PARALEGAL SPECIALIST (Financial Crimes)

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys•Billings, MT

About The Position

The Paralegal Specialist serves in the Financial Crimes department of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Montana. The position organizes and prepares research materials, identifies information pertinent to cases, and drafts legal documents addressing legal or factual issues, relevant precedents, and legally supportable conclusions. The specialist may assist Assistant United States Attorneys in court during hearings and trials and participates in pre-trial witness conferences to identify deficiencies in case materials and matters requiring additional investigation. The position also determines which legal authorities, procedures, and policies need to be researched and assembled, prepares initial summaries, and recommends whether the material is appropriate. Responsibilities and assignment complexity increase as training and experience progress. The position may be filled at the GS-09 or GS-11 level. Applicants must meet the relevant qualification requirements through specialized experience, education, or a combination of education and experience. Appointment is conditioned on a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication, including fingerprint, credit, tax, and drug checks, and continued employment requires a favorable background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required.

Requirements

Be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Register for Selective Service, if applicable.
Meet the qualifications for at least one grade level through specialized experience, education, or an allowed combination of education and experience.
For GS-09 specialized experience: one full year equivalent to GS-07 performing paralegal or legal work demonstrating basic legal research knowledge and the ability to interpret legal decisions.
For GS-09 education: a related master's or equivalent graduate degree, two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a qualifying combination of graduate education and experience. Graduate education used for a combination must exceed one full year.
For GS-11 specialized experience: one full year equivalent to GS-09 performing analytical paralegal or legal work demonstrating practical knowledge of law, litigation and judicial processes, and applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
For GS-11 education: a related Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M.; or a qualifying combination of graduate education and experience. Graduate education used for a combination must exceed two full years.
Complete required pre-employment checks, including fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing, and receive a favorable background adjudication for continued employment.
Meet all qualification requirements by the announcement's closing date.
Applicants with foreign education must provide evidence that it is comparable to education from an accredited U.S. institution; documentation must be in English or accompanied by an English translation.

Responsibilities

Organize and prepare research materials and determine information pertinent to cases.
Draft legal documents identifying legal or factual issues, locating precedents, and developing legally supportable conclusions.
May assist Assistant United States Attorneys in court during hearings and trials.
Participate in pre-trial witness conferences and identify deficiencies in case materials, additional issues, or matters requiring investigation before trial.
Determine which statutes, regulations, cases, procedures, and policies need research and assembly; prepare initial summaries and recommend the appropriateness of the data.
Take on increasingly complex assignments as training and experience progress.