Duties
The duties and responsibilities for a Paralegal Specialist, GS-0950-9/11 generally include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Screening and reviewing case files to identify and record legal issues; processing and moving screened cases based upon review thereof.
- Performing extensive and thorough legal research into laws, legislative history, precedent setting cases, decisions, and opinions that may be applicable.
- Drafting administrative decisions to be reviewed by AIJs; drafting responses to motions, and notice letters to parties before the Board.
- Providing technical support to staff members, attorneys, managers, and AIJs during various stages of case processing and adjudication, and timely responds to inquiries regarding the status and processing of cases.
- Preparing memoranda and reports, and compiling data and other information relating to ongoing immigration matters.
- Monitoring the case management system for judicial and internal deadlines.
- Responding to time-sensitive phone calls and email inquiries from the public and the Department of Homeland Security concerning motions for stay of removal; assisting attorneys and AIJs in preparing the case file for review in adjudicating the motions for stay of removal.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- You must be a U.S. 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 one-year probationary period.
- Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31st 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
- Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
- Salary payments must be by direct deposit to a financial institution.
- If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. See “How to Apply” section for more information.
- Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Qualifications
In order to qualify for the Paralegal Specialist position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:
FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL:
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (or comparable experience outside the Federal service), performing
3 or more of the following duties:
- Drafting judicial papers or responses to motions, such as, subpoenas, change of venue, or motions to terminate;
- Evaluating judicial orders, decisions, bond proceedings, or legal documents for case law compliance;
- Entering data into case management systems according to proper data entry requirements; and
- Obtaining factual information or research through face-to-face meetings with legal support personnel.
(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)
-OR-
Education: Applicants must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree OR two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR I have an LL.B. or J.D., in a directly related field.
NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification.
-OR-
Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants must possess a combination of the above described graduate education and specialized experience such that they total 100% of the stated minimum qualifications for the GS-09 level. Only graduate education beyond the first year (18 semester hours) may be used when combining education and experience for this option.
NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification.
FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL:
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (or comparable experience outside the Federal service), performing
3 or more of the following duties:
- Writing analyses and/or legal memoranda regarding the results of research;
- Performing legal research into laws, legislative history, precedent setting cases, decisions or opinions;
- Creating user defined reports relating to ongoing legal matters; and
- Advising or explaining factual information or research to general public through face-to-face meetings.
(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)
-OR-
Education: Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR I have an LL.M. in a directly related field.
NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification.
-OR-
Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants must possess a combination of the above described graduate education and specialized experience such that they total 100% of the stated minimum qualifications for the GS-11 level. Only graduate education beyond the first 2 years (36 semester hours) may be used when combining education and experience for this option.
NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification.
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
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,
Education
ARE YOU USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? Education Must Be Accredited By An Accredited Institution Recognized By The U.S. Department Of Education In Order For It To Be Credited Towards Qualifications (particularly Positions With a Positive Education Requirement). You MUST Provide a Legible Copy Of Transcripts From An Accredited Institution With Your Name, School Name, Credit Hours, Course Level, Major(s), And Grade-point Average Or Class Ranking, Or Other Documentation To Support Your Educational Claims. Applicants Can Verify Accreditation By Clicking Here:
Special Instructions for 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
All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
Translated transcripts are required.
In addition, if a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated.
Additional information
Conditions of Employment: Only U.S. Citizens or Nationals are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ applicants, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens, whose job location is with the U.S., must meet the residency requirement. For a total of three (not necessarily consecutive years) of the five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the U.S., 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a Federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a Federal or military employee serving oversees.
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and (for scored examining) score 85 or better on established ranking criteria OR (for category rating criteria) rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria and must submit proof of eligibility for the special selection priority. Additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility can be found by clicking
Note: Multiple selections may be made from this announcement. Salaries listed above are an approximation and are subject to duty station locality adjustment.
Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. To determine if you need a RA, please review the
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.
