Legal Operations Paralegal

Job Description

Paralegal Specialist | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The Tone:
This is a full-time, permanent position at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), located throughout the country within the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Legal Operations. ICE OPLA serves as the largest legal department within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), representing the U.S. Government in removal proceedings and providing comprehensive legal services to all ICE programs and offices. This position is vital for supporting OPLA attorneys who litigate cases involving criminal aliens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other priority aliens, thus upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, throughout the country

• Team: Legal Operations (Legal Ops) team, assisting OPLA attorneys
• Mission: Assist OPLA attorneys in representing the U.S. Government in immigration proceedings and federal litigation to uphold immigration law.
• Tech Stack: Automated legal research tools, electronic case management system

What You’ll Actually Do
• Legal Research: Research laws, regulations, court decisions, opinions, and legislative history, analyzing findings to support attorneys.
• Case Preparation: Assist attorneys in preparing for and representing the United States Government in immigration proceedings before judges or tribunals, and facilitate communication with parties.
• Document Review: Review case-related documents for conformity with standardized formatting, grammar, legal citations, and practice manuals prior to attorney signature.
• Data Management: Monitor and update databases and repositories utilizing an electronic case management system or similar platform.
• Legal Drafting: Assist in preparing correspondence, motions, briefs, case summaries, affidavits, discovery requests, and other legal documents in draft and final form for proceedings and litigation.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Minimum qualifications vary by GS-level: For GS-09, one year of specialized experience at the GS-07 federal level or a Master’s/equivalent graduate degree (or LL.B./J.D.). For GS-11, one year of specialized experience at the GS-09 federal level or a Ph.D./equivalent doctoral degree (or LL.M.). For GS-12, one year of specialized experience at the GS-11 federal level.
• Experience: Varies by GS-level. For GS-09: One year experience drafting and editing memoranda, research reports, or correspondences; reviewing case materials; preparing and organizing trial exhibits; and preparing summaries of testimony and depositions. For GS-11: One year experience analyzing immigration law cases; assisting attorneys in case preparation by analyzing facts and legal questions; classifying and interpreting data related to immigration matters; and collecting, reviewing, and fact-finding supporting documentation for court proceedings. For GS-12: One year experience researching relevant legislation, regulations, case law, and policy; preparing litigation reports for lawsuits; reviewing, analyzing, and recommending responses on appeals; and evaluating evidence, facts, and circumstances to make recommendations within legal and regulatory requirements.
• Skills: Automated legal research, electronic case management, legal drafting, document review and formatting, data compilation and analysis.