Posted July 06, 2026
Paralegal Specialist
OPLA NEW YORK CITY
Phoenix, AZ
Full Time
Compensation: $43,106 to $99,404 Annually
Reference: OPLANEWYORKCITY874849700
Organizational Location: These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Legal Operations (Legal Ops) throughout the country.
This is a non-bargaining unit position. If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.
Special Instructions for 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. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. ICE OPLA is the largest legal department within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with more than 3,000 attorneys and 500 support staff working nationwide in 143 offices located within nine Regions throughout the United States. Pursuant to statute, OPLA serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review litigating cases involving criminal aliens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other priority aliens. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices.
Legal Operations (Legal Ops) paralegals assist OPLA attorneys who serve as agency counsel before the DOJ Executive Office for Immigration Review, in federal litigation, and on a robust and diverse client services portfolio. Legal Ops attorneys serve as the exclusive representatives of the U.S. Government in immigration proceedings before the 73 immigration courts and three adjudication centers nationwide, as well as the Board of Immigration Appeals. Legal Ops attorneys and paralegals support the U.S. Attorney's Offices nationwide in handling federal litigation pending in the U.S. District Courts, including petitions for writs of habeas corpus, motions for injunctive relief, and class action lawsuits. At the full performance level, OPLA Legal Ops paralegal responsibilities include:
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.
Legal Ops
Minimum Qualifications for GS-09: Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service that included experience such as:
Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify for the GS-09 level. To qualify based on education you must have:
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.
Minimum Qualifications for GS-11: Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service that included experience such as:
Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify for the GS-11 level. To qualify based on education you must have:
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.
Minimum Qualifications for GS-12: Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service that included experience such as:
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, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
This is a non-bargaining unit position. If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.
Special Instructions for 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. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. ICE OPLA is the largest legal department within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with more than 3,000 attorneys and 500 support staff working nationwide in 143 offices located within nine Regions throughout the United States. Pursuant to statute, OPLA serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review litigating cases involving criminal aliens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other priority aliens. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices.
Legal Operations (Legal Ops) paralegals assist OPLA attorneys who serve as agency counsel before the DOJ Executive Office for Immigration Review, in federal litigation, and on a robust and diverse client services portfolio. Legal Ops attorneys serve as the exclusive representatives of the U.S. Government in immigration proceedings before the 73 immigration courts and three adjudication centers nationwide, as well as the Board of Immigration Appeals. Legal Ops attorneys and paralegals support the U.S. Attorney's Offices nationwide in handling federal litigation pending in the U.S. District Courts, including petitions for writs of habeas corpus, motions for injunctive relief, and class action lawsuits. At the full performance level, OPLA Legal Ops paralegal responsibilities include:
- Researching laws, regulations, court decisions, opinions, legislative history, and other legal authorities and analyzing and applying such findings to support attorneys, including using automated legal research tools where appropriate.
- Assisting attorneys in preparing for and representing the United States Government in immigration proceedings before immigration judges or other tribunals, frequently involving evidentiary, procedural, and substantive issues in pending cases, and facilitating communication between attorneys and clients, witnesses, or other parties.
- Reviewing case-related documents for conformity with standardized formatting, grammar, legal citations, and practice manuals prior to signature and issuance by attorneys.
- Monitoring and updating databases and repositories using an electronic case management system or similar system.
- Assisting in preparing correspondence, motions, briefs, case summaries, and other written work product in draft and final form; and affidavits, discovery requests, responses, evidentiary packages, and other legal documents for immigration proceedings and federal litigation.
- Compiling, summarizing, and analyzing case information, statistics, or other relevant data for attorneys or to support leadership's decision-making and performance tracking.
- Managing calendars, deadlines, and other logistical aspects of legal work.
- Other duties as assigned.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.
Legal Ops
Minimum Qualifications for GS-09: Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service that included experience such as:
- Drafting and editing memoranda, research reports, and/or correspondences relating to legal cases;
- Reviewing case materials;
- Preparing and organizing trial exhibits;
- Preparing summaries of testimony and depositions
Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify for the GS-09 level. To qualify based on education you must have:
- Master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR
- Two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D., if related
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.
Minimum Qualifications for GS-11: Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service that included experience such as:
- Analyzing cases related to immigration law;
- Assisting attorney's in case preparation by analyzing facts and legal questions;
- Classifying and interpreting data from a variety of sources related to immigration matters;
- Collecting, reviewing, and fact-finding supporting documentation for court proceedings
Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify for the GS-11 level. To qualify based on education you must have:
- Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR
- Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M., if related.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.
Minimum Qualifications for GS-12: Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service that included experience such as:
- Researching relevant legislation, regulations, case law, and policy;
- Preparing litigation reports in connection with lawsuits filed against an agency or organization;
- Reviewing, analyzing, and recommending appropriate responses on appeals;
- Evaluating evidence, facts, and circumstances relating to cases and make recommendations within the requirements of the law and regulations
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, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
