Paralegal Specialist (Criminal)

United States Attorneys' Offices; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

United States Attorneys' Offices in Plano/Sherman, TX seeks a Paralegal Specialist (Criminal) for a term position not-to-exceed Sep 30, 2029. Responsibilities include organizing complex material, conducting legal research, preparing trial exhibits, managing discovery, and drafting legal documents for investigations and trials. Qualifications require a combination of specialized experience or education, including a J.D./LL.B.

or related graduate study, with time-in-grade considerations. U.S.

Qualifications

• Requires strong legal research and writing skills.
• Experience organizing complex factual material for investigations and trials.
• Knowledge of litigation support, discovery, and trial preparation processes.
• Familiarity with electronic and hard copy evidence handling and case management.

Responsibilities

• Review and organize complex factual material for investigations and trials.
• Independently perform legal research and legal writing.
• Prepare and organize trial exhibits, documents, and related correspondence.
• Provide automated litigation support to attorneys during trial prep and courtroom presentations.
• Manage discovery and evidence in electronic and hard copy formats.
• Select and interpret guidelines and policies governing work assignments.
• Assist in pre-trial witness conferences and identify deficiencies in case materials.
• Prepare a variety of legal documents including subpoenas and extradition requests.
• Develop and enter case material into computer databases.
• Create charts, graphs, and tables to illustrate results.
• Prepare jury instructions for trial.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Paralegal support

Case management

Education

Master's degree in related field (e.g., Criminal Justice) or equivalent

J.D. or LL.B. or 2 years of graduate education

Job description

Summary

There is one Paralegal Specialist (Criminal) position that will be located Plano, or Sherman, TX.

This announcement is open to current or former federal employees and specific hiring authorities.

This position is also being announced to All U.S. Citizens and Nationals under 26-TXE-13034404-Delegated Examining (DE).

As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Duties

Please note: This is a term position not-to-exceed September 30, 2029, subject to availability of funds. This position may be extended, or made permanent, without further advertising.

Responsibilities

• Review and organize complex factual material and other documentary data for investigations and trials.
• Independently performs legal research, and legal writing.
• Prepares and organizes trial exhibits, documents, memoranda, reports and correspondence relating to cases.
• Provides automated litigation assistance to attorneys in trial preparation and courtroom presentation.
• Manages discovery and evidence in electronic and hard copy formats.
• Select and interpret pertinent guidelines and policies that govern work assignments.
• Participates in pre-trial witness conferences, noting any deficiencies in case materials (e.g., missing documents, conflicting statements) and additional issues or other matters requiring investigation prior to trial.
• Prepare a variety of substantive legal documents to include extradition requests, grand jury and trial subpoenas, interrogatory requests, and documentation relevant to acquiring evidence or testimony.
• Develop and enter various case material into a computer database.
• Prepare charts, graphs, and tables to illustrate results.
• Prepare, develop, compile, or maintain jury instructions in preparing for trial.

Requirements

Conditions of employment:

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening.
• You may be required to complete a probationary or trial period. See Additional Information for specific details.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31st 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• You must meet all eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement and continue to meet these requirements throughout the hiring process. Offers can be rescinded if requirements are not met.
• A USA Hire assessment is required. An email will be sent with additional information after you submit your application. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement to complete the assessment.
• Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the closing of this announcement.

Qualifications

Please note: This is a term position not-to-exceed September 30, 2029, subject to availability of funds. This position may be extended, or made permanent, without further advertising.

To qualify for the position of Paralegal Specialist (Criminal), at GS-0950-9/11, you must meet the basic qualification requirements listed below.

You MUST meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade, by the 09/02/2026 of this announcement.

GS-9: To be eligible at the GS-9 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions: specialized Experience, Education, OR a Combination of Education and Experience.

Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level.

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: routinely examining and processing a variety of legal documents such as complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, subpoenas and libels for completeness of information; conducting research, analysis and evaluation of data in response to complex or sensitive requests; drafting briefs, pleadings, litigation recommendations, or other legal documents and correspondence; using a variety of electronic or manual filing systems to acquire and store information; document findings and preparing recommendations; 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 LL.B. or J.D.);

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 demonstrate 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. To qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 1 full year. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, first determine the total number of graduate level hours that exceed 18 semester hours (or your school's definition of one year of graduate study), then divide the total number of your excess graduate semester hours by 18 (or your school's definition of one year of graduate study). To calculate your percentage of specialized experience, divide the 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%.

GS-11: To be eligible at the GS-11 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, Specialized Experience, Education, OR a Combination of Education and Experience.

Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level.

Specialized experience is defined as experience performing a variety of analytical paralegal or legal work which demonstrates a practical knowledge of law, the litigation and judicial process, and applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Examples of specialized experiences may include the following: analyzing and evaluating legal decisions and case files to identify relevant issues and potential evidence; conducting legal research concerning precedents and past court decisions; composing legal briefs, summaries of analyses and decisions, and advisory opinions and findings, and pre-trial documents; evaluating previous fact-finding and problem-solving methods to resolve conflicting statements; interviewing witnesses and various individuals who can provide insight into cases under review; and preparing evidence and documents to support recommendations.

Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law): a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR, 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or L.L.M. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of specialized experience as described and graduate-level education which when combined equal 100% of the requirements. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, first determine the total number of graduate hours that exceed 36 semester hours (or your school's definition of two years of graduate study), then divide the total number of your excess 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 two years may be used in this calculation).

Your resume must support your responses to the application 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 this application, you will receive an e-mail informing you that a USA Hire assessment is required of you. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement 09/02/2026 to complete the assessment as this assessment is part of your application.

Education:

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements, please see the statements below.

Education must be reviewed and certified by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, in order for it to be creditable towards your qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from accredited institution.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Transcripts must be uploaded with your application to verify education. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

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 http://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/Policy: 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. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.

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.

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.