Paralegal Specialist

US-Executive-Office-For-U.S.-Attorneys-and-the-Office-of-the-U.S.-Attorneys-; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 40,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Justice's United States Attorneys' Offices in Columbus, Ohio invites applications for a GS-7/GS-9 legal support position. The duties include drafting routine legal documents, assisting with discovery materials, and supporting trial preparation.

Eligibility can be through specialized experience, education, or a combination of both. Applicants may qualify through one year of graduate education in a related field or a bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement.

Qualifications

• Specialized Experience includes drafting routine legal documents and discovery materials and assisting in trial prep.
• Education options include one year of graduate study or a bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement.
• Combining education and experience to meet 100% of the qualification requirements.

Skills

Legal research

Attention to detail

Written communication

Organization skills

Education

Master's degree or JD/LLB in related field

Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement

Job description

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 27-OHS-13089440-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

Experience drafting a variety of routine legal documents and correspondence; assisting with organization and production of discovery materials; assisting in trial preparation by compiling, organizing, and indexing various evidentiary exhibits and reviewing and filing pre-trial litigation documents; reviewing legal documents to extract information related to specific issues; verifying citations and statutory references contained in legal documents; and utilizing various computerized database programs to organize case-related documents.

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 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

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, processing, and organizing a variety of legal documents; conducting research, analysis, and evaluation of data in response to complex or sensitive requests; drafting briefs, pleadings, or other legal documents and correspondence; using a variety of electronic or manual filing systems to acquire and store information; preparing, processing, producing, and tracking incoming and outgoing discovery materials; 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;
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;
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/.