Paralegal Specialist (Immigration)

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys • Fort Wayne, IN

11d

About The Position

This is a term position not-to-exceed September 30, 2029. The position may be extended or made permanent without further advertising. At the full performance level, the Paralegal Specialist provides routine legal and case support to Assistant United States Attorneys engaged in immigration-related civil litigation. Responsibilities and assignment complexity increase as training and experience progress. The position has promotion potential to GS-11, but promotion is not guaranteed and is subject to management discretion, demonstrated ability to perform higher-level duties, continuing need, and regulatory or administrative approval.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned on satisfactory pre-employment adjudication, including fingerprint, credit, and tax checks, and drug testing; continued employment is subject to favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• May be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• Must meet all qualification requirements by the announcement closing date.
• For GS-7, qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5; one full year of qualifying graduate education in a related field leading to a master's degree or a bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement; or a qualifying combination of education and experience. Specialized experience includes drafting legal documents and correspondence; assisting with organizing discovery or trial documentation and evidence; indexing evidentiary exhibits; preparing draft exhibit lists; reviewing legal documents for issue-specific information; verifying citations and statutory references; and using database programs to organize documents.
• For GS-9, qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7; a related master's or equivalent graduate degree, or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or a qualifying combination of graduate education and experience. Specialized experience includes paralegal or legal work demonstrating basic legal research knowledge and ability to interpret legal decisions, such as examining and processing legal documents, researching and evaluating data, drafting legal documents and correspondence, using filing systems, documenting findings and recommendations, and searching legal references and case files.
• For GS-11, qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9; a related Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.M.; or a qualifying combination of graduate education and experience. Specialized experience includes analytical paralegal or legal work demonstrating practical knowledge of law, litigation and judicial processes, and applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, such as analyzing case files and legal decisions, conducting legal research, composing briefs and pre-trial documents, interviewing witnesses or other knowledgeable individuals, and preparing evidence and documents to support recommendations.
• Academic degrees and coursework must be from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education may count if shown to be comparable to U.S. accredited education through appropriate credential evaluation; documentation must be in English or accompanied by an English translation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research on cases and issues identified by Assistant United States Attorneys, using statutes, case law, regulations, court rules, legal treatises, legal periodicals, and policy documents.
• Prepare initial drafts of routine legal documents, including motions, supporting memoranda, declarations, referrals, and responses to court orders.
• Draft factual summaries and preliminary versions of briefs and case filings for attorney review.
• Proofread documents, verify citations, and confirm statutory references for accuracy and compliance with required formatting standards.
• Develop and enter case materials into a computer database.
• Maintain calendars and track deadlines for court filings.
• Maintain case records, prepare routine correspondence, and respond to basic inquiries from Assistant United States Attorneys and partner agencies.

Benefits

• Paid vacation
• Sick leave
• Paid holidays
• Life insurance
• Health benefits
• Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System
• A recruitment or relocation incentive may be considered, as appropriate, based on qualifications.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level