Paralegal Specialist
Department: Legislative Branch
Location(s): Washington, District of Columbia
Salary Range: $150235 - $189308 Per Year
Job Summary: The United States Capitol Police (USCP) safeguards the Congress, Members of Congress, employees, visitors, and Congressional buildings and grounds from crime, disruption, and terrorism. We protect and secure Congress so it can fulfill its constitutional and legislative responsibilities in a safe, secure and open environment.
Major Duties:
- This position is located within the United States Capitol Police (USCP) Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Employment Law Division and provides support to more than one attorney, the General Counsel, and the Deputy General Counsel, Employment Law Division. The incumbent of the position works with extreme independence and is proficient in determining sources of information and interpreting information needed to support the work of the attorneys. The incumbent serves as a paralegal specialist with responsibility for performing independent legal research for and with review by professional staff to include research of statutes, legislative histories, legal opinions, legal text, legal precedents, and other factors which may be related to legal issues involved. The incumbent utilizes independent judgment and discretion in carrying out assignments and is responsible for maintaining strict confidentiality of information within the office. The incumbent is responsible for performing various responsibilities in support of the office attorneys. Researches and analyzes legal issues relative to facts, issues, and applicable policy; obtains additional facts and information; independently develops appropriate conclusions and justifications; prepares responses for attorney review and signature, to include researching and rendering opinions on legal matters utilizing existing statutes and regulations; reviewing and analyzing the impact of current legislation, regulations, directives, decisions of various courts and administrative bodies for the purpose of promptly bringing changes and impacts to the attention of attorney personnel in order for legal advice to be current and accurate. Research legislation, regulations, and precedents for the most complex cases or issues. Independently performs extensive legal research and analysis of assigned areas, including electronic discovery and principles of search terms. Make recommendations to attorneys based on findings and notes any discrepancies in materials or other supporting documents that have been submitted in evidence of claims. Searches for legal precedent in indices and computerized legal reference systems and analyzes their applicability to individual cases. Prepares summaries of research findings. In support of the attorneys, incumbent performs substantive legal research using computer research methods, a comprehensive file of digested legal decisions, policies, regulations, legal tests, federal and state statues, cases opinions, and precedents bearing on the legal issues involved in the case. Analyzes legal facts and questions and conducts factual investigations. Reviews legal resources for employment, labor law, constitutional Jaw and other legal areas affecting Jaw enforcement for preparation of monthly legal updates. Obtains information from a variety of sources including reports of investigations and exhibits, police reports, witnesses, administrative documents and prepares documentary files. Organize materials, determine pertinent facts, make interpretations and prepares initial summary recommendations as to appropriateness of data, legal course of action, etc. Performs extensive research and analysis on applicable legal issues and litigation cases. Responsible for analyzing trends of employment issues including the preparation of reports and analysis for review by the Employment Counsel.
Qualifications: In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. For the CP-11/GS-13 you must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the CP-10/GS-12 which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled, and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as experience of the following: Proficiently using litigation software tools to review, manage, and produce information for discovery or other matters. Examining, preparing, and processing a variety of technical legal documents. Obtain needed information from files, law enforcement agencies, or other sources. Reviewing incoming material and independently determining the need for assembly and preparation of a variety of legal documents, e.g., complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, and subpoenas. Providing assistance to attorneys in trial preparation by performing duties such as independently compiling trial notebooks, assembling jury instructions, and compiling witness and exhibit lists. Maintaining calendar of assigned active cases. Track’s filing, hearing, and trial dates, and scheduling conferences and interviews. Producing a variety of written documents and materials utilizing a wide range of office software applications. All eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the vacancy announcement. (Information on Qualification & Education is located at the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/)
How to Apply: Navigate to the following URL to apply to this job: USCP Careers 1. Follow the prompts to upload your resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. 2. Click the Submit Application button to submit your application package. 3. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date. 4. To verify that your application is complete, log into your account and select the job posting for this position. The page will display the status of your application, the documentation received, and any correspondence the Department has sent related to this application. 5. Failure to provide all required documents and information requested by the closing date of this announcement may result in your application not being considered. The complete application package must be submitted by 6:59 PM (ET) on the closing date to receive consideration.
Application Deadline: 2026-01-14