This is an excepted service appointment under the DOJ Pathways Recent Graduates Program. Position(s) MAY be converted to a term or permanent appointment if the following are met: 1) successful completion of at least 1 year of continuous service, 2) completion of at least 40 hours of formal interactive training, and 3) demonstration of successful job performance. A recent graduate converted to a term appointment may be subsequently converted non-competitively into a permanent position.
Summary
This is an excepted service appointment under the DOJ Pathways Recent Graduates Program. Position(s) MAY be converted to a term or permanent appointment if the following are met: 1) successful completion of at least 1 year of continuous service, 2) completion of at least 40 hours of formal interactive training, and 3) demonstration of successful job performance. A recent graduate converted to a term appointment may be subsequently converted non-competitively into a permanent position.
If this is your first appointment in the Federal service, your salary will be set at Step 1 of the grade.
Recent Graduates are on a trial period for the duration of the program. An Individual Development Plan (IDP) must be completed and approved by the supervisor within 45 days of appointment and a mentor must be assigned within 90 days of appointment.
As a Paralegal Specialist (Recent Graduate) your responsibilities may include:
Conducting cite checks pursuant to The Bluebook; proofreading and editing legal briefs and memoranda prior to filing in court; and ensuring conformance of documents to applicable court rules.
Performing document management, including creating and maintaining litigation databases.
Providing assistance in preparation for court appearances, including managing exhibits, documents and logistics.
Organizing and writing synopses of factual materials; summarizing depositions; preparing, organizing and indexing administrative records; and preparing non-legal memoranda.
Performing research in various legal databases including Westlaw, Pacer and Lexis.
You must complete a background investigation to include drug testing.
Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
You will be required to serve a one year trial period.
You must maintain a bank account for direct deposit of salary.
If you do not submit school transcripts, you will be rated ineligible.
Qualifications
To be eligible for this Recent Graduate program, one of the following requirements must be met:
Recent graduates must have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associate, bachelor, master, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution. You must have completed your degree or certificate on or before the end of the current semester. If you graduated prior to October2017, you will not be eligible for this position.
Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply.
Note: Current students may apply if they are in the final semester of degree/certificate program. You must include your expected date of graduation on your resume. You must receive your degree prior to appointment. If you are currently a student but cannot provide proof that you expect to graduate by the end of the current semester, you will not meet the program eligibility requirements for the Recent Graduate.
To qualify for this position at GS-7, you must have one of the following:
A. At least one year of specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-5 Federal grade level providing litigation support in a legal environment. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to, using litigation software to identify documents potentially relevant to litigation cases or maintaining legal databases used to track the production and receipt of documents; OR
B. A bachelor's degree and Superior Academic Achievement (See below); OR
C. One full year of graduate level education that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work; OR
D. A combination of education and specialized experience, that together meet 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.
Superior Academic Achievement: This provision applies to persons who have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university as evidenced by one of three methods described below (within a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled):
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.
Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their 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. Grade-point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9.
Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies.
To qualify for the Paralegal Specialist (Recent Graduate) GS-9, applicants must have one of the following:
A. One year of specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-7 Federal grade level or above conducting research online, interpreting relevant information, and producing written products based on that research. This experience must also include using computer software applications to organize and manage information; OR
B. Master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR two (2) full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.B. or J.D. Qualifying education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position; OR
C. A combination of graduate education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. (Only graduate education in excess of the first full year may be used in this calculation.)
Applicants are required to submit a writing sample. Please provide a 5-10 page double spaced sample for which you are the primary author. This can include papers, or portions of papers, submitted for classes or writing assignments done for a previous employer.
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 skill and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
YOUR RESUME MUST support your responses to the online questionnaire. Failure to provide support may result in an ineligible rating. Your latest resume submitted for this vacancy announcement will be used to determine qualifications and supersedes previous submissions.
YOUR RESUME MUST provide specific details as to how your experience meets the specialized experience as described in the vacancy announcement if you are using experience to meet all or part of the qualification requirements. Please ensure that your resume includes the month and year that you began and ended each position held or that position will not be credited toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. Failure to provide details will result in an ineligible rating.
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
Do not include the following types of information in your profile or resume:
Classified or government sensitive information
Social Security Number (SSN)
Photos of yourself
Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
Encrypted and digitally signed documents
Education
All academic degrees and coursework 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 www.ed.gov
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. 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 https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to or claim veteran preference (VP), you should indicate the type of veteran preference (5 or 10 points) you are claiming on your resume. In order to determine your eligibility, you can find additional information at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/
To verify your veteran preference entitlement, submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214; 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. 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 reserve side of the SF-15, Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference. 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 in addition to the supporting documentation required and identified on the reverse side of the SF-15. If you fail to do so, you will receive consideration as a non-veteran.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Additional information is found at: www.sss.gov
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.
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 Quality Rating and Selection Procedures. Your résumé 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.
Note - 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, your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.
Your application must demonstrate your ability to perform the following competencies (knowledge, skills, and other characteristics):
Applies Technology to Tasks
Legal, Government and Jurisprudence
Writing
Please Note: Additional candidates may be selected if more positions in the Division become available within 90 days after the HR office issues the selection certificate.
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.
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.
Resumé demonstrating relevant experience and dates the experience was obtained (cover letter optional).
A 5-10 page double spaced Writing Sample for which you are the primary author.
Veterans preference documentation, if applicable (DD-214 Member Copy 4; VA Letter).
An unofficial transcript showing degree completion and graduation date is required.
Your online responses to the Occupational Questionnaire.
Your resumé MUST include full employment information such as periods of employment with Month/Year started and ended, title of position(s), and FT or PT. If employment is PT, indicate PT hours worked. If you have Federal employment, you must include the grade of the position(s).
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
You must apply online through USAJOBS. Follow the prompts to register, answer a few questions, and submit all required documents by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.
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/
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Office of Human Resources using the contact information listed below.
Wildlife and Marine Resources Section
150 M Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the recruitment process has been completed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We expect to make a final job offer within 80 days after the closing date of the announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Resumé demonstrating relevant experience and dates the experience was obtained (cover letter optional).
A 5-10 page double spaced Writing Sample for which you are the primary author.
Veterans preference documentation, if applicable (DD-214 Member Copy 4; VA Letter).
An unofficial transcript showing degree completion and graduation date is required.
Your online responses to the Occupational Questionnaire.
Your resumé MUST include full employment information such as periods of employment with Month/Year started and ended, title of position(s), and FT or PT. If employment is PT, indicate PT hours worked. If you have Federal employment, you must include the grade of the position(s).
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
You must apply online through USAJOBS. Follow the prompts to register, answer a few questions, and submit all required documents by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.
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/
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Office of Human Resources using the contact information listed below.
Wildlife and Marine Resources Section
150 M Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the recruitment process has been completed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We expect to make a final job offer within 80 days after the closing date of the announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
