Paralegal Specialist
What you'd do
This position is located in the Board or Immigration Appeals, Executive Office for Immigration Review, U. S. Department of Justice. The Paralegal Specialist provides assistance to Appellate Immigration Judges and Attorney Advisors in case adjudication by performing legal research and analysis: drafting documents; and creating and maintaining case files. This is a Competitive Service position; additional positions may be filled from this announcement within 90 days of certificate issuance.
Major 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.
What you need to qualify
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, click here.
Before you apply
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