Duties

The Litigation, Adjudication, and Enforcement Branch represents the Commission in the U.S. District Courts, Bankruptcy Courts, Courts of Appeals, and various administrative bodies including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Merit Systems Protection Board, and Federal Service Impasses Panel. It also assists the Solicitor General in representing the Commission before the U.S. Supreme Court. OGC litigation staff represents the Commission in appeals of enforcement actions, challenges to agency actions, derivatives-industry bankruptcies, employment lawsuits, other administrative litigation, and as amicus curiae in a range of matters. The Branch reviews draft regulations, releases, and other proposed agency actions for litigation risk, including but not limited to compliance with the Administrative Procedures Act and Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) provisions such as the requirement that the Commission consider the costs and benefits of many of its actions. The Branch advises the Commission on its adjudication function.

As a Paralegal Specialist, the incumbent is primarily responsible for assisting attorneys in the Litigation, Adjudication, and Enforcement Branch. Typical duties include:

• Assists attorneys in the preparation of court filings by verifying and checking legal citations (cite-checking) and legal references in prepared legal documents and preparing tables of contents and authorities. Proofreads briefs, pleadings, memoranda, opinions and other documents; drafts legal instruments such as certificates of service, transmittal letters and cover memoranda.
• Contracts with outside vendors for copying and binding of legal briefs and appendices. Arranges timely delivery of legal documents to courts and tribunals.
• Reviews incoming bankruptcy notices to determine whether the Commission has an interest in the bankruptcy.
• Reviews and maintains email inbox for OGCecf@cftc.gov to ensure that all court notices reach the correct attorney.
• Receives and distributes incoming mail; reviews incoming documents for necessary response, if any.
• Makes travel arrangements for staff members; ensures that authorizations and vouchers are completed in an accurate and timely manner.
• Utilizes data management and litigation support systems (i.e. Practice Manager, Relativity, Case Map, Pacer, and Lexis and Westlaw) to locate, organize and categorize exhibits, appendices, administrative records and other documents as needed for court filings.
• Utilizes OGC's Elaw case management system to review, store, index, and search electronic copies of documents obtained in the course of investigations and litigation. Maintains case files and corrects file deficiencies or discrepancies.
• Devises filing systems or docket tracking systems as needed to increase efficiency of the Branch.
• Independently reviews case files maintained in hard copy to determine which files are eligible to be retired to off-side document storage area; prepares files; and supervises the preparation of files for retirement to off-site storage facilities.
• Performs legal research or retrieval of legislative history, precedent cases, decisions, and opinions, regulations, policies, procedures, case law, Internet sites, etc., to provide assistance to staff attorneys in the development of legal matters. References may include but are not limited to the Commodity Exchange Act and Commission Regulations. Based on information found during research, prepares legal summaries or compiles resources to be used in litigation, pending approval by the assigned attorney.
• Ensures that records are accurate, and readily available for staff to use during their investigations and litigation.
• As needed and available, assists other units of OGC by researching and analyzing legal issues; assuring accuracy and consistency in legal documents prepared by the office, cite checking and proofreading briefs, pleadings, memoranda, opinions and other documents; drafting legal instruments such as certificates of service, transmittal letters and cover memoranda.
• Prepare correspondence and memoranda requiring minimal or no edits.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship
• Background/Security Investigation
• May be required to serve a probationary/trial period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to time-in-grade requirements, if applicable

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency (knowledge, skills and abilities) in the following areas:

How You Will Be Evaluated

• 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.

  You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:

  • Resume showing all relevant and related experience (cover letter optional). If selected, your resume will be used to determine your initial pay setting decision;
  • Performance appraisal (optional);
  • Transcripts (if required, an unofficial copy is accepted for application package, but an official copy with date degree was awarded is required prior to firm offer letter being extended);

  Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to veteran preference, you should indicate the type of veteran preference you are claiming on your resume. In order to verify your veteran preference entitlement, please submit a copy of your veteran's documentation including a DD-214 (member 4 copy preferred, however, the documentation provided must contain dates and character of service); 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. In addition, if you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the natural mother of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, “Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference,” and the other required documentation identified on the reverse side of the SF-15 to support your preference claim. Although veteran preference points are not assigned under the category rating procedures described under “How You Will Be Evaluated,” veteran preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-veterans within each category for which they are qualified.

  Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): The ICTAP provides eligible displaced federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates 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 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 score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at:
  http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.ICTAP

  Candidates MUST submit:
  1. A copy of their agency reduction-in-force notice;
  2. A copy of your most recent Performance Rating;
  3. A copy of your most recent SF-50 noting current or last position held, the grade level, and the duty location; and
  4. A copy of your notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local
  commuting area or documentation showing you were separated as a result of RIF or declining a directed reassignment or
  transfer of function outside the local commuting area.

  Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): Provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the CFTC with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If CFTC 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 rate equivalent to the Well Qualified or better category using established rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.

  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

  YOU MUST APPLY ONLINE: Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. You must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at USAJOBS.GOV. To begin, click the Apply Online button within the vacancy announcement and follow the prompts to create an account using LOGIN.GOV, if you have not done so already. LOGIN.GOV will walk you through each step of the account set-up and will automatically link your USAJOBS profile to LOGIN.GOV. Once you have established an account using LOGIN.GOV, you will then go back to USAJOBS.GOV using your LOGIN.GOV username and password to answer the questions and submit all required documents. If you already have established an LOGIN.GOV account or want to return to your saved application, go to USAJOBS.GOV using your LOGIN.GOV username and password to apply or view your profile. If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or phone at 1-866.656.6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST.

  To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

  Agency contact information

  Steven Inneh

  Phone

  202-418-5347

  Fax

  202-418-5521

  Email

  sinneh@cftc.gov

  Address

  Commodity Futures Trading Commission
  CFTC
  Three Lafayette Centre
  1155 21 Street, NW
  Washington, District of Columbia 200581
  United States

  Next steps

  For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
  Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

• 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

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all US Citizens.