Paralegal Specialist

Overview

Join the fast-paced federal litigation practitioners of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of the Principal Legal Advisor Enforcement and Litigation Division and leverage your legal experience to protect the homeland. These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Enforcement and Litigation in Los Angeles, CA and Washington, D.C. This is a non-bargaining unit position.

ICE OPLA is the largest legal department within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with more than 1,800 attorneys and 260 support staff working in 98 locations throughout the United States and at ICE Headquarters. OPLA provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices and serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

OPLA also provides specialized legal advice and legal support to U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) entities in civil litigation and through the adjudication of administrative tort claims.

DCLD's paralegals assist OPLA attorneys who serve as agency counsel and manage certain federal civil litigation cases filed against ICE. DCLD assists in all aspects of federal litigation, including strategy, motion practice, discovery, and settlement negotiations, in cases ranging from common-law tort suits, Bivens suits (suits seeking money damages against ICE employees in their individual capacities), and claims seeking injunctive or declaratory relief, including class action habeas corpus relief.

DCLD attorneys and paralegals adjudicate administrative claims for personal injuries and property damage pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act. At the full performance level, DCLD paralegals' responsibilities include:

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Selective Service:
  Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Requirements by Closing Date:
  Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Probationary Period:
  This is a full-time permanent position (Career/Career-Conditional appointment). Upon appointment to this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• License
  
  Required:
  
  No
• Pre-employment physical required:
  No