Paralegal Specialist

Summary 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. This position is also being announced to applicants eligible to apply through Merit Staffing procedures under 26-NE-12856418-MS. Duties If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for researching, developing and writing final-form motions, legal memoranda, appellate briefs and other pleadings. Typical work assignments will include: Discussing relevant facts, legal issues and case strategy with attorneys; Researching and analyzing case facts, and principles of law, demonstrating proficiency with Westlaw, Lexis CaseLink, and other internet resources; Completing background work required, including obtaining necessary reports and recordings; Identifying legal and factual issues in motions and briefs, including threshold legal issues, such as timeliness, standing, and jurisdiction; Preparing draft pleadings in consultation with attorneys for review and filing; Filing briefs for attorneys, using familiarity with district court and Tenth Circuit rules, filing procedures, and deadlines; Providing a variety of litigative support services by researching, interpreting and applying relevant statutes and caselaw; Assisting trial teams in preparing for hearings and trials, including mooting arguments, conducting time-critical research projects, and preparing bench briefs; Creating and maintaining research files and brief bank; Reviewing and editing district court pleadings and appellate briefs for consistency and clarity, checking legal citations and correcting typographical, formatting, and substantive errors; and Properly applying proper format, style, and correct citations in compliance with the USAO's style memorandum, the Federal Rules of Criminal Appellate Procedure, the local rules of the Court and the Court of Appeals, and the Bluebook. Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or National Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement. Qualifications GS-12 To be eligible at the GS-12 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level. Specialized Experience is defined as experience that includes the following: providing trial support to attorneys by drafting complaints, motions, subpoenas, orders, or other hearing and/or trial documents accurately and in proper format. assisting with discovery, hearing or trial preparation by performing duties such as compiling trial notebooks, assembling jury instructions, and compiling witness and exhibit lists. utilizing legal software applications/databases to conduct legal research, prepare case reports and/or produce litigation reports and documents; and present oral and written facts and legal arguments to provide guidance and assistance to management and/or support staff on appellate matters. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the 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 proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. 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. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Education Additional information Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. Selective Service: 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. See www.sss.gov. Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. EEO Statement: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. 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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.