Paralegal Specialist

Organizational Location: These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) District Court Litigation Division (DCLD) in Los Angeles, CA and Washington, D.C. This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Benefits:

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including:

• health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance
• retirement plan
• Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k))
• Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• personal leave days
• and paid federal holidays
• flexible work schedules
• telework
• tuition reimbursement
• transportation subsidies
• uniform allowance
• health and wellness programs
• and fitness centers

DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities.

Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

A student loan repayment incentive may be available, in which case a service agreement will be required.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-07: Specialized

Experience:

• Conducting research to assist with identifying factual and legal issues; OR
• Extracting data from manuals, directives, court reports. appellate records, or legal publications; OR
• Assisting with reviewing cases to determine the need for additional data from claimants, officials, or attorneys.

Education Substitution:

• Master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR
• Two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D., if related

Combination of Education and Experience:

A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Superior Academic Achievement:

Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR (3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (

Minimum Qualifications for GS-09: Specialized

Experience:

• Conducting research to identify and analyze factual and legal issues and relevant evidence to prepare for cases; OR
• Extracting and analyzing data from manuals, directives, court reports. appellate records, or legal publications; OR
• Preparing drafts of briefs, other litigation papers, or reports outlining case precedents.

Education Substitution:

• Master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR
• Two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D., if related

Combination of Education and Experience:

A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-11:

Specialized Experience:

• Assisting in collection, review, and summarization of facts, law, and special circumstances relating to administrative tort claims filed against agencies for attorneys; OR
• Receiving, analyzing, and recommending changes to practices in processing claims based upon research into emerging precedents or legal theories to Senior Paralegal Specialists; OR
• Preparing responses to discovery requests, dispositive motions, settlements, and charges for disciplinary and adverse actions to assist attorneys in case work.

Education Substitution:

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR
• Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M., if related.

Combination of Education and Experience:

A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-12:

Specialized Experience:

• Collecting, organizing, reviewing, and summarizing facts, law and special circumstances relating to administrative tort claims filed against agency for attorneys; OR
• Receiving, analyzing, and recommending changes to practices in processing claims based upon research of precedents or legal theories; OR
• Preparing responses to requests regarding discovery, dispositive motions, settlements, and charges for disciplinary and adverse actions to assist attorneys in case work.; OR
• Preparing documents for signature by attorneys after incorporating legal analyses and citations of precedent case law.

No educational substitution at GS-12 level