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Paralegal Recruitment

About the U.S. Trustee Program

The U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) is a litigating component of the Department of Justice whose mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders―debtors, creditors, and the public. The USTP is a national program with 21 regions consisting of 89 field offices, and has broad administrative, regulatory, and enforcement authorities in bankruptcy cases, including chapter 7 and 13 consumer cases, family farmer chapter 12 cases, small business reorganizations, and complex chapter 11 corporate reorganizations.

Vacancies

Currently, there are no open vacancies.

Responsibilities of a Paralegal Specialist

The Paralegal Specialist provides administrative and legal support services requiring specialized knowledge in bankruptcy, including title 11, United States Code (U.S.C.), and specifically, Chapter 7 (Liquidation), Chapter 13 (Adjustment of Debts), and Chapter 11 (Reorganization). Serves as a paralegal in a region or field office of the United States Trustee Program (USTP), supports the United States Trustee (UST), Assistant United States Trustee (AUST), attorneys, and associated investigative, audit, and administrative staff by performing legal research, analysis, and case-related administrative services.

As a Paralegal Specialist in a field office, the typical duties will include:

  • Perform a variety of paralegal support assignments relating to bankruptcy cases filed under title 11, U.S.C. Assignments require significant specialized knowledge in bankruptcy law.
  • Provide legal assistance and technical work requiring specialized knowledge of processes, procedures, and practices in connection with Chapters 7, 11, and 13 cases.
  • Support assignments of this nature generally involve the form, content, and processing of legal documents and the procedures involved in storing and retrieving case information.
  • Provide trial and deposition support to include the organizing and creation of exhibits. Perform detailed legal research, including legislative history.
  • Conduct factual research related to public corporations and corporate grievances. Verify citations and legal references. Format, edit, and proofread documents.
  • Review bankruptcy petitions, schedules, and statements to identify fraud or abuse.
  • Draft pleadings in cases that follow established precedents and attend/participate in case review meetings.
  • Monitor the progress of pending cases and initiate action to ensure that legal pleadings, forms, reports, correspondence, and other documents are prepared.
  • Draft simple motions and complaints objecting to discharge.
  • Perform administrative duties supporting attorneys and auditors by maintaining and organizing multiple case-management systems.
  • Perform administrative duties as needed for the field office or Region. Periodic travel is required, depending on work assignments and training.

To qualify for a Paralegal Specialist position, a candidate must meet the Selective Placement Factor and possess the appropriate degree or combination of education and experience.

Qualifications

Selective Placement Factor: Applicant must be eligible for an Excepted Service appointment under Schedule B, 213.3210 (e). This appointment authority requires that the selectee possess knowledge of the bankruptcy process.

Applicant’s cover letter and resume must reflect knowledge of the bankruptcy process. Failure to satisfy the bankruptcy requirement will result in disqualification.

You may qualify at the GS-09 level if you fulfill one of the following qualification requirements:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service that includes experience in all the following:

  • Experience performing paralegal support assignments relating to bankruptcy cases;
  • Experience performing legal research;
  • Experience providing support in the preparation of legal correspondence (e.g., motions, routine pleadings, letters, etc.).

-or-

B. A master's or equivalent graduate degree in an accredited or pre-accredited college or university; or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or possession of a LL.B. or J.D degree, if related. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position, examples of qualifying fields include Criminal Justice, Law, etc.

-or-

C. A combination of education and experience as listed above.

You may qualify at the GS-11 level if you fulfill one of the following qualification requirements:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service that includes experience in all the following:

  • Experience performing paralegal support assignments relating to bankruptcy cases;
  • Experience providing legal assistance and technical work requiring specialist knowledge of processes, procedures, and practices in connection with Chapter 7, 11, or 13 cases;
  • Experience performing administrative duties in support of the assigned attorneys, including maintaining files, conducting research and analysis, drafting, reviewing, and editing documents.

-or-

B. A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or possession of a LL.M. degree, if related. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position, examples of qualifying fields include Criminal Justice, Law, etc.

-or-

C. A combination of education and experience as listed above.

How Applicants will be Evaluated

A panel of subject matter experts will review resumes based on how well an applicant meets the qualifications above. If an applicant is found qualified, they will be contacted directly for an interview. Interviews will be scored by a selecting committee and those who fall into the best-qualified category will be considered for selection.

Salary and Benefits

Position is on the General Schedule (GS) pay scale. Salary and grade level are determined by incumbent’s duty location, years, and type of experience. The current GS can be found here.

USTP offers a flexible telework policy, including two routine telework days per week.

To review our comprehensive list of benefits, please click here.

Application Process

This vacancy announcement is open to ALL U.S. CITIZENS.

To apply, interested candidates must submit as one PDF document:

  • A cover letter that highlights the applicant’s interest in the position and addresses in detail how all qualifications are met (including the bankruptcy requirement);
  • A current resume that details months and years of education, employment, and bankruptcy-related work;
  • Encouraged, but not mandatory, a short writing sample, or part of a longer writing sample (not to exceed five pages), which should be exclusively or primarily the applicant’s work;
  • If qualifying based on education, a copy of transcript(s), a copy of a paralegal certificate, or a list of related college courses completed (including the name of the attended college/university, its location, course names, number of credit hours, and the grades received for those courses);
  • If you are a current or former Federal employee, most recent (non-award) SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action;
  • DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member 4 copy) (if applicable);
  • CTAP/ICTAP documentation (if applicable).

Important: Please be thorough and include all relevant experience you would bring to the role. We cannot make assumptions about your experiences. 

Email the document to: ustp.employment@usdoj.gov. Please indicate Paralegal Specialist and location of interest in the subject line.

Conditions of Employment

  • A two-year probationary period may be required.
  • Must successfully complete a background investigation. Periodic reinvestigation is required no later than five years after selection and at least every succeeding five years.
  • Public Trust - Background Investigation will be required.
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
  • Obtain and use a government-issued charge card for business-related travel.

Department Policies

Diversity: As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. For more information, please review our full https://www.justice.gov/jmd/page/file/1394116/download.

Reasonable Accommodation: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/disability-points-contact.

Suitability and Citizenship: It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.

Veterans: Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

  • A two-year probationary period may be required.
  • Must successfully complete a background investigation. Periodic reinvestigation is required no later than five years after selection and at least every succeeding five years.
  • Public Trust - Background Investigation will be required.
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
  • Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
Updated May 13, 2024