Paralegal or Assistant Paralegal

Position Description

Requirements . To qualify for the position of paralegal, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or have a paralegal certificate from an accredited paralegal program. Spanish-language fluency is required. Candidates must also possess:

A strong legal, administrative, or paralegal background Excellent organization and communication skills Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, Excel, word processing, legal research tools using Westlaw and Lexis, and database coding, search, and maintenance Excellent command of English grammar and spelling Three to five years of relevant experience, preferably managing complex litigation and/or voluminous case files Experience as a paralegal performing progressively responsible paralegal duties

To qualify for the position of assistant paralegal, candidates must be a high school graduate or the equivalent and have at least two years of paralegal or comparable experience, or an educational substitute. Candidates must also possess:

A working knowledge of law office operations, legal practices, methods and techniques, mental health issues, and legal system An understanding of paralegal and secretarial duties in a legal environment The skill and judgment in the analysis of assignments A general understanding of office confidentiality issues, such as attorney/client privilege An understanding of criminal law, criminal procedure, and evidence Experience as an assistant paralegal performing progressively responsible paralegal duties The skills and ability to execute the duties of the position The ability to work collegially Integrity, character, and good judgment

Duties. The paralegal or assistant paralegal performs legal and administrative duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents that include researching legal issues, drafting motions and orders, and maintaining electronic case files and databases. Paralegals support the assistant federal public defenders by performing duties that include assisting with case file management; gathering, organizing, summarizing, and indexing of electronic and paper documents and other discovery materials. Paralegals also assist attorneys at hearings and trials; with client contact; with expert and witness interviews; with litigation support services using advanced software programs; and other duties as assigned. The full position qualifications statement with position description is available upon request.

Selection Criteria. The successful candidate will have a working knowledge of law office operations, legal practices, methods and techniques, and an understanding of criminal law, procedure, and evidence. Prior federal court litigation experience is preferred. Employment is subject to a satisfactory background investigation, including but not limited to an FBI name and fingerprint check. 

Benefits

The starting salary of a paralegal will be com­mensurate with the experience and quali­fications of the applicant, within a range from JSP-11, Step 1, to JSP-14, Step 1, and currently yielding $72,553 to $122,198 per annum. The starting salary of an assistant paralegal will be commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the applicant, at JSP-9, Step 1, currently yielding $59,966 per annum. The position is in the excepted service and does not carry the tenure rights of the competitive Civil Service. This position offers federal government employment benefits, including participation in health and life insurance, retirement, and the Thrift Savings Plan. Salary is payable only by Electronic Funds Transfer (direct deposit).

---