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.

Duties

As a Paralegal Specialist for the Filter Team, which is part of the Executive Division in the United States Attorney's Office (USAO), you will: Provide substantive legal support to Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in a variety of specialized litigative activities related to identifying and segregating materials that may be protected by the attorney-client and work product privileges. Research trends and best practices for filter processes. Improve and advance the office's filter program implementation, tracking, workflow, and efficiency. Participate in pre-filter coordination meetings, and coordination with assisting client agencies and transfer of documents to potential privilege holders. Perform first-round filter review primarily by keyword searching in various electronic document review platforms, such as Relativity, Eclipse, Cellebrite, and Axiom, to identify material requiring additional review by the filter AUSA. Coordinate with the Litigation Technology Help Center (LTHC), the USAO's Automated Litigation Support (ALS) team, and partner agencies, e.g., FBI, IRS, regarding filter review processing needs, filter review workspace creation, etc. Organize data and documents including through coordination with investigating agencies and defense and witness counsel. Manage discovery and evidence in electronic and hard copy formats, prepare for the use of it in each stage of filter review, including any required in camera submissions to the court. Provide technical support, such as database maintenance and electronic searching. Draft initial legal memos outlining the filter protocols in particular cases, and other memos or briefs that may involve legal matters such as whether an investigator has been tainted by exposure to potentially privileged material, or, whether the crime fraud exception may apply to otherwise privileged material. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
• You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

Qualifications

GS-11: To be eligible at the GS-11 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing a variety of analytical paralegal or legal work which demonstrates a practical knowledge of law, the litigation and judicial process, and applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Examples of specialized experiences may include the following: analyzing and evaluating legal decisions and other legal guidance to identify relevant issues; conducting legal research and analysis; composing legal memos or briefs; creating summaries of analyses and decisions; and organizing, searching, and sorting documents or data in electronic formats. Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law): a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M., if related. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 2 full years GS-12: To eligible at the GS-12 level, you must have one full year of equivalent to the GS-11 level: Specialized experience is defined as comprehensive knowledge and skill in fact gathering and legal analysis related to filtering potentially privileged information out of seized evidence to prevent exposure to the prosecution team. In-depth knowledge of legal techniques and skills necessary to draft legal documents, briefs, advisory opinions or findings. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, relevant findings and conclusions using appropriate language, legal reasoning and organization of facts and ideas. Legal research skills sufficient to use considerable ingenuity to anticipate filter program or case requirements, develop legal arguments and supporting evidence related to filter, taint, and privilege law.

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov
OR
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. 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.

Contacts

• Address District of Colorado 1801 California Street Suite 1600 Denver, CO 80202 US
• Name: Dana Carochi
• Phone: 720-468-8185
• Email: [email protected]