Paralegal Specialist (Recent Graduate)

This is an excepted service appointment under the Department of Justice Pathways Recent Graduate Program. After successful completion of the program requirements, the individual may, at agency discretion, be converted to a term or permanent appointment. A recent grad converted to a term appointment may be subsequently converted non-competitively into a permanent competitive service position before the term expires. There is no degree requirement for this position. As described in the Qualifications, you must be a recent graduate in order to be eligible for this position. Paralegal Specialist (Recent Graduate) positions are available in the following sections of the Criminal Division:

• Appellate Section (APP): APP defends the integrity and constitutionality of federal criminal investigations and prosecutions. Appellate Section attorneys litigate cases in the Supreme Court and the federal courts of appeals, in collaboration with the Office of the Solicitor General, other components of the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys' Offices throughout the country.
• Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP): HRSP protects the American public and U.S. interests from serious threats to public safety, border security, immigration systems, and individual rights by prosecuting: (1) leaders and members of criminal networks and cartels responsible for proli?c transnational alien smuggling, human traf?cking, and related immigration fraud crimes; (2) individuals and enterprises implicated in other human traf?cking offenses involving forced labor, sex trafficking, and related coercion-based trafficking crimes; (3) persons who have committed human rights violations including genocide, torture, war crimes, and other atrocities, including those who ?ee to the United States seeking safe harbor after committing such crimes or who commit immigration fraud by concealing their past crimes; and (4) persons who committed violent crime abroad where a U.S. citizen is a victim or perpetrator. As part of its mission, HRSP helps lead Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA).
• Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF): MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who conceal profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees who violate money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act, and sanctions laws; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
• Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS): VCRS is a specialized group of prosecutors charged with developing and implementing strategies to disrupt and dismantle regional, national and international gangs and organized crime groups. VCRS, in partnership with United States Attorney's Offices, prosecutes significant Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO), Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (VICAR) and violent crime cases against the most dangerous criminal groups in the U.S.

This vacancy includes a Selective Placement Factor. Please see below for more information.

As a Paralegal Specialist (Recent Graduate), you may perform duties such as:

• Providing support to senior Paralegals and Section Attorneys by identifying and evaluating applicable cases, law, and regulations pertaining to criminal cases, policies, and issues.
• Assisting senior Paralegals in preparing memoranda and litigation reports in connection with legal issues, summarizing the allegations, facts, results of investigations and recommending disposition of particular cases.
• Assisting senior Paralegal Specialists and Section Attorneys in their assigned investigations, trials, appeals, and/or special projects.
• Producing work products that are well written, clear, and free of errors.
• Assisting in preparing and organizing trial exhibits such as statistical charts, graphs, and maps to be presented in court.
• Assisting attorneys with case management, including follow-up, scheduling, and use of electronic tools for data and time management.
• Handling other duties such as cite checking using Bluebook, as well as other citation and style requirements for legal writing; documentation preparation, management, and transmission; trial support utilizing courtroom technology; legal and other research utilizing electronic databases.

To be eligible for this recent graduate position, one of the following requirements must be met:

1. Recent graduates who have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution. (Current students may apply if they are in their final semester, with a graduation date of Summer 2026. Include your expected graduation date on your resume and provide current transcripts. You must receive your degree prior to appointment.)
2. Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply.

To qualify at the GS-07 grade level, applicants must have one of the following:

• A bachelor's degree AND meet one of the following provisions for Superior Academic Achievement: (1) A standing in the upper third of your college class or major subdivision (e.g., school of business) 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 2 years of your 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 two years of your undergraduate curriculum; or (4) Election to membership in one of the national honorary societies (other than freshman societies); OR
• One (1) full academic year of graduate level education; OR
• One (1) year of specialized experience at, or equivalent to the GS-05 grade level. Examples of specialized experience must include duties such as: gathering and preparing legal paperwork; providing a wide range of legal support or administrative services; skill in communicating with others to exchange information; and performing research to provide background information or analysis; OR
• Combination of education and experience may also be used to qualify. Please note, only education in excess of a completed undergraduate degree may be used in this calculation.

To qualify at the GS-09 grade level, applicants must have one of the following:

• Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree, LL.B, J.D., or equivalent degree that demonstrates the competencies needed to do the work of the position may be substituted for the experience required; OR
• At least one year of specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-07 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: conducting legal research; writing legal reports, to include summarizing factual information, legal issues, and case law relevant to a given case; and assisting with the preparation of exhibits, such as statistical charts, graphs and maps, to be presented in court; OR
• A combination of education and experience as listed below. Please note, only education in excess of one year of graduate education may be used in this calculation.

Selective Placement Factor: To qualify for this position at the GS-09/11 grade level, applicants must be proficient in English writing. Applicants' proficiency in (English) writing will be assessed through an online (USA Hire) writing assessment. Applicants who do not display a minimum level of proficiency on the USA Hire Writing Assessment will be ineligible for further consideration.

Combination of Education and Experience - Your current education completed is credited as a percentage of the education required for the grade level and your current experience is credited as a percentage of the total experience required for the grade level. The two percentages are added and must equal 100% in order to qualify for the desired grade level.

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.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For more information about this requirement, please visit the U.S. Department of Education website for Foreign Education Evaluation. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.