Paralegal Specialist

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys•Concord, NH

About The Position

The Paralegal Specialist serves in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office, supporting investigations and trial preparation. The role involves reviewing and organizing complex factual materials and documentary evidence; preparing substantive legal documents and advising on efficient document preparation; and managing case materials for litigation and court presentation. The position’s responsibilities and assignment complexity increase as training and experience progress. The announcement describes qualifications at the GS-07, GS-09, and GS-11 levels. Applicants may qualify through specialized experience, specified graduate education, or a qualifying combination of education and experience, with certain alternatives at GS-07 including superior academic achievement. The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, telework, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. Relocation expenses will not be authorized; a recruitment or relocation incentive may be considered based on qualifications.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Must meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements for the selected grade level within the stated timeframes.
At GS-07, qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05, qualifying graduate education, a combination of qualifying experience and graduate education, or superior academic achievement as described in the announcement.
At GS-09, qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, qualifying graduate education, or a combination of qualifying experience and graduate education.
At GS-11, qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, qualifying graduate education, or a combination of qualifying experience and graduate education.
Specialized experience requirements vary by grade and include relevant legal document drafting, evidence organization, legal research, citation and statutory-reference verification, database use, case-file analysis, and/or trial preparation, as specified in the announcement.
Academic degrees and coursework used to meet education requirements must be from an accredited or pre-accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; qualifying foreign education requires evidence of comparability.
Must be registered for Selective Service if applicable.
Appointment is conditioned on satisfactory pre-employment adjudication, including fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing; continued employment is subject to a favorable background investigation.
May be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
Federal employees must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the announcement closing date.

Responsibilities

Review and organize complex factual material and documentary data for investigations and trials.
Prepare substantive legal documents, including extradition requests, grand jury and trial subpoenas, interrogatory requests, and documents related to obtaining evidence or testimony.
Advise on efficient methods for preparing legal documents.
Use tables and perform citation checking efficiently.
Develop and enter case materials into a computer database.
Prepare charts, graphs, and tables to illustrate results.
Develop, compile, and maintain jury instructions for trial preparation.
Prepare trial exhibits, including a wide range of visual materials.
Provide litigation case management and organize cases for court presentation.