Paralegal Specialist (Recent Graduate) - Natural Resources Section.

Offices-to-go; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Justice in Washington, DC is seeking a Paralegal Specialist (Recent Graduate) to support research, document management, and trial assistance. You will handle research in Westlaw, PACER and Lexis, perform cite checks per The Bluebook, and compile legislative histories while ensuring document conformance with court rules.

The program emphasizes completing required training, a one-year trial period, and potential conversion to term or permanent appointment based on performance.

Qualifications

• Recent graduates must have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associate, bachelor, master, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate.
• Completion by Summer 2026 end date is needed for eligibility.
• Veterans with service obligations have extended windows to apply.

Responsibilities

• Perform research in Westlaw, PACER and Lexis, plus Bluebook citation checks; compile legislative histories and proofread/edit briefs.
• Manage documents and maintain litigation databases.
• Organize and summarize factual materials, depositions and administrative records; prepare non-legal memos.
• Assist at hearings/trials by preparing exhibits, coordinating travel, and running trial software.

Skills

Legal Research

Document Management

Citation Checks

Editing & Proofreading

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Westlaw

PACER

Lexis

Job description

Duties

As a Paralegal Specialist (Recent Graduate) your responsibilities may include:

• Performing research in various databases including Westlaw, PACER and Lexis; performing cite checks pursuant to The Bluebook, compiling legislative histories; proofreading and editing legal briefs and memoranda prior to filing in court; and ensuring conformance of documents to applicable court rules.


• Performing document management, including creating and maintaining litigation databases.


• Organizing and writing synopses of factual materials; summarizing depositions; preparing, organizing, and indexing administrative records; and preparing non-legal memoranda.


• Providing assistance at hearings and/or trials, for example, preparing exhibits, coordinating travel and trial logistics, and running presentation software during trial.

Position May Be Converted to a Term or Permanent Appointment if the following are met

• Successful completion of at least 1 year of continuous service,


• Completion of at least 40 hours of formal interactive training, and


• Demonstration of successful job performance.

A recent graduate converted to a term appointment may be subsequently converted non-competitively into a permanent position. Recent Graduates are on a trial period for the duration of the program. An Individual Development Plan (IDP) must be completed and approved by the supervisor within 45 days of appointment and a mentor must be assigned within 60 days of appointment

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen or national.


• You must complete a background investigation to include pre-employment drug testing.


• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.


• You will be required to serve a one year trial period.


• You must maintain a bank account for direct deposit of salary.


• If you do not submit school transcripts, you will be rated ineligible.


• If this is your first appointment in the Federal service, your salary will be set at Step 1 of the grade.

Qualifications

To be eligible for this Recent Graduate program, one of the following requirements must be met

• Recent graduates must have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associate, bachelor, master, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution; or must have completed a qualifying career or technical education program with or without a formal degree in a Registered Apprentice Program, Job Corps, AmeriCorps, or Peace Corps.


• You must have completed your degree, certificate, or program on or before the end of the Summer 2026 semester. If you graduated or completed an education program prior to September 2024, you will not be eligible for this position.


• Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply.

To qualify for the Paralegal Specialist (Recent Graduate) GS-9, applicants must have one of the following:

• One year of specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-7 Federal grade level or above conducting research online, interpreting relevant information, and producing written products based on that research. This experience must also include using computer software applications to organize and manage information; OR


• Master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR two (2) full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.B. or J.D. Qualifying education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position; OR


• A combination of graduate education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. (Only graduate education in excess of the first full year may be used in this calculation.)

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 skill and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experiences, including volunteer experience.

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YOUR RESUME MUST support your responses to the online questionnaire and provide specific details as to how your experience meets the specialized experience as described in the vacancy announcement if you are using experience to meet all or part of the qualification requirements. Please ensure that your resume includes the month and year that you began and ended each position held or that position will not be credited toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. Failure to provide details will result in an ineligible rating. Your latest resume submitted for this vacancy announcement will be used to determine qualifications and supersedes previous submissions.

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at

All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to or claim veteran preference (VP), you should indicate the type of veteran preference (5 or 10 points) you are claiming on your resume. In order to determine your eligibility, you can find additional information at:

To verify your veteran preference entitlement, submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214; official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty; or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions. If you are claiming 10-point preference, you must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 in addition to the supporting documentation required and identified on the reserve side of the SF-15, Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference. If you are claiming 10-point DERIVED PREFERENCE as a relative you must submit Member Copy 4 of the veteran's DD-214 and an SF-15 in addition to the supporting documentation required and identified on the reverse side of the SF-15. If you fail to do so, you will receive consideration as a non-veteran.

Benefits

DOJ 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.

General Employment Information

• DOJ EEO STATEMENT: Find our EEO statement online at:


• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Additional information is found at:

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.

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.