PARALEGAL SPECIALIST (Financial Crimes)

United States Attorneys' Offices; Billings (MT); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The United States Attorneys' Office for the District of Montana is seeking a Paralegal Specialist in the Financial Crimes Division. You will organize research, draft legal documents, and may assist during hearings or trials as needed, contributing to case preparation and analysis.

As your responsibilities grow with training, you will handle increasingly complex assignments while upholding legal standards. U.S. Citizenship or National status, and successful background checks are required.

Qualifications

• Specialized paralegal or legal work demonstrating knowledge of legal research.
• Ability to interpret legal decisions and prepare analyses and recommendations.
• Experience drafting briefs, pleadings, or other legal documents.

Responsibilities

• Organizes and prepares research material and determines information pertinent to the case.
• Drafts legal documents identifying issues, precedents and developing supportable conclusions.
• May assist AUSA in court during hearings and trials.
• Participates in pre-trial witness conferences and notes deficiencies in case materials.
• Determines statutes, regulations, cases, procedures and policies to research and prepare initial summaries.

Education

Graduate degree in related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law)

Ph.D./LL.M. or equivalent doctoral degree

3 full years of graduate education

Specialized paralegal or legal research experience

Independently analyze and evaluate legal decisions

Job description

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 temporary promotion may be extended up to a total of 5 years or made permanent without further competition. This position is also being announced to All U.S. Citizens and Nationals under 27-MT-13081171-DE.

Duties

If Selected For This Position, You Will Serve As a Paralegal Specialist In The Financial Crimes Department For The United States Attorney's Office, District Of Montana. Typical Work Assignments Will Include:

• Organizes and prepares research material and determines information that is pertinent to the case.
• Drafts legal documents that identify the legal or factual issues in the case, locate, precedents and develop legally supportable conclusions.
• May assist Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) in court during hearings and trials.
• 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.
• Determines which statutes, regulations, cases, procedures and/or policies need to be researched and assembled, prepping initial summary and making recommendations as to appropriateness of data.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Requirements

• 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.
• Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
• You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

Qualifications

GS-09: 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: 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: examining and processing a variety of legal documents; 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. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 1 full year.

GS-11: To be eligible at the GS-11 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: 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: independently analyzing and evaluating legal decisions and case files to identify relevant issues and potential evidence; independently conducting legal research concerning precedents and past court decisions; independently composing legal briefs, summaries of analyses and decisions, and pre-trial documents; 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 LL.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 successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 2 full years.

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/.