20 Paralegal Specialist Jobs in Washington, DC
US Offices, Boards and Divisions is Hiring a Paralegal Specialist Near Washington, DC
Duties
The Antitrust Division (Division) is seeking to fill entry-level, trainee Paralegal Specialist positions in our Washington, DC Office. Within the Division, Paralegal Specialists perform legal duties in support of attorneys engages in antitrust cases and matters. .
NOTE: This is a TERM appointment (not-to-exceed 4 years). Term appointments are non-status, non-permanent appointments of limited duration. Term employees are eligible to earn leave and generally have the same benefits as permanent employees including health and life insurance, within-grade increases and Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan coverage.
As a Paralegal Specialist, responsibilities of this position will include, but are not limited to:
- Performing legal or factual research and drafting memoranda using section or attorney files, library reference files, corporate records, private and governmental studies, case management programs, programs and document review platforms, and other pertinent sources, to supply needed factual information for inclusion in memoranda, briefs, and similar documents.
- Assisting attorneys and law enforcement partners in conducting interviews with investigative sources and prospective witnesses.
- Taking accurate notes during attorney proffers and witness interviews and preparing memoranda from those notes.
- Performing preliminary screening of electronic and hard copy substantive materials prior to review by attorneys.
- Preparing and organizing charts, graphs, and other materials to be used as exhibits in court.
- Preparing tables of contents, indexes, and tables of authorities for legal briefs, memoranda, and other such documents; reviewing and researching citations, footnotes, textual references, and other entries for accuracy.
- Preparing routine correspondence.
- Coordinating with a variety of external and internal personnel and traveling to trial, grand jury, deposition, and discovery sites, providing similar paralegal duties as described above.
Please note: Additional selections may be made from this announcement. Also, a writing sample and a combination of three to five business and academic references may be requested of individuals identified as best qualified, to be forwarded to the selecting official along with your application package, upon referral.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to be considered for this position.
- You must undergo a pre-employment security investigation.
- You will be required to take and successfully clear a drug test.
- You must submit a complete application package by the closing date of this announcement.
- SELECTIVE SERVICE: All male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must have registered for the selective service (see SSS.gov). If selected for this position, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.
- THESE POSITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FILLED IMMEDIATELY BUT NO LATER THAN AUGUST 26, 2024. CANDIDATES WHO MAY QUALIFY BASED ON EDUCATION MUST HAVE COMPLETED THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS BY JUNE 30, 2024.
- DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
- This is a bargaining unit position represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 3719, AFL-CIO.
- This position offers career mobility opportunities to qualified Legal Division/Office of Solicitor General employees, who are encouraged to apply.
- This is a full-time, non-supervisory term appointment in the competitive service that may be extended up to 4 years at the option of the agency, subject to a one-year trial period in accordance with 5 CFR 316.304.
- The Antitrust Division participates in the E-Verify program.
- Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized.
- Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.
Qualifications
EXPERIENCE: Must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to this position. To be credible, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level. Specialized experience may include:
Examples of qualifying specialized experience at the GS-5 level include:
- Developing, authorizing, or examining claims or applications that required resolving conflicting data and interpreting a body of laws, rules, regulations and policies.
- Preparing or reviewing contracts or other legal instruments for legal sufficiency and conformance with applicable laws.
- Selecting and analyzing information to determine the intent of statutes, treaties, and executive orders or legal decisions, opinions, and rulings.
- Investigating and analyzing evidence of alleged or suspected violations of laws or regulations.
EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION: One (1) full year of graduate level education (Transcripts Required)
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Must possess an equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described above that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this position. (Transcripts Required)
OR
SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT PROVISIONS:
- A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher for all completed undergraduate course work or for all courses completed in the last two full years of undergraduate work;
- A GPA of 3.5 or higher for all courses in the major field of study, or those courses in a major completed in the last two full years of undergraduate work;
- Rank in the upper one-third of a college, university, or major subdivision; or
- Membership in a national honor society or successful completion of one full year of graduate level study. (Transcripts Required)
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required.
Education
All academic degrees and course work must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see U.S. Department of Education website.
Applicants MUST submit copies of college transcripts or a list of college courses taken that identify for each course the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade and grade-point received. An unofficial transcript is acceptable to qualify, but it must include your full name and you may be asked to submit an official transcript prior to appointment, if you are selected.
Foreign Education*: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For more information about this requirement, please visit the U.S. Department of Education website for Foreign Education Evaluation
- All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
Additional information
The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is online.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over candidates from other agencies for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority over other applicants who are not employees of the Department of Justice if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is online.
