in trial preparation by compiling, organizing and indexing various evidentiary exhibits; reviewing legal documents to extract information related to specific issues; verifying citations and statutory references contained in legal documents; and utilizing various computerized database programs to organize extensive documents. OR Education: Successful completion of one (1) full year of progressively higher level graduate education (18 semester hours or the number of units your school uses to describe one graduate year of academic study) in a related field (e.g. Criminal Justice, Law, Legal Studies, Sociology, etc.) leading to a master's degree or higher. OR Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of specialized experience and graduate-level education which when combined equal 100% of the requirements. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, first determine the total number of graduate hours then divide the total number of your graduate semester hours by 18 (or your school's definition of one year of graduate 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%. (Only graduate education in excess of the first full year may be used in this calculation.) OR Superior Academic Achievement: To be eligible, you must have a bachelor's degree or expect to complete the requirements for a bachelor's degree within the next 9 months AND possess at least one of the following criteria: class standing in the upper third of the graduating class; an overall GPA of 3.0 OR at least a 3.0 based on courses completed during the final two years of my curriculum; a GPA of at least 3.5 based on the average of required courses completed in my major field OR based on the average of required courses completed during the final two years of my curriculum; OR election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. GS-09: To be eligible at the GS-09 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: drafting pleadings, motions, orders, subpoenas, or other legal documents and correspondence; preparing and organizing evidence for production as discovery for use in trial; conducting legal research by searching databases, reviewing case files and other sources for information; and entering data into a case management tracking system. OR Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g. Criminal Justice, Law, Legal Studies, Sociology, etc.): 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 Combining 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. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of one full year. GS-11: 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: 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: analyzing and evaluating legal decisions and case files to identify issues and/or evidence; conducting legal research concerning past court decisions and precedents; composing legal briefs, summaries of analysis and decisions, and/or pre-trial documents; interviewing witnesses and various individuals who can provide insight into cases under review; and assisting in trial preparation by compiling, organizing, and indexing various evidentiary exhibits. OR Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g. Criminal Justice, Law, Legal Studies, Sociology, etc.): 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/