Paralegal Specialist

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit

This position is also being announced to applicants eligible to apply through Merit Staffing procedures under 26-NH-12950439-MS.

GS‑05

To be eligible at the GS‑5 level, you must meet at least one of the following conditions, as defined below: General experience, education, or a combination of education and experience.

General Experience: Three (3) years of general experience, one (1) year of which was equivalent to the GS‑04, that demonstrates the ability to:

1. Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions;
2. Plan and organize work; and
3. Communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Education: Four years of education above the high school level or a bachelor's degree in a closely related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law).

Combining Education and Experience: Successfully completed post‑high‑school education may be used to meet the total one year of specialized experience requirement equivalent to the GS‑4 level. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.

GS‑07

To be eligible at the GS‑7 level, you must meet at least one of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, or a Combination of Education and Experience.

Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑05 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: One full year of graduate level education in a related field (e.g. Criminal Justice, Law) leading to a Master's degree or higher. One year of full‑time graduate education is considered to be 18 semester hours.

Superior Academic Achievement: To be eligible for SAA you must have one of the following: 1. A standing in the upper third of your college class or major subdivision at the time you apply. 2. A grade point average of "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed; (a) at the time of application; or (b) during the last two years of undergraduate curriculum. 3. A "B+" (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed in a qualifying major field of study, either; (a) at the time of application; or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum. 4. Election to membership in one of the national honorary societies (other than freshman societies). Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 1 full year.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (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 the 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 receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility 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 at

Career Transition Assistance Plan (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. 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 receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at