Paralegal Specialist

Summary

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 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, 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 support to U.S. Department of Justice 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, 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:

• Collecting, organizing, reviewing, and summarizing for OPLA attorneys the facts, law and special circumstances relating to administrative tort claims filed against ICE.
• Performing complex legal research using generally accessible sources and commercial databases.
• Applying law to facts to make recommendations to ICE attorneys and supervisors with respect to the adjudication of federal tort claims.
• Maintaining assigned reporting and electronic recordkeeping systems that track the progress of admin claims and litigation cases.
• Processing payments of vouchers billing to the appropriate specific programs in HSI, ERO or other funding sources using the Treasury system for claimants.
• Processing fees to be paid from Equal Access to Justice claims.
• Assisting ICE attorneys with civil discovery including collection, review and production of agency records, medical records, depositions and other litigation documents.
• Other duties as assigned.

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation, including a credit check and review of financial issues, criminal history and drug possession.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Selective Service:
  Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
• This is a full‑time permanent position (Career/Career‑Conditional). Upon appointment, you may be required to serve a one‑year probationary period.
• All Federal employees must have salary payments made by direct deposit.
• Conditional offers require completion of OPM Form 306.
• License
  
  Required:
  
  No.
• Pre‑employment physical required:
  No.

Limit your resume to 2 pages. In the description below, each level of qualification is listed with specific requirements. All qualification claims will be verified.

• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑05 level including:
  • Conducting research to assist with identifying factual and legal issues;
  • Extracting data from manuals, directives, court reports, appellate records, or legal publications;
  • Assisting with reviewing cases to determine need for additional data from claimants, officials, or attorneys.
• OR One full year of graduate‑level education in a relevant field.
• OR Superior Academic Achievement: GPA 3.0+ or 3.5+ (major), upper‑third class standing, or membership in an approved national honor society.
• OR Combination of education and experience…