For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao.
Duties
If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for complex civil, immigration and habeas litigation. The duties and responsibilities for a GS-0950-Paralegal Specialist (Civil/Habeas)-12 generally include, but are not limited to, the following: If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for complex civil, immigration, and habeas litigation. Typical work assignments will include: Performing legal and factual research in support of complex civil, immigration and habeas investigations and litigation; Researching and analyzing case law, statutes, legislative intent, judicial precedents, etc., as they relate to assigned cases; Utilizing a variety of automated legal research tools, including Westlaw, Westlaw-Next, and Lexis, as well as public information databases and other automated resources to perform case- or program-specific legal research; Reviewing and evaluating incoming defensive cases and planning a comprehensive approach to obtaining additional information and evidence; Advising the Civil Division attorneys on merits and weaknesses of civil, immigration and habeas cases and case strategy, and recommending defensive strategies; Assisting with managing discovery to include assisting with responding to propounded discovery; Assisting in drafting and issuing pleadings, discovery documents, and other pre-trial and trial documents; Managing large document productions, including establishing a database for documents, indexing documents, and managing, retrieving, and producing documents; Drafting various legal documents including correspondence, subpoenas, memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, complaints, briefs, and settlement agreements for attorney's review and signature; Assisting in pretrial preparations by preparing, scheduling, reviewing, and organizing the assembly of evidence, exhibits, discovery and other documents; Supporting attorneys in court proceedings by briefing attorneys on pertinent facts, issues, and case law, and by compiling, organizing, and indexing exhibits; Providing technical advice to litigation teams on legal automation requirements and systems capabilities to facilitate trial preparation and trial presentation; Assisting and/or training attorneys in organizing voluminous case information for efficient retrieval through automated means; Preparing computerized trial presentation programs; Overseeing the development of courtroom presentations for assigned cases Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
Salary
Qualifications
To qualify for the position of (USAJOBS Title), at (Pay Plan - Series - Grade Range), you must meet the qualification requirements listed below. To be eligible at the GS-12 level, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service as defined below. Specialized Experience is defined as having the following experience: independently performing a variety of analytical paralegal or legal work which demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of law and legal reference materials; researching legal and factual issues for complex civil, immigration, and habeas cases; and analyzing legal issues, factual issues, and subject matter details involved in complex civil, immigration and habeas matters to determine whether referred claims are adequately supported by admissible evidence and legal precedent You MUST meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement, (Close Date). Your resume must support your responses to the online 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. After you submit your application, you will receive notification indicated whether or not the USA Hire assessment is required. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement (Close Date) to complete the assessment which is part of your application.
Education
Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone. No substitution of education for experience is permitted.
Required Documents
It is your responsibility to carefully review the list of required documents below and submit the necessary documentation based on your eligibility. Resume - All Applicants: You must submit a resume (a two page or less resume is required) containing the following pieces of information for each job entry listed in your employment history: Official position title, Employer name and contact information, Start and end dates (including month and year), Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and A list of duties performed and accomplishments. Notification of Personnel Action: Most recent SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location. Performance Appraisal: Your most recent performance appraisal (USA-265) Veterans Preference Documentation: If you are claiming veterans' preference you must submit: (1) a copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," (Member 4 copy), showing the dates of active duty, type of discharge, and character of service, OR (2) a certification letter from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. This letter must contain (a) military service dates including the expected discharge or release date and (b) character of service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference as a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, in addition to the documents specified above, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF-15, and if applicable, a completed SF-15.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application questionnaire and submit your supporting documentation. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on (Close Date) to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on (Close Date). After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder. If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements (https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=USA_Hire_System_Requirements). Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account. Essay Questions: The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question (see the application questionnaire). You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position. Need Help? If you need help with USAJOBs or the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help or Application Manager Online Help websites which includes information on managing your account, creating an application, uploading documents, etc. Reasonable Accommodation: To request reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact Rasheda Devaney at rasheda.devaney@usdoj.gov or 612-272-8264 for assistance.
