Paralegal Specialist (Financial Litigation)

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Alabama is seeking a qualified candidate to join the Financial Litigation Program. The role involves enforcing criminal and civil judgments within the jurisdiction. Responsibilities Organize and prepare research material and determine information that is pertinent to the case. Prepare draft on a variety of legal documents, e.g., complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, and subpoenas. Monitor the progress of pending cases and initiate action to ensure that legal pleadings, forms, reports, correspondence, and other documents are prepared and submitted within established deadlines. Creating and maintaining accurate debt collection files and computer records for each debt assigned. Making recommendations and preparing documents for appropriate enforcement remedies, payment plans, debt compromise proposals, writeoffs of both civil and criminal judgments. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre‑employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period. Time‑in‑Grade: Federal employees must meet time‑in‑grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position. GS-7 Qualifications To be eligible at the GS-7 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following: Specialized Experience, Education, or a Combination of Education and Experience. Specialized Experience : One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience drafting a variety of legal documents and correspondence; assisting in trial preparation by compiling, organizing, and indexing various evidentiary exhibits; reviewing legal documents to extract information related to specific issues; verifying citations and statutory references contained in legal documents; and utilizing various computerized database programs to organize extensive documents. Education : Successful completion of one (1) full year of progressively higher level graduate education (18 semester hours or the number of units your school uses to describe one graduate year of academic study) in related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law) leading to a master’s degree or bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement. Superior academic achievement is as follows: standing in the upper third of your graduating class or major subdivision or membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies or grade point average. Applicants must have a grade point average of: (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (“B” or better) or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (“B+” or better). Combining Education and Experience : Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. To qualify based on a combination, a combination of specialized experience and graduate-level education as described above, which when combined equal 100% of the requirements. The sum of the percentages must equal at least 100%. GS-9 Qualifications To be eligible at the GS-9 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following: Specialized Experience, Education, or a Combination of Education and Experience. Specialized Experience : One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience examining and processing a variety of legal documents; conducting research, analysis and evaluation of data in response to complex or sensitive requests; drafting briefs, pleadings, litigation recommendations, or other legal documents and correspondence; using a variety of electronic or manual filing systems to acquire and store information; documenting findings and preparing recommendations; searching and reviewing legal references, case files, and other sources for information and data required by attorneys or court personnel. Education : One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law): a Master’s or equivalent graduate degree (such as an LL.B. or J.D.); or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university. Combining Education and Experience : A combination of specialized experience and graduate education which when combined equal 100% of the requirements. (Only graduate education in excess of 1 full year is creditable.) ICTAP The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Eligible employees may receive selection priority if the vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility, you apply under the instructions in the announcement, and you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. Proof of eligibility must be provided, such as a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or your separation personnel action form. Additional information at: CTAP The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Eligible employees may receive selection priority if the vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. Proof of eligibility must be provided, such as a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information at: VEOA Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures. To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three or more years of continuous active military service. Special Employment Consideration Persons with disabilities, veterans with a compensable service‑connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the armed forces, and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for non‑competitive appointments. Applicants must specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility. Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities Links 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 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. Documentation must be in English or include an English translation. Additional Information Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. 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. See Reasonable Accommodation Statement Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case‑by‑case basis. EEO Statement/Policy The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non‑merit factor. More information can be found here: Political Appointees (Current or Former) The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non‑Career SES employees in the Executive Branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non‑Career SES employee, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. #J-18808-Ljbffr