Paralegal Specialist

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys•Bismarck, ND

27d

About The Position

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team as a Paralegal Specialist that is responsible for a variety of specialized litigative activities related to defensive litigation. Typical work assignments will include: Conducting legal research using an in-depth knowledge of the application of various laws, court and/or administrative decisions and interpretations related to defensive litigation matters. Performing substantive research, evaluation and analysis of a variety of specialized legal topics and points of law. Drafting initial legal and administrative briefs, motions, oppositions to defense motions and correspondence for AUSA review. Preparing documents that pertain to the analysis, evaluation and relevance of technical evidence or questions which arise during the litigative process and require reconciliation of conflicting policies and facts. Reviewing current legislation, regulations, directives, and decisions of various courts and administrative bodies, bringing information to the attention of AUSAs. Preparing and organizing voluminous documentation and evidence for production as discovery and for use in trial. Participating in pre-trial witness conferences, noting any deficiencies in case materials (e.g., missing documents, conflicting statements) and additional issues or other matters requiring investigation prior to trial. Preparing and organizing trial exhibits, documents, memoranda, reports and correspondence relating to cases. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication.
Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
Must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.
Specialized experience is defined as experience conducting factual and legal research in a variety of specialized legal topics; reviews, processes, and prepares litigation documents covering legal issues as a case progresses through administrative or judicial litigation; drafts correspondence, pleadings, motions, briefs, and other legal documents; supports attorneys in developing and managing evidence pertaining to all aspects of litigation, including investigations, pre-trial discovery, and interviews with investigative sources and witnesses.
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.
Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
A combination of experience and graduate level education can be used if, when combined, are equivalent to 100% of the qualification requirement.
Only graduate level education in excess of the first two years can be used in this calculation.
To calculate your percentage of graduate education, first determine the total number of graduate level hours that exceed 36 semester hours (or your school's definition of two years of graduate study), then divide the total number of your excess graduate semester hours by 18 (or your school's definition of one year of graduate study).
To calculate your percentage of specialized experience, divide the 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%.
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.
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.
If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

Conducting legal research using an in-depth knowledge of the application of various laws, court and/or administrative decisions and interpretations related to defensive litigation matters.
Performing substantive research, evaluation and analysis of a variety of specialized legal topics and points of law.
Drafting initial legal and administrative briefs, motions, oppositions to defense motions and correspondence for AUSA review.
Preparing documents that pertain to the analysis, evaluation and relevance of technical evidence or questions which arise during the litigative process and require reconciliation of conflicting policies and facts.
Reviewing current legislation, regulations, directives, and decisions of various courts and administrative bodies, bringing information to the attention of AUSAs.
Preparing and organizing voluminous documentation and evidence for production as discovery and for use in trial.
Participating in pre-trial witness conferences, noting any deficiencies in case materials (e.g., missing documents, conflicting statements) and additional issues or other matters requiring investigation prior to trial.
Preparing and organizing trial exhibits, documents, memoranda, reports and correspondence relating to cases.