Paralegal Specialist (Financial Litigation)

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 applicants eligible to apply through Merit Staffing procedures under 26-MN-12978172-MS. This job does not have an education qualification requirement. If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for enforcement and collection of criminal and civil debts both in pre-and post-judgement status. Typical work assignments will include:

• Independently manage complex financial litigation cases. Serve as the primary contact person for cases assigned and provide information and technical assistance concerning status and relevant issues.
• Analyze and document a defendant's ability to pay by reviewing financial statements, interviewing defendants, employers and others and conducting asset investigations.
• Enforce civil and criminal judgments. Determine the appropriate action to take to collect judgments based on agency policies and controlling state and federal statutes.
• Evaluate cases referred to the United States Attorney's Office (USAO) for litigation by client agencies. Advise the Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) on whether a case has merit for litigation based on agency and USAO standards.
• Assist AUSAs pre-judgment by evaluating issues related to restitution and using sound financial reasoning skills to support restitution determinations.
• Prepare a variety of substantive legal documents to include complaints, motions, foreclosures, garnishments, settlement agreements, and other legal actions to effect necessary pre-judgment and post-judgment action regarding debts owed to the United States. Upon approval, independently process documents and perform necessary follow-up.
• Perform in-depth research of statutes, legislative history, case law, administrative decisions, and Federal regulations on technical issues related to financial litigation cases.
• Assist AUSAs throughout the case by briefing them on pertinent facts, issues, and case law, and by compiling and organizing volumes of documents and information for effective use by the AUSA in negotiation or in court.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. To qualify for the GS-12 level, applicants must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in Federal service or equivalent paid/nonpaid experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience includes the following: managing financial litigation cases; examining and processing a variety of legal and financial documents; independently conduct research, analysis and evaluation of data; documenting findings and making sound recommendations to Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) or attorneys; drafting briefs, pleadings, litigation recommendations or other legal documents and correspondence; using electronic and manual filing systems; and searching and reviewing legal references, case files, and other sources of information and data required by attorneys or court personnel.

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/.

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 http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.