Paralegal Specialist

Please see announcement on USAJOBS for available locations.

Organizational

Location:

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade, Regulations and Rulings, located in Washington, DC. Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

The CBP Office of Trade is the architect of the most robust customs system in the world and CBP is the second largest revenue source for the U.S. Government. We facilitate legitimate trade, enforce U.S. laws, and protect the American economy as well as consumer health and safety. Collaborating with industry and government partners, we create a fair, competitive, and safe trade environment, and we enforce U.S. trade law to protect national economic security.

Our expertise in the trade community allows us to lead the development of streamlined and efficient processes that provide certainty for legitimate importers, while combatting transnational crime.

This position starts at a salary of $ (GS-12, Step
1) to $ (GS-12, Step 10). GS Salary:
Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table. Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position. Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide comprehensive administrative and clerical support for all paralegal functions assisting attorney-advisors. Typical duties include:

• Conducting research and drafting a variety of administrative rulings and decisions.
• Assembling all relevant records and data relevant to that decision, and contacting representatives of the requester and appropriate CBP offices as needed.
• Responding to document requests under, among other things, the Freedom of Information Act, congressional inquiries, and, by consulting the appropriate rules, regulations, and case law to analyze the request.
• Identifying, recommending, and implementing a wide variety of recordkeeping systems and databases, and reviewing analyzes and recommending appropriate responses in administrative cases.
• Supporting the office caseload and processing needs to determine that all information that may have an effect on current cases is made available to office personnel.
• Organizing and managing a high volume of case records, supporting documentation (e.g., contracts, invoices and other commercial data) correspondence and legal reference materials.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below).
• All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English.
• You may be required to pass a background investigation.
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
• As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation and strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes.
• Once on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties.
• DHS uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• Bargaining Unit:
  This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Unions – NTEU.

• Experience:
  
  You qualify for the GS‑12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as researching and drafting administrative rulings and decisions, assembling…