Paralegal Specialist

Customs and Border Protection • New York, NY

25d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Associate Chief Counsel, New York, NY. The Office of Chief Counsel is one of the Government's largest and oldest legal offices. OCC attorneys work on cutting-edge legal issues and provide critical advice across the CBP portfolio, including trade enforcement, search and seizure, immigration, and government ethics. They also represent the agency in labor and employment matters and provide litigation support to the Department of Justice. This position starts at a salary of $88,005.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $137,128.00 (GS-12, Step 10). In this Paralegal Specialist position, you will join a team of legal professionals within the Office of Chief Counsel.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years
• All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English
• May be required to pass a background investigation
• Follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
• Must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process
• Must meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 10/13/2026
• 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) performing duties such as: Participating in pre-trial and pre-hearing preparation; scheduling and coordination of witnesses, assembly of administrative records and files; Researching information using various legal resources; preparing litigation documents and discovery requests; responses to various motions; Identifying, recommending and implementing record keeping systems, reviewing, analyzing and recommending responses to administrative cases.
• 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-12) performing duties such as: Participate in pre-trial and pre-hearing preparations; scheduling and coordination of witnesses, assembly of administrative records and files, preparing digests of transcripts of testimony from formal investigations, administrative proceedings and litigation in Federal and state courts. Researching information using various legal resources; prepare litigation documents and discovery requests; responses to various motions. Identify, recommend and implement record keeping systems, review, analyze and recommend responses to administrative cases. Defining the problem in terms compatible with the laws, policies, or regulations; interpreting considerable data, weighing facts in order to formulate a legally and factually supportable position; and giving advice, counsel, or instruction to individual employees on both work and administrative matters, setting priorities, planning work and meeting deadlines.

Nice To Haves

• New appointees to the Government and non-CBP employees are not eligible to participate in the VRP (Voluntary Relocation Plan test program).

Responsibilities

• Compiling, organizing and analyzing documentary evidence of regulatory violations to be utilized by attorneys in administrative and judicial proceedings
• Providing information and making recommendations in justifying CBP's legal position in regard to legal challenges to Agency actions
• Obtaining, organizing, analyzing and recommending agency action with respect to matters relating to the Federal Tort Claims Act, Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, other laws and regulations and organizing, summarizing, and analyzing depositions and documents obtained during discovery phase of agency litigation
• Receiving, investigating, examining and evaluating subpoenas, and other requests for Agency and personnel information from federal and state law enforcement agencies for possible disclosure in judicial proceedings

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

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