Paralegal Specialist

Customs and Border Protection; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Customs and Border Protection is seeking qualified candidates for GS-07/GS-09 positions in the Newark, NJ area. The role involves reviewing case-related documents, utilizing established procedures, and preparing routine materials as part of the Office of Field Operations.

Applicants must meet residency and background investigation requirements and understand the education substitutions available for experience.

Qualifications

• GS-07 requires knowledge of reviewing routine documents and identifying basic facts.
• GS-09 requires analyzing petitions, claims, and case records to identify issues and take action.
• Education substitutions allow advanced degrees to substitute for experience.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing and processing legal, administrative, or civil enforcement case files to determine if facts and due process elements are present.
• Analyzing petitions, claims, and case records to identify legal and factual issues and recommend actions.
• Conducting legal research using statutes, regulations, and directives to support case analysis.

Skills

Reviewing documents

Using established sources

Preparing routine materials

Education

Master's degree substitution for experience

Bachelor's degree with SAA substitution

Job description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, New York Field Office, Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Division, Newark, NJ and Queens, NY. You will receive consideration for the location(s) for which you apply, however, the final duty location determination will be made at management's discretion.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

GS-07 Experience:

You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Reviewing routine program, administrative, or case-related documents to identify basic facts, issues, dates, missing information, and required supporting materials.
• Using established sources, such as policies, procedures, manuals, regulations, case files, and computer databases, to locate information related to assigned work.
• Preparing routine written materials, such as notes, summaries, correspondence, memoranda, or reports, using established formats and procedures.

GS-09 Experience:

You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Reviewing and processing legal, administrative, or civil enforcement case files to determine whether required facts, evidence, documentation, and due process elements are present and adequately supported.
• Analyzing petitions, claims, investigative reports, case records, or other submissions to identify legal and factual issues and recommend appropriate action consistent with laws, regulations, policies, or guidelines.
• Conducting legal research using statutes, regulations, agency manuals, directives, precedent decisions, court decisions, or other legal reference materials to support case analysis and recommendations.

GS-07 Education Substitution:

Successful completion of one year of full-time graduate education from an accredited college or university may substitute for the experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours. You are required to submit proof of your claim. OR A bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) may also substitute for the experience required. It is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (i.e., GPA 3.0 or higher of a possible 4.0, excluding pass/fail credits. Pass/fail credits cannot be more than 10% of total credits), or (3) honor society membership. Review Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) to see if you qualify under this provision. Please see www.opm.gov for additional information.

GS-09 Education Substitution:

Successful completion of a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or a L.L.B. or J.D. from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours. You are required to submit proof of your claim.

Combining Education and Experience:

Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-9. More information on this qualification standard is located here.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must:

• Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and
• Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 09/03/2026.

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, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers

Residency:

There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles:

If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement.