Civil Rights Paralegal II Supporting the US Attorney's Office

FSA Federal (FSA) is focused on delivering unsurpassed services in support of law enforcement and homeland security. We currently have a potential vacancy for a Civil Rights Paralegal II. If you are looking for a meaningful, mission driven career, Join FSA!

Responsibilities

• The Civil Rights Paralegal and Community Liaison/Outreach Coordinator will develop a program that will provide information, give presentations, and arrange training for federal and state agencies, organizations, community partners, and individuals regarding awareness of civil rights statutes and violations.
• Participates in the planning and implementation of District programs and initiatives. Work involves coordinating, facilitating, advising, and participating in the design, development, and operation of the programs. The Community Liaison/Outreach Coordinator maintains communication with program participants, facilitates meetings, and provides operational support. Participates in outreach programs including, but not limited to:
  
  • Multi-Cultural Advisory Committee
  • Muslim outreach
  • Project Safe Childhood
  • Project Safe Neighborhoods
  • Violence reduction initiatives
  • Private sector outreach in areas such as intellectual property and cyber security
  • Drug demand reduction
  • Community capacity building
  • Re-entry initiatives
  • Public information
  
  
  
• The Community Liaison/Outreach Coordinator targets advises, and assists with the implementation of specific outreach strategies including in person and web based.
• Briefs the United States Attorney, Civil Chief and ACR AUSA, and Public Affairs Office on matters affecting community outreach issues impacting the USAO. Provides short and long term program objective recommendations to this group based on identified needs of individual groups throughout the District. Coordinates information publicity concerning grant invitations and awards, and facilitates grant applications by target organizations. Further, this position represents the United States Attorney in meetings dealing with community outreach activities. Outreach activities to build relationships similar to the following examples:
  • identify and work with Human Rights Commissions
  • Identify Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) contacts and state agency contacts who receive complaints of discrimination.
  • Identify civil rights advocacy groups and service providers who are interfacing with individuals and families in need and increase dialogues about pattern and practice-related criteria.
  • As appropriate, participate in activities and coalitions that promote peace, respect and mutual understanding.
  • Create opportunities for regular engagement with a range of stakeholders.
  • Contact other federal, state, and local government agencies which perform civil rights work in Oregon.
  • Offer to attend meetings of consumers of the organizations' services or to present to those groups.
  • Offer to speak, participate in programs or panels run by community organizations, other governmental agencies.
  • Develop a power point presentation about your practice, with illustrative cases and newspaper clippings.
  • Develop a brochure which you can hand out at meetings, events
  • Put together a day-long or half-day program with speakers, focusing on a particular issue, have panel discussions and a keynote with your U.S. Attorney.
  
  
  
  
  
• Maintains calendars, composes letters that do not require legal interpretations, but good knowledge of the cases and terminology, receives and logs phone calls and visitors and escorts them as needed in the office
• Support assignments of this nature involve the form, content and issues of legal instruments and documents, and the steps and procedures involved in processing, storing, and retrieving legal actions and legal information pertaining to the activities of the USAO.
• The Civil Rights Paralegal and Community Liaison/Outreach Coordinator position serves as the first point of contact for community members. They will provide professional support in the intake, documentation, and preliminary evaluation of civil rights complaints, gather relevant information, clarify concerns, and determine eligibility for investigation. They will screen complaints for jurisdictional eligibility and refer as appropriate to other agencies. The Specialist will coordinate with Civil Rights at DOJ Main Justice on case management and litigative support and assists in the investigative process by compiling evidence and coordinating case flow. They serve as the contact person for assigned cases and provide information and assistance concerning status or relevant procedural issues. Exercises discretion and judgment in determining what information may be provided and to whom.
• Utilizes a variety of automated legal research tools as well as public information databases and other automated resources to research case- or program-specific legal matters, and to participate in assigned areas of civil proceedings, and check citations
• Provides timely litigative case management and organizes cases for electronic court presentation by preparing and organizing exhibits containing a variety of visual material, e.g., statistical charts and photographs. Notes deficiencies in case materials, e.g., missing documents, conflicting statements, and request further investigation by investigative personnel to correct deficiencies or personally works with USAO staff to resolve deficiencies in the pre-trial stage.
• This position will assist civil rights investigators in gathering evidence and writing reports to support the litigation mission.
• Prepares and maintains various electronic discovery and logs, evidence exhibits and lists and a variety of trial-related documents including witness testimony and develops and compiles jury instructions to assist AUSA with trial prep. May assist USAO staff in depositions, hearings, and trials.
• The position will support agency disability appellate work.
• Support for general civil litigation as needed, but not to exceed 25% of workload.

Requirements

• Accredited college baccalaureate or higher degree required with at least 2 years' experience in civil litigation.
• One year of experience in outreach preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software programs (i.e. Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Publisher, Teams, and Outlook). The incumbent is required to type at least 40 words per minute.
• Applicant must possess knowledge of generally accepted investigative principles, techniques, and procedures.
• Ability to use, understand, and maintain directories, spreadsheets, and other guides and references to provide a variety of information on the office and to refer questions to appropriate contacts when necessary.
• Ability to research and understand state and federal civil rights statutes, guidelines, and policies.
• Ability to create technical documents that are grammatically correct, easy to follow and adhere to a standard format. This includes drafting internal memorandums describing investigatory facts and findings and discussing relevant law to seek approval for further investigation, litigation, and/or settlement; drafting settlement agreements; and drafting Notice Letters and other correspondence.
• Ability to recognize, develop, and present evidence that reconstructs events, sequences, and time elements and establishes relationships, responsibilities, and liability in a manner that meets the requirements of law.
• Knowledgeable about rules of evidence, and the constitutional rights of individuals
• Ability to create correctly formatted legal documents and file documents in the federal court system.
• Assist attorneys and staff in conducting site visits.
• Fielding and logging phone calls and questions from the public seeking information about our civil rights enforcement efforts or wishing to file a civil rights complaint.
• Conducting initial interviews of civil rights complainants.
• Coordinating with DOJ Civil Rights Division regarding new case referrals and joint investigations.
• Research expert consultants and witnesses to hire to prove allegations.
• Conduct external outreach activities to build relationships with governmental and community organizations. This includes organizing and attending: individual meetings, roundtables, listening sessions, working groups, coalitions, task forces, public awareness campaigns, and training events.
• Develop approved civil rights presentation for different audiences and identify opportunities to deliver them.
• Provides a variety of legal assistance and technical work requiring specialized knowledge of processes, procedures, and practices to support legal activities.
• Skill in operating automated document processing equipment and audio-visual equipment (i.e. photocopiers, printers, fax machines, binding machines, projectors, microphones, etc.).
• Reliable transportation.

This position requires U.S. Citizenship and a 7 (or 10) year minimum background investigation.

Agency Overview
United States Attorney's Office (USAO) is staffed with Victim-Witness personnel who provide direct support and services to victims and witnesses of federal crime. Victim-Witness personnel play an integral role in facilitating the participation and cooperation of victims and witnesses throughout the federal judicial system. In addition to affording rights and providing services to victims pursuant to the Crime Victims' Rights Act (CVRA) and other federal law, Victim-Witness personnel are responsible for witness management.


Benefit Overview
At FSA Federal, we recognize the diverse needs of our employees and strive to provide an excellent package to help meet those needs. Comprehensive benefits are offered with greater choice and flexibility to support your health, work-life balance, and professional growth. A package providing employee only coverage can be built around our basic plans at $0 employee cost for: Medical, Dental, Vision, Term Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Employee Assistance Program. For more information, click here.