The Civil Division, with more than 900 attorneys and 14 litigating components, represents the United States, its Department and Agencies, Members of Congress, Cabinet Officers and other Federal employees in any civil or criminal matter within scope of responsibility. This position is located in the Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, International Trade Field Office in New York, NY.

Duties

The duties and responsibilities for a Supervisory Paralegal Specialist, GS-0950-12/13 generally include, but are not limited to, the following: Participating in making recommendations and developing management policies and procedures for the entire support staff of the ITFO. Overseeing and assisting the support staff, observing workers' performance and providing informal feedback. Holding progress reviews with the support staff, developing work improvement plans, and recommending personnel actions. Coordinating office's moot court program, ensuring that moots are scheduled and conducted in a timely and efficient manner. Independently conducting legal research of substantial information in variety and complexity. Providing guidance to paralegals on performing legal research of varying levels of substance and complexity. Establishing and communicating policies and procedures concerning trial support. Providing support in large, complex, often document intensive cases being litigated in the Court of International Trade, or the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Establishing production or quality standards relative to the organizational makeup and filing of administrative records and appeal records.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of Supervisory Paralegal Specialist, at GS-0950-12/13you must meet the basic qualification requirements listed below. To qualify for the GS-12, you must have one year of specialized experience that is equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service: conducting legal research; drafting, legal pleadings, briefs, motions etc.; participating in all aspects of discovery and assisting attorneys with case development; serving as an advisor to line staff; and setting priorities to ensure the timely completion of work assignments. To qualify for the GS-13, you must have one year of specialized experience that is equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service: conducting and directing complex factual and legal research requiring extensive and specialized knowledge of law; producing sophisticated written litigation products requiring a high level of proficiency in legal writing and analysis; and setting and adjusting short-term priorities, and preparing schedules for the completion of work. If you are a current Department of Justice employee on a permanent appointment in the competitive service, you will need to demonstrate 1-year (52-weeks) at the next lower grade level, to meet the time-in-grade requirements for this occupational series and grade. You MUST meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade, by the 11/20/2026 of this announcement. Your resume must support your responses to the application questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating. See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

How you will be evaluated

How You Will be Evaluated Once the announcement closes, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted by the HR Specialist. This information will be compared against your responses to the application questionnaire to determine your eligibility for Federal employment, and then whether you are qualified for this particular position. If a determination is made that you have inflated your responses when compared to your background information, you may be deemed ineligible. BASIS OF RATING: DOJ's Merit Promotion Procedures will be used to evaluate candidates. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, and other characteristics): Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence If you would like to preview the application questionnaire, please see: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13108394.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the application questionnaire and submit your supporting documentation. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 11/20/2026 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Need Help? If you need help with USAJOBs or the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help or Application Manager Online Help websites which includes information on managing your account, creating an application, uploading documents, etc. Reasonable Accommodation: To request reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact Meghan Killiany at 202-616-7926 for assistance.

Other information

Additional selections may be made from this announcement. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): This program applies to DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: Meet CTAP eligibility criteria; Be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above based on the competencies listed above; and Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP eligibility. Probationary or Trial Period (as applicable): As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: 1) your performance and conduct; 2) the needs and interests of the agency; 3) whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and 4) whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline. DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. The DOJ Reasonable Accommodation policy can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/reasonable-accommodation#policy Selective Service: If you were born male, on or after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Additional information is found at: www.sss.gov.