Paralegal – Immigration Law

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), with locations throughout the country. ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) is the largest legal department within the Department of Homeland Security, comprising over 3,000 attorneys and 500 support staff across 143 offices nationwide. This role is vital for supporting OPLA attorneys who exclusively represent the U.S. Government in high-stakes immigration proceedings, federal litigation, and client services. The Paralegal Specialist contributes directly to litigating cases involving criminal aliens, terrorists, and human rights violators, ensuring the agency’s legal representation is robust and effective.

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

• Team: Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Legal Operations (Legal Ops) paralegals assist OPLA attorneys.
• Mission: Assist OPLA attorneys in representing the U.S. Government in immigration proceedings, federal litigation, and client services.
• Tech Stack: Automated legal research tools, electronic case management system

What You’ll Actually Do
• Research Laws: Research legal authorities such as laws, regulations, and court decisions, applying findings to support attorneys, often utilizing automated legal research tools.
• Prepare for Proceedings: Assist attorneys in preparing for and representing the United States Government in immigration proceedings or other tribunals, managing evidentiary and procedural issues.
• Review Documents: Review case-related documents to ensure conformity with standardized formatting, grammar, and legal citations prior to attorney signature and issuance.
• Manage Data: Monitor and update databases and repositories using an electronic case management system to maintain accurate case information.
• Draft Legal Documents: Assist in preparing correspondence, motions, briefs, case summaries, affidavits, discovery requests, and other legal documents in draft and final form for proceedings.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Candidates must be U.S. citizens. Qualifications include specialized experience or a combination of education and experience. For GS-09, a Master’s, equivalent graduate degree, two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or an LL.B./J.D. is required if related. For GS-11, a Ph.D., equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or an LL.M. is required if related. No educational substitution is available for GS-12.
• Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower GS level is required for each grade. This experience includes drafting and editing legal memoranda and correspondence; reviewing case materials; preparing trial exhibits; summarizing testimony and depositions (GS-09 level); analyzing immigration law cases; assisting attorneys with factual and legal questions; classifying and interpreting immigration data; and collecting supporting documentation for court proceedings (GS-11 level); or researching legislation, regulations, and case law; preparing litigation reports; reviewing and recommending responses to appeals; and evaluating evidence and facts to make recommendations (GS-12 level).
• Skills: Legal research and analysis; drafting and editing legal documents; electronic case management and data monitoring; document review for legal standards; and compiling and summarizing case information.
• Bonus: A student loan repayment incentive may be available, requiring a service agreement. Credit is given for qualifying paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work through National Service programs.