Veterans' Preference: If you are entitled to or claim veterans' preference (VP), you should indicate the type of veterans' preference (5 or 10 points) you are claiming on your resume. In order to determine your eligibility, you can find additional information online.
NOTE: To verify your veterans' preference entitlement, please submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty; or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions. (1) If you are claiming 10-point preference, you must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 in addition to the supporting documentation required and identified on the reserves side of the SF-15, Application for 10 Point Veterans' Preference. (2) If you are claiming 10-point DERIVED PREFERENCE as a relative you must submit Member Copy 4 of the veteran's DD-214, and an SF-15, Application for 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the supporting documentation required and identified on the reverse side of this form. If you fail to do so, you will receive consideration as a non-veteran.
DOJ EEO Statement/Policy
OPM Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement
DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement
Veterans' Information
Legal and Regulatory Guidance
Benefits
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application will be evaluated and rated under DOJ's Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the basic qualifications for the position listed in this announcement. Please note: Basic qualifications will be determined based on a comparison of your resume against the quality and extent of experience or related education as reflected in the position requirements.
If you are found to be qualified for this position, your resume and supporting documentation will be further assessed and compared to the responses of your occupational/assessment questionnaire. The numeric rating you receive will be based on your responses to the questionnaire. The rating is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the competencies required for this position, and will determine the rank in which you place (Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Best Qualified). The "Best Qualified" candidates will be contacted to submit a job market paper or relevant writing sample prior to being referred for selection.
Candidates within the "Best Qualified" category who are eligible for veteran preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.
Your application will be further assessed based upon the following competencies:
- Educational Background;
- Work Experience;
- Social Organizations; and
- Mathematic Skills.
If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully as errors or omissions may affect your rating.
Benefits
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
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.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package which includes:
1. A copy of your resume or equivalent - Applicants will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of experience or related education as reflected in their resume and cover letter. Applicants are encouraged to ensure work experiences, as represented in their resume, clearly show the possession of knowledge of the subject matter pertinent to the position, and the competencies and technical skills to successfully perform the duties of the position. A cover letter is optional.
RESUME REQUIREMENTS: ALL APPLICANTS: you must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire. The federal government has very specific resume requirements. If you have not written a federal resume before, you may want to watch this Resume Writing Tutorialvideo on the USAJOBS YouTube channel, or read through a helpful Resume Writing FAQon the USAJOBS Help Site to learn what details you should, and should not, include in your resume. A CV (curriculum vitae) may not contain enough information to meet these resume requirements.- Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of each employer.
- For all types of work experience, you should indicate the start and end date (include month and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
- Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
3. A copy of your transcript - If you are qualifying based on education, or a combination of education and experience, you must submit a copy of your transcript.
4. Documentation of eligibility for special hiring authorities (if applicable) to prove appointment eligibility. Examples include Schedule A disability letter, Peace Corps volunteer letter and:- Documentation of eligibility for CTAP and ICTAP (if applicable) - You must provide written notification of your eligibility for CTAP and/or ICTAP; your most recent Performance Appraisal, and your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.
- Veterans' Preference Documentation (if applicable) - If you are a discharged, non-disabled veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character discharge (Member Copy-4), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
- If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, and 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
- If you are a disabled veteran, Purple Heart recipient, or mother or spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a completed SF-15 and all additional proof required by the SF-15, as applicable. If you don't have your Department of Veterans Affairs letter establishing proof of disability, you may request it online or call 1-800-827-1000.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 02/29/2024 to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
- Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
Please note: Applications mailed using government postage and/or internal federal government mailing systems are in violation of agency and postal regulations and will not be accepted.
These instructions outline our application process. You must complete the online application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, you must contact us by noon ET on the announcement's closing date. If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact the Human Resources Sectionby email at ATR.personnel@usdoj.gov or by phone at 202-514-2469 to obtain an alternative application.
If you require a reasonable accommodation for disability during any part of the application and hiring process, please contact Karen Jung by phone at 202-514-8885 or by email at Karen.Jung@usdoj.gov. The Antitrust Division provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. You must contact us by 5:00 p.m. ET on the announcement's closing date to request accommodation. Callers with hearing or speech impairment can access their state's telecommunications relay service (TRS) to make TTY calls by dialing 7-1-1. Ms. Jung is not the point of contact for questions about the vacancy announcement.
