Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys · Department of Justice
Grade: 7-7
Applications close 2026-10-16
Summary
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is unique in the size and the scope of its work. It serves as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the nation's capital. On the local side, AUSAs assigned to the Superior Court Division prosecute cases ranging from misdemeanors to homicides. On the federal side, AUSAs assigned to the Criminal Division prosecute federal crimes. The Civil Division further defends the United States in civil suits brought in the District of Columbia.
Duties
If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected Appellate Division team of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia (USAO-DC) and become part of the team that supports Assistant United States Attorneys and administrative professionals who handle all the criminal appeals for the office in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. The Paralegal Specialist will support Division leadership with day-to day responsibilities for providing appellate case management services and providing legal administrative support to the paralegal staff, Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs), deputy chiefs, and Chief of the Appellate Division.
Typical work assignments include: Conducts legal research, composes legal documents and correspondence; verifies citations and statutory references; summarizes data, makes conclusions, and recommends appropriate action in a variety of activities related to civil and/or criminal appeals. Using multiple online databases to research state and federal statutes, legal and factual issues, and performing extensive and thorough legal research into the legislative history, and case precedent applicable to particular legal matters. With guidance, drafts correspondence and legal documents that coordinate actions with other Federal agencies or State and local jurisdictions that are associated with USAO-DC litigative activities. With guidance, drafts initial legal documents and correspondence which summarize and explain case file, depositions and/or interrogatories. Coordinates production of administrative records and responses to requests for discovery. Prepares and organizes voluminous material for production as discovery and for use in appeal. Identifies and locates missing information. Provides automated litigation assistance to attorneys as needed for appeals. Utilizes various software applications and graphics hardware such as scanners and plotters. Provides technical support, such as enlarging charts and photographs, duplicating tapes and videos, and marking exhibits. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
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 is an excepted service appointment under the Pathways Recent Graduates Program. This appointment is a one year career development program. At the successful completion of the program requirements, you may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a Federal career or career-conditional appointment. For more information on the Pathways Program, please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/
Travel Required: Occasionally
Qualifications
To be eligible for a recent graduate appointment, ALL of the following requirements must be met: Recent Graduates must have obtained a qualifying associates, bachelors, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying accredited educational institution within the previous 2 years unless military service interfered with a veteran's eligibility to apply during that two year time frame. Veterans meeting the above exclusion may apply within 2 years of discharge or 6 years from the date of receipt of the degree whichever comes first. (Go to http://www.ed.gov/accreditation?src=rn to verify accreditation status). Recent graduates must be United States citizens or owe permanent allegiance to the United States. (Currently, natives of American Samoa, Swains Island and certain inhabitants of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are the only groups that owe permanent allegiance to the United States.) You must successfully complete a background investigation to determine your suitability for Federal employment. All recent graduates are required to sign a Pathways Recent Graduate Participant Agreement. Recent Graduates serve a trial period for the entire duration of their excepted service appointment.
Qualification requirements as outlined below: To be qualified for the GS-07 Paralegal Specialist, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal Service; or one year of graduate level education, if related; Superior Academic Achievement; or a combination of specialized experience and education.
Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized Experience is defined as conducting legal research to verify citation and statutory references; assisting in preparing legal documentation; utilizing information technology to develop, prepare and monitor reports; communicating with management, office personnel, court staff, law enforcement and the public; assisting with managing discovery and evidence in electronic and hard copy formats.
OR
Education: one full year of graduate level education in related field. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Education at the graduate level must have be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
OR
Superior Academic Achievement: Possess a Bachelor's Degree AND possess at least one of the following criteria: class standing in the upper third of the graduating class; an overall GPA of 3.0 OR at least a 3.0 based on courses completed during the final two years of my curriculum; a GPA of at least 3.5 based on the average of required courses completed in my major field OR based on the average of required courses completed during the final two years of my curriculum; OR election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.
OR
Combining Education and Experience: a combination of specialized experience and graduate education which when combined equal 100% of the requirements. Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements.
To be qualified, you must type at least 40 words per minute based on a 5 minute sample with three or fewer errors. (A typing test may later be required.)
Education
All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov
Foreign Education Note: You may use foreign education to meet qualification requirements if you send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency in with your transcript. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
How to apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy announcement. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 10/16/2026 to receive consideration.
1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. (It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.)
3. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, please click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13073270
You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you are unable to apply online, contact HR Operations USAO-DC at USADC.Staffers@usdoj.gov as soon as possible to arrange an alternative application process. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 10/16/2026 to receive consideration. Keep a copy of your proof of submission in the event verification is needed.
