Clarification from the agency

These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority for the occupation and is open to all U.S. citizens.

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:

• 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.
• Appling 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 tracks 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

Conditions of employment

• 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 or possession of drugs.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
• One-year probationary period may be required.
• A pre-employment drug test will be required.
• 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.
• DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• Incentives may be authorized; however, this is contingent upon funds availability.
• License required: No
• Pre-employment physical required: No
• Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

Limit your resume to 5 pages. If more than 5 pages are submitted, only the first 5 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

You must demonstrate you meet the Minimum Qualification requirements as noted below.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-11:
Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service that included experience such as:

• Assisting in collection, review, and summarization of facts, law, and special circumstances relating to administrative tort claims filed against agencies for attorneys
• Receiving, analyzing, and recommending changes to practices in processing claims based upon research into emerging precedents or legal theories to Senior Paralegal Specialists
• Preparing responses to discovery requests, dispositive motions, settlements, and charges for disciplinary and adverse actions to assist attorneys in case work.

OR
Education: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-12:
Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service that included experience such as:

• Collecting, organizing, reviewing, and summarizing facts, law and special circumstances relating to administrative tort claims filed against agency for attorneys
• Receiving, analyzing, and recommending changes to practices in processing claims based upon research of precedents or legal theories
• Preparing responses to requests regarding discovery, dispositive motions, settlements, and charges for disciplinary and adverse actions to assist attorneys in case work.; and
• Preparing documents for signature by attorneys after incorporating legal analyses and citations of precedent case law.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

NOTE: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you are qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. The "Rule of Three", Category Rating and Veterans Preference will not apply to this vacancy. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.

Veterans: Although the Direct Hire Authority permits hiring without regard to Veterans Preference, applicants who are eligible for Veterans Preference are still encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents). View information on veterans' preference.

Career Transition Assistance Program: This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For information on eligibility criteria and required documentation, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12795758