Paralegal Specialist

NOTE: The closing date on this vacancy has been extended until Tuesday, August 25, 2026

The duties and responsibilities for a GS-0201-09/11 Paralegal Specialist generally include, but are not limited to, the following:

GS-09:

• Conducts basic and legal research for assigned cases.
• Reviews and analyzes prior case materials to become familiar with questions under consideration.
• Uses electronic databases and other electronic means to perform various litigation support tasks, including organizing, indexing, and summarizing documents, files, and other material.
• Utilizes the court's electronic case filing program and applies knowledge of the applicable local court rules and procedures for preparing and filing legal documents, including preparing documents for and running tables of contents, tables of authorities, and other required elements.
• Retrieves cases and searches legal reference files for information and dates required. Uses LEXIS and WESTLAW cite-checking features to verify citations and legal references in prepared
• Assists with preparing, editing, and updating office reports on litigation status. and other topics.
• Drafts and revises other non-legal memoranda and reports.
• Proofreads and cite-checks legal briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents. Verifies accuracy of factual and legal references, ensures that citation format accords with requirements, and ensures that cases relied upon remain good authority.

• Conducts factual and legal research in a variety of legal and non-legal reference sources and databases and provides information in response to questions of moderate variety and complexity.
• Drafts memoranda and comprehensive written reports that serve as the basis for developing critical legal arguments, recommendations, or opinions.
• Independently conducts legal research on statutes, legislative history, regulations, and administrative and judicial precedents, including research in specialized areas requiring examination of esoteric sources and issues of first impression.
• Provides technical support to attorneys during deposition and trial. Ensures that pleadings, exhibits, trial notebooks and similar materials are prepared and ready for trial and evidentiary hearings.
• Proofreads and cite-checks legal briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents. Verifies accuracy of factual and legal references, ensures that citation format accords with requirements, and ensures that cases relied upon remain good authority.
• 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.
• Prepares and organizes evidence for production in discovery and for use in trial. Codes and indexes discovery documents using legal case management software such as Relativity, Concordance, and Summation.
• Drafts discovery requests, subpoenas, stipulations, and affidavits and other documents necessary for evidentiary development. Prepares witness binders and for use during investigations, depositions, hearings, and trial. Prepares trial exhibits such as statistical charts, graphs, timelines, and maps to be presented in court.
• Provides technical assistance and logistical support to trial attorneys and witnesses in preparation for evidential hearings and trials and in the courtroom.
• Utilizes the court's electronic case filing program and applies knowledge of the applicable local court rules and procedures for preparing and filing legal documents, including preparing documents for and running tables of contents, tables of authorities, and other required elements.
• Proofreads and cite-checks legal briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents. Verifies accuracy of factual and legal references, ensures that citation format accords with requirements, and ensures that cases relied upon remain good authority.

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• You must successfully pass a security/background investigation and a drug screening.
• You must be a current permanent Department of Justice employee with competitive status or a CTAP/RPL eligible candidate.
• You must meet all applicable time-in-grade requirements by the closing of this announcement.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• You must meet all eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement and continue to meet these requirements throughout the hiring process. Offers can be rescinded if requirements are not met.
• You will be required to complete a probationary period (if applicable).

To qualify for the position of Paralegal Specialist, at GS-0950-9/11, you must meet the qualification requirements listed below.

If you are a current or former federal employee on a permanent appointment in the competitive service, you will need to demonstrate 1-year (52-weeks) at the next lower grade level as listed in the qualifications below. Time-in-Grade applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. Additionally, please ensure to submit an applicable SF-50 (please refer to the "required documents" section for additional information).

To qualify for the GS-09 Paralegal Specialist position, you must demonstrate that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the federal service performing such duties as:conducting legal research and analyzing statutes, regulations, case law, administrative decisions, or legal guidance; preparing draft memoranda or recommended actions for attorney review; searching and reviewing legal references, case files, and other sources for information and data required by attorneys or court personnel.

OR

Have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or successfully completed at least 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR received an LL.B or J.D if related.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 36. Add the two percentages.

To qualify for the GS-11 Paralegal Specialist position, you must demonstrate that you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the federal service performing such duties as:Independently conducts factual and legal research in a variety of legal and non-legal reference sources and databases and provides information in response to questions of moderate variety and complexity; independently 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.

OR

Education: a LL.M, a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in a related field OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. 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;

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: combination of education and experience that may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 54. Add the two percentages.

You MUST meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade, by 08/25/2026 of this announcement.

Your resume must support your responses to the application questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating.See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.