Paralegal positions are also being advertised in our Chicago, New York, and San Francisco Offices. If you are interested in being considered for these positions, please click here to access the announcement and apply.Agency contact information
Human Resources Section
Phone
202-514-2469
Email
ATR.personnel@usdoj.gov
Address
Antitrust Division
450 5th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20530
USNext steps
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the announcement closes, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications based on the application we receive. Ranking will be determined based on responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 30 to 60 days of the closing date of this announcement.
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Financial suitability
- Selective Service
- New employee probationary period
- Signature and false statements
- Privacy Act
- Social security number request
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package which includes:
1. A copy of your resume or equivalent - Applicants will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of experience or related education as reflected in their resume and cover letter. Applicants are encouraged to ensure work experiences, as represented in their resume, clearly show the possession of knowledge of the subject matter pertinent to the position, and the competencies and technical skills to successfully perform the duties of the position. A cover letter is optional.
RESUME REQUIREMENTS: ALL APPLICANTS: you must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire. The federal government has very specific resume requirements. If you have not written a federal resume before, you may want to watch this Resume Writing Tutorialvideo on the USAJOBS YouTube channel, or read through a helpful Resume Writing FAQon the USAJOBS Help Site to learn what details you should, and should not, include in your resume. A CV (curriculum vitae) may not contain enough information to meet these resume requirements.
- Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of each employer.
- For all types of work experience, you should indicate the start and end date (include month and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
- Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
3. A copy of your transcript - If you are qualifying based on education, or a combination of education and experience, you must submit a copy of your transcript.
4. Documentation of eligibility for special hiring authorities (if applicable) to prove appointment eligibility. Examples include Schedule A disability letter, Peace Corps volunteer letter and:
- Documentation of eligibility for CTAP and ICTAP (if applicable) - You must provide written notification of your eligibility for CTAP and/or ICTAP; your most recent Performance Appraisal, and your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.
- Veterans' Preference Documentation (if applicable) - If you are a discharged, non-disabled veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character discharge (Member Copy-4), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
- If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, and 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
- If you are a disabled veteran, Purple Heart recipient, or mother or spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a completed SF-15 and all additional proof required by the SF-15, as applicable. If you don't have your Department of Veterans Affairs letter establishing proof of disability, you may request it online or call 1-800-827-1000.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
This job is open to
Individuals with disabilities
Land & base management
Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.
Military spouses
Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
Special authorities
Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Veterans
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
Clarification from the agency
U.S. Citizens and Special Hiring Authorities.
Job Summary
Full Time
$75k-94k (estimate)
05/20/2023
05/23/2024
The job skills required for Paralegal Specialist include Legal Research, Organizing, Futures, Adobe, Document Review, Document Management, etc. Having related job skills and expertise will give you an advantage when applying to be a Paralegal Specialist. That makes you unique and can impact how much salary you can get paid. Below are job openings related to skills required by Paralegal Specialist. Select any job title you are interested in and start to search job requirements.
The following is the career advancement route for Paralegal Specialist positions, which can be used as a reference in future career path planning. As a Paralegal Specialist, it can be promoted into senior positions as a Paralegal III that are expected to handle more key tasks, people in this role will get a higher salary paid than an ordinary Paralegal Specialist. You can explore the career advancement for a Paralegal Specialist below and select your interested title to get hiring information.
If you are interested in becoming a Paralegal Specialist, you need to understand the job requirements and the detailed related responsibilities. Of course, a good educational background and an applicable major will also help in job hunting. Below are some tips on how to become a Paralegal Specialist for your reference.
Step 1: Understand the job description and responsibilities of an Accountant.
Quotes from people on Paralegal Specialist job description and responsibilities
Researches and analyzes law sources such as statutes, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles, treaties, constitutions, and legal codes.
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repares legal documents, such as briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, etc.
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Paralegal specialists provide assistance to lawyers and do many of the same jobs that lawyers do.
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Paralegals often study law and paralegal studies at a community college where they can get an associate degree. Others may have completed a bachelor’s degree and have received additional paralegal training working at a law firm.
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Step 2: Knowing the best tips for becoming an Accountant can help you explore the needs of the position and prepare for the job-related knowledge well ahead of time.
Career tips from people on Paralegal Specialist jobs
Utilize professional skills to research for trial or due diligence.
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Complete a Paralegal Certification (Recommended).
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Meet State-Level Paralegal Requirements (Optional).
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Gain Paralegal experience.
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Successful paralegals set aside great amounts of time to make their work flow smoother by organizing and making detailed duty lists.
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Step 3: View the best colleges and universities for Paralegal Specialist.
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