Paralegal Specialist

Paralegal Specialist

Department: Department of Justice

Location(s): Washington, District of Columbia

Salary Range: $85447 - $111087 Per Year

Job Summary: The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia mission is to enforce the criminal laws of the United States and the District of Columbia, represent the interests of the United States in civil litigation, and respond to the public safety needs of the community by leading an effective, well-coordinated law enforcement effort that contributes to the overall goal of improving the quality of life in the District of Columbia.

Major Duties:

• This Paralegal Specialist provides paralegal support to three or more AUSAs responsible for representing the United States in a large class of cases brought under the employment discrimination laws, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) the Federal Tort Claims Act, the False Claims Act, and other types of civil defensive or affirmative cases. If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for providing Paralegal Specialist support in the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia, located in Washington, District of Columbia, focusing in the areas of paralegal support; legal research; litigation case support. Typical work assignments will include: Providing direct paralegal support to attorneys in support of the mission and function of the Civil Division. Communicating regularly with attorneys, office staff, client agencies and witnesses to request documentation, information and keeping them up-dated on case status. Maintaining a calendar of required filings and due dates from case load of active cases to ensure that legal pleadings, forms, reports, correspondence, and other documents are prepared and submitted with established deadlines. Preparing and maintaining case files including documents, evidence, exhibits, witness lists and jury instructions. Searching, analyzing and summarizing data, making conclusions, and recommending appropriate action in consultation with the responsible AUSA. Performing legal research in the areas of employment discrimination law, information and privacy law, and tort law. Providing general assistance to assigned attorneys and to the overall operations of the Division. Assisting assigned attorneys as requested with general matters on, including maintaining case files on the Division's Case Files system consistent with Division policies; updating CaseView to ensure deadlines reflected in the system are current, accurate and complete; identifying cases to be closed; and preparing paperwork necessary for the opening and closing cases. Contributing to Division-wide objectives and tasks, including appropriately and accurately logging service in the Division's electronic service system (the Electronic Green Book); correctly scanning service packages (including ensuring that all pages are scanned and scans are saved on electronic resources consistent with Division policies); forwarding emergency matters to Division management and proving general support (copying, mailing, etc.) as directed.

Qualifications: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level in which you are applying: To qualify at the GS-11 level, you must possess: Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service performing (obtained in either the public or private sectors) (3) of the (4) duties listed below: Performing legal research to assist with composing legal documents (i.e., pleadings, memoranda of law, dispositive motions and briefs, subpoenas, complaints, various motions, and responses to defense motions); Providing legal assistance, technical support or case management in preparing, organizing and indexing documents, evidence, exhibits and/or witnesses for and during court proceedings; Providing general support (i.e., copying, mailing, scheduling due dates for filings and hearings); Coordinating with attorneys and counsel to provide information and assistance concerning status or relevant procedural issues. OR Successful completion of one of the following types of education in a related field, such as (list fields): a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or possession of a LL.M degree. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position. (MUST SUBMIT YOUR COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS.) OR A combination of the above-described graduate education and specialized experience. To combine education and experience, determine the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level. Then determine the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level. Finally, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Note that only graduate education in excess of 2 years can be used in the combination. (MUST SUBMIT YOUR COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS.) IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here.

How to Apply: Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-20