Summary
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is unique in the size and the scope of its work. It serves as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the nation's capital. On the local side, AUSAs assigned to the Superior Court Division prosecute cases ranging from misdemeanors to homicides. On the federal side, AUSAs assigned to the Criminal Division prosecute federal crimes. The Civil Division further defends the United States in civil suits brought in the District of Columbia.
Duties
If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected Appellate Division team of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia (USAO-DC) and become part of the team that supports Assistant United States Attorneys and administrative professionals who handle all the criminal appeals for the office in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. The Paralegal Specialist will support Division leadership with day-to day responsibilities for providing appellate case management services and providing legal administrative support to the paralegal staff, Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs), deputy chiefs, and Chief of the Appellate Division.Typical work assignments include: Conducts legal research, composes legal documents and correspondence; verifies citations and statutory references; summarizes data, makes conclusions, and recommends appropriate action in a variety of activities related to civil and/or criminal appeals. Using multiple online databases to research state and federal statutes, legal and factual issues, and performing extensive and thorough legal research into the legislative history, and case precedent applicable to particular legal matters. With guidance, drafts correspondence and legal documents that coordinate actions with other Federal agencies or State and local jurisdictions that are associated with USAO-DC litigative activities. With guidance, drafts initial legal documents and correspondence which summarize and explain case file, depositions and/or interrogatories. Coordinates production of administrative records and responses to requests for discovery. Prepares and organizes voluminous material for production as discovery and for use in appeal. Identifies and locates missing information. Provides automated litigation assistance to attorneys as needed for appeals. Utilizes various software applications and graphics hardware such as scanners and plotters. Provides technical support, such as enlarging charts and photographs, duplicating tapes and videos, and marking exhibits. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. This is an excepted service appointment under the Pathways Recent Graduates Program. This appointment is a one year career development program. At the successful completion of the program requirements, you may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a Federal career or career-conditional appointment. For more information on the Pathways Program, please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/ Travel Required: Occasionally
Education
All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov Foreign Education Note: You may use foreign education to meet qualification requirements if you send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency in with your transcript. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
How you will be evaluated
Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If it is determined you meet minimum qualification requirements, you may be referred to the selecting official or if Veterans' Preference must be adjudicated, your application will be placed in one of three grouping categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified. Within each of these groupings, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles. All CP/CPS preference eligibles that meet minimum qualification and eligibility requirements will be included in the "Best Qualified" grouping. You will be rated on the following Competencies: Attention to Detail, Decision Making, Flexibility, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, and Stress Tolerance Go to OPM Website for the definition of each competency. The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete.