Paralegal Specialist

Summary

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/ As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. This position is also being announced to All U.S. Citizens and Nationals under 26-OKN-13052175-DE

Duties

• If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for researching, developing and writing final-form motions, legal memoranda, civil briefs and other pleadings for the Northern District of Oklahoma. Typical work assignments will include: Discussing relevant facts, legal issues and case strategy with attorneys. Researching and analyzing case facts, and principles of law, demonstrating proficiency with Westlaw, Lexis CaseLink, and other DJ and internet resources. Completing background work required, including obtaining necessary reports and recordings. Identifying legal and factual issues in motions and briefs, including threshold legal issues, such as timeliness, standing, and jurisdiction. Preparing draft pleadings in consultation with attorneys for review and filing. Filing briefs for attorneys, using familiarity with district court and Tenth Circuit rules, filing procedures, and deadlines. Providing a variety of litigative support services by researching, interpreting, and applying relevant statutes and caselaw. Assisting trial teams in preparing for hearings and trials, including mooting arguments, conducting time-critical research projects, and preparing bench briefs. Creating and maintaining research files and brief bank. Reviewing and editing district court pleadings and appellate briefs for consistency and clarity, checking legal citations, and correcting typographical, formatting, and substantive errors. Properly applying proper format, style, and correct citations in compliance with the USAO's style memorandum, the local rules of the Northern District Court and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Bluebook. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Qualifications

GS-11:To be eligible at the GS-11 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-9 level. Specialized Experience is defined as experience performing a variety of analytical paralegal or legal work which demonstrates a practical knowledge of law, the litigation and judicial process, and applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Examples of specialized experiences may include the following: analyzing and evaluating legal decisions and case files to identify relevant issues and potential evidence; conducting legal research concerning precedents and past court decisions; composing legal briefs, summaries of analyses and decisions, and pre-trial documents; interviewing witnesses and various individuals who can provide insight into cases under review; and preparing evidence and documents to support recommendations. Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law); a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M. 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 2 full years. To calculate your percentage of education, first determine the total number of hours that exceed 36 semester hours or your school's definition of two full years of study. Then divide the total number of your excess semester hours by 18 or your school's definition of one year of study. To calculate your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by 12. Now, add the two percentages together. The sum of the percentages must equal at least 100%. GS-12: To be eligible you must meet the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS11 grade level. Specialized experience is conducting legal research and writing to perform extensive and thorough research; understanding, analyzing, and evaluating facts and legal issues, and applying applicable law, regulations, and policies, exercising independent judgment, clearly presenting complex and interrelated concepts and ideas independently and without guidance or instruction. Knowledge of legal techniques and skills necessary to analyze both issues of fact and issues of law to summarize case decisions, evaluate the applicable of precedents, or draft briefs and other litigation papers. Oral and writing skills to effectively advocate the government's position by presenting facts and legal arguments in a logical, lucid, and persuasive manner and to provide guidance and assistance to professional and support staff on district court and civil matters. 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: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

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.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. 1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. 2. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. (It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date.) 3. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, please click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13052176 You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you are unable to apply online, contact Jonathan Fairchild at [email protected] or 918-382-2738 as soon as possible to arrange an alternative application process. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/16/2026 to receive consideration. Keep a copy of your proof of submission in the event verification is needed. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.