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-OHS-12847373-MS.
GS-7: To be eligible at the GS-7 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience. Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is defined as experience performing legal assistance work which provides basic knowledge of legal terminology, principles, and concepts. Examples of specialized experience may include drafting a variety of legal documents and correspondence; gathering and summarizing information on specific issues; preparing and reviewing a variety of legal documents for accuracy; verifying citations and statutory references contained in legal documents; locating and reviewing case files and/or other material to obtain status of cases; utilizing various computerized database programs to organize documents and exhibits for pending cases; and establishing, maintaining, and closing case files. Education: Successful completion of one (1) full year of progressively higher level graduate education (18 semester hours or the number of units your school uses to describe one graduate year of academic study) in a related field (e.g Criminal Justice, Law) leading to a master's degree OR completed bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement. Superior academic achievement is defined as follows: standing in the upper third of your graduating class or major subdivision, OR membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies, OR obtaining a sufficient grade point average, defined as the following. Applicants must have a grade point average of: (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on combined education and experience, candidates must demonstrate a combination of specialized experienced and graduate-level education that equals 100% of the requirements. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, first determine the total number of graduate hours then divide the total number of your graduate semester hours by 18 (or your school's definition of one year of graduate study). To calculate your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by 12. Now, add the two percentages together. The sum of the percentages must equal at least 100%. (Only graduate education in excess of the first full year may be used in this calculation.) GS-9: To be eligible at the GS-9 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a Combination of Education and Experience. Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is defined as experience performing paralegal or legal work which demonstrates a basic knowledge of legal research and the ability to interpret legal decisions. Examples of specialized experience may include the following: examining and processing a variety of legal documents and financial information to enforce judgments using creditors' rights; conducting research, analysis, and evaluation of data in response to complex or sensitive requests; drafting legal documents and correspondence; acquire and store information using a variety of electronic or manual filing systems ; searching and reviewing legal references, case files, and other sources for information and data required by attorneys or court personnel. Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g Criminal Justice, Law): a Master's or equivalent graduate degree (such as an LLB or J.D., if related); OR 2 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 require graduates to have the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. See the GS-7 Combining Education and Experience section for instructions on calculating this requirement. 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/.
If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team as a Paralegal Specialist in the Civil Division, Financial Litigation Program, of the United States Attorney's Office (USAO). Typical work assignments include, but are not limited to: Preparing a variety of legal documents to include various motions, foreclosures, garnishments, and other legal actions to affect necessary post-judgment action regarding debt due to the U.S. government; Researching case law, statutes, regulations, court rules, policies, procedures, legal periodicals, and other legal authorities that are relevant to cases identified by attorney(s); Processing debt collection claims referred from client agencies and performing necessary follow-up; Conducting interviews of debtors, employers, and agency officials to determine the effectiveness of pursuing legal action against debtors in default; Making recommendations on whether and when to proceed for garnishment of a debtor's salary or bank accounts, for judgment debtor examination in aid of execution, or for attachment and levy on a given debtor's property; Assisting in the enforcement of criminal judgment and commitment orders, and performing all functions to collect amounts imposed as a result of the prosecution of criminal cases; Developing and entering various case material into established computer databases, and using databases to perform searches, run reports, and retrieve information; and Providing administrative support to assigned attorneys. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.