Paralegal Specialist (Financial Litigation)

United States Attorneys' Offices; Tyler (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

United States Attorneys' Offices in Tyler, TX seeks a Paralegal Specialist (Financial Litigation) to support the Civil Division’s Financial Litigation Program. The role involves independent legal research, writing, and developing factual material to assist in collecting large debts and enforcing public rights.

You will review complex documents, draft legal papers, analyze debtor financials, and prepare trial exhibits while coordinating with attorneys and court personnel.

Qualifications

• One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in federal service.
• Master's or equivalent graduate degree (such as LL.B. or J.D.) or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education.
• Combinations of graduate education and experience may be used to meet the requirements, with graduate education in excess of 1 full year.

Responsibilities

• Review and organize complex factual material and other documentary data for investigations and trials.
• Provide advice on the most efficient method for preparing legal documents.
• Provide support to the financial litigation program.
• Analyze debtors' financial assets.
• Draft letters, forms, and reports to initiate debt collection.
• Obtain and analyze financial information on debtors to assess ability to pay.
• Conduct debtor interviews and maintain communications with debtors and agencies.
• Prepare exhibits for trial and assist in trial preparation.

Skills

Legal research

Drafting legal documents

Case management

Education

Master's degree or J.D./LL.B.

2 years graduate education

Job description

Summary

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

Summary

This announcement is open to current or former federal employees and specific hiring authorities. For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/.

There is one position to be filled in Tyler, TX.

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

Duties

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This position is in the Financial Litigation Unit (FLU), within the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Texas, Eastern. The incumbent provides legal support to the Financial Litigation Program Section Chief related to financial litigation. The work involves independently performing legal research, legal writing and developing factual material necessary to assist in litigation by the United States to collect large claims, to impose penalties or to vindicate other public rights.

Duties

If selected for this position, you will serve as a Paralegal Specialist with the United States Attorney's Office, Texas, Eastern. Duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Review and organize complex factual material and other documentary data for investigations and trials.
• Provide advice on the most efficient method for preparing legal documents.
• Provide support to the financial litigation program.
• Analyze debtors' financial assets.
• Drafts and/or prepare letters, forms and reports necessary to initiate the collection of debts.
• Obtain and analyze financial information on debtors to determine their present and future potential ability to pay.
• Use tables and citation checking with efficiency.
• Conduct debtor interviews and maintain oral and written communication with debtors and agencies.
• Ascertains financial ability and establishes payment schedules that meet guidelines.
• Review, summarize, and outline financial situation of the debtors and make recommendations on the most appropriate legal action.
• 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.
• Prepare exhibits for trial, which typically involve a wide range of visual materials.
• Provide litigation case management and organize cases for court presentation.

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

Requirements

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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 date of this announcement.

Qualifications

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

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: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in federal service. 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: providing support to financial litigation cases, 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 prepare recommendations; search and review legal references, case files, and other sources for information and data required by attorneys or court personnel.

OR

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.

OR

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. 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%.

You MUST meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade, by the closing date of 10/15/2026 for this announcement.

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 10/15/2026 to complete the assessment as this assessment is part of your application.

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under VEOA, you must submit a Member 4 Copy of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement. Special Employment Consideration: People with disabilities, veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the armed forces, and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for non-competitive appointments. For further information, click on the links provided below. You must specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities Links: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments.

Education

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

Additional selections may be made from this announcement.

You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.

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.

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. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

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.

DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Policy:

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. The DOJ Reasonable Accommodation policy can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/reasonable-accommodation#policy.

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 be exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service.

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.

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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.