Paralegal Specialist

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

15h

About The Position

The Paralegal Specialist provides substantive legal support to Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in specialized litigation involving investigations and prosecutions of Indian Country crimes, including matters presenting unique and novel legal issues. The work requires discretion and independent judgment in applying specialized knowledge of laws, regulations, precedents, and agency practices, and directly affects the outcome of USAO cases. Assignments increase in responsibility and complexity as training and experience progress. The position is with the Department of Justice and a United States Attorney’s Office. Additional positions may be filled under the announcement, which is also being announced to applicants eligible to apply through Merit Staffing procedures.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship or national status.
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level performing analytical paralegal or legal work demonstrating practical knowledge of law, litigation and the judicial process, and applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; or qualifying graduate education; or an eligible combination of graduate education and experience.
Qualifying specialized experience may include independently analyzing legal decisions and case files to identify issues and potential evidence; conducting legal research on precedents and court decisions; composing legal briefs, analytical summaries, and pre-trial documents; interviewing witnesses and other individuals; and preparing evidence and documents to support recommendations.
Education used to qualify must be in a related field and from an accredited college or university; foreign education must be shown to be comparable to U.S. accredited education.
Register for Selective Service if applicable.
Meet all qualification requirements by the announcement closing date.
A satisfactory pre-employment adjudication is required, including fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing; continued employment is subject to favorable background investigation adjudication.
A one-year probationary period may be required if selected.

Responsibilities

Conduct legal research using in-depth knowledge of laws, court and administrative decisions, and interpretations related to Indian Country crimes.
Organize and prepare research materials and determine which information is pertinent to a case.
Draft legal documents identifying legal or factual issues, locating precedents, and developing legally supportable conclusions.
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 to be researched and assembled; prepare initial summaries and make recommendations about the appropriateness of data.