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.

Duties

If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team as a Paralegal Specialist in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office (USAO). Typical work assignments will include: Using an in-depth knowledge of the application of various laws, court and/or administrative decisions and interpretations related to OCDETF investigations and prosecutions, performs substantive research, evaluation and analysis of a variety of specialized legal topics and points of law. Providing assistance to AUSAs in litigative matters related to investigations and prosecutions of domestic and international narco-trafficking and money laundering operations, investigations of emerging trafficking routes, long-term undercover operations and multi-district prosecutions. The work is complicated by the requirement to provide specialized legal assistance involving USAO investigations conducted with various Federal and local law enforcement entities (i.e., DEA, FBI, DHS, ATF, IRS, the Coast Guard, the United States Marshals) and a variety of task forces as well as foreign prosecutors and law enforcement agency counterparts in order to investigate, prosecute, and extradite foreign nationals as well as United States citizens who commit crimes abroad. Independently performing extensive and thorough legal research into the legislative history, precedent cases, decisions, and opinions that may be applicable to particular legal matters. Analyzing options, evaluating the relevance of each, and determining which statutes, regulations, cases, procedures and/or policies need to be researched and assembled. Drafting initial legal and administrative briefs, USAO motions, oppositions to defense motions and correspondence for AUSA review. Preparing documents that pertain to the analysis, evaluation and relevance of technical evidence or questions which arise during the litigative process and require reconciliation of conflicting policies and facts. Carefully analyzing legal guidelines, determining which most nearly fit situations and using considerable judgment in interpreting and adapting guidelines to draft correspondence and legal documents that accurately summarize information. Effectively organizing data and developing trial exhibits such as statistical charts, graphs, and timelines to be presented in court as corroborative evidence. Managing discovery and evidence in electronic and hard copy formats, preparing for the use of it in each stage of litigation and presenting the exhibits using trial presentation software in court. Participating 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. 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 requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

Qualifications

GS-07: To be eligible at the GS-07 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-05 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience drafting a variety of legal documents and correspondence; assisting in trial preparation by compiling, organizing, and indexing various evidentiary exhibits; reviewing legal documents to extract information related to specific issues; verifying citations and statutory references contained in legal documents; and utilizing various computerized database programs to organize extensive documents. Education: Possess one of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law, Political Science): 1 year of graduate-level education leading to a Master's degree or higher; OR a completed Bachelor's degree or equivalent with superior academic achievement as defined by the Office of Personnel Management's Qualification Standards. Combining Education and Experience: A combination of specialized experience and education which when combined equal 100% of the requirements. To calculate your percentage of education, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then, divide your semester hours of graduate education by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. GS-09: To be eligible at the GS-09 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. 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: Possess one of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law, Political Science): 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. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, first determine the total number of graduate 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 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%. 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-09 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 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: Posses one of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law, Political Science): 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.

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 http://www.ed.gov
OR
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 http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Superior Academic Achievement: Possess a Bachelor's Degree or expect to complete the requirements for a Bachelor's degree within the next 9 months AND possess at least one of the following criteria: class standing in the upper third of the graduating class; an overall GPA of 3.0 OR at least a 3.0 based on courses completed during the final two full years of curriculum; a GPA of at least 3.5 based on the average of required courses completed in a major field OR based on the average of required courses completed during the final two years of curriculum; OR election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.

Contacts

• Address District of New Mexico P.O. Box 607 Albuquerque, NM 87103 US
• Name: Jessica Sierra
• Phone: (505)224-1483
• Email: [email protected]