- Position Title
- PARALEGAL SPECIALIST
- Agency
- Customs and Border Protection
- Announcement Number
- USBP-SMP-12702704-AMY Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Thursday, March 13, 2025 to Wednesday, March 19, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
The following set of questions focus on how you are eligible to apply for this announcement. Eligibilities are known as the specific hiring authorities that allow you to be considered for this announcement. Applicants will only be considered for eligibilities for which they claim during the online application and provide documentation displaying their eligibility for the hiring authority. Please see the required documents section of this announcement for documentation information. For more information regarding what hiring authorities you may be eligible for, please see the following link https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/
Note, the Promotion Potential question applies to current or former Federal employees only. If you are not a current or former Federal employee, select No. Selecting No or answering this question incorrectly will not remove you from consideration. However, if you only claim the promotion potential eligibility, you will not receive further consideration for this position.
Note, the Promotion Potential question applies to current or former Federal employees only. If you are not a current or former Federal employee, select No. Selecting No or answering this question incorrectly will not remove you from consideration. However, if you only claim the promotion potential eligibility, you will not receive further consideration for this position.
1.
(1) Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who is currently on Active Duty?
-OR-
(2) Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating at the time of retirement of 100 percent or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs? In order to be considered under this appointment authority you must not currently be serving or have served under this authority.
-OR-
(3) Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status? In order to be considered under this appointment authority you must not currently be serving or have served under this authority.
To verify your eligibility for option 1 identified above, you must submit official supporting documentation (i.e. copy of the Active Duty orders or statement of service)
To verify your eligibility for options 2 and 3 identified above, you must submit all supporting documents identified on the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15 (e.g., Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service; death certificate and documentation identifying marital status at the time of death; disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service, etc.). For information on how to request veterans documentation please contact the Veterans Affairs Benefits and Services at 1-800-827-1000 or online via https://iris.custhelp.va.gov/app/ask/
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans Resources.
-OR-
(2) Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating at the time of retirement of 100 percent or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs? In order to be considered under this appointment authority you must not currently be serving or have served under this authority.
-OR-
(3) Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status? In order to be considered under this appointment authority you must not currently be serving or have served under this authority.
To verify your eligibility for option 1 identified above, you must submit official supporting documentation (i.e. copy of the Active Duty orders or statement of service)
To verify your eligibility for options 2 and 3 identified above, you must submit all supporting documents identified on the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15 (e.g., Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service; death certificate and documentation identifying marital status at the time of death; disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service, etc.). For information on how to request veterans documentation please contact the Veterans Affairs Benefits and Services at 1-800-827-1000 or online via https://iris.custhelp.va.gov/app/ask/
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans Resources.
2.
Are you a current federal employee who has received notice that you will be displaced from the Department of Homeland Security? If yes, confirm:
- You occupy a position located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND
- You are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND
- You are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you will be separated; AND
- Your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
- Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice, AND
- Copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
3.
The following question applies to a current permanent federal employee in the competitive service. If you are not a current permanent federal employee in the competitive service, select No.
Are you a current federal civilian employee with the Federal government in a permanent competitive service position?
To verify your eligibility as indicated above, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action(s), Standard Form(s) 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form(s) reflecting your current permanent position in the competitive service
- Tenure (Box 24): Career or career-conditional (1 or 2)
- Position Occupied (Box 34): Competitive service (1)
NOTE: If you are a current federal employee in an excepted service position or other than permanent competitive service position then you are not eligible under this current federal employee eligibility. If you have prior permanent competitive service with the federal government, you may be eligible as a reinstatement applicant if the announcement is open to former federal employees.
4.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency? If yes, confirm:
- You occupy (or have been separated from) a position located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND
- You are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND
- Your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent
- Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice, AND
- Copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
5.
Are you a current or former land management employee eligible to apply under The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act as described in 5 U.S.C 9602, who meets the conditions below?
-
Hired for a temporary or term position under a competitive appointment.
-
Served one or more temporary or term appointments at a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years.
-
Performed at an acceptable level of service during each period of service.
-
If no longer employed by the land management agency, have been separated for no more than two years, and departed that position in good standing.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit the following:
-
Your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 reflecting your time limited status.
-
Additional Standard Form 50s may be required to demonstrate a service period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years.
-
Your most recent performance appraisal demonstrating fully successful, or equivalent. See Additional Information section of vacancy announcement for further details.
-
If you have had multiple periods of time-limited employment, you must show proof of acceptable levels of employment for each of the periods of employment used to satisfy the 24-month requirement.
6.
Instruction: As a federal competitive service employee, answering this question incorrectly will not remove you from consideration. However, if you only claim promotion potential eligibility, you will not receive further consideration for this position.
As a current federal employee, have you held a permanent position in the Federal competitive service (or in a merit system with which OPM has an interchange agreement) with the promotion potential or equivalent of the position noted in the announcement? Please indicate your response below.
Promotion potential (also known as full performance level or FPL) means the highest level/grade that can be achieved in the career ladder progression of the position that is held on a permanent basis. Details and Temporary Promotions are not creditable towards meeting these requirements. To verify your eligibility as a current Federal civilian employee with promotion potential, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action(s), Standard Form(s) 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form(s) that reflect:
- Tenure (Box 24): Career or career-conditional (1 or 2); AND
- Position Occupied (Box 34): Competitive service (1); OR
- Position Occupied (Box 34): Excepted service (2); when in another merit system which OPM has an interchange; AND
- Promotion Potential equivalent to or higher than the grade level being announced.
- You currently hold a GS-09 position with promotion potential to the GS-12. The progression is GS-09, GS-11, and GS-12. You hold a position with the promotion potential of a GS-12.
- Your current position is a GS-12. You are temporarily promoted to a GS-13 position. The temporary promotion is not a permanent position, and your promotion potential is your current position of GS-12.
- Your current position is a GS-12. You previously held a GS-13 position on a permanent basis. GS-13 is considered the highest promotion potential you have held.
You may need to submit more than one SF-50 to demonstrate that you meet promotion potential. Further guidance on how to read your SF-50 can be found at USAJOBS Help Center | Reading your SF-50 to determine your service and appointment type.
7.
Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you:
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service. For information on how to request your veterans documentation please contact the Veterans Affairs Benefits and Services at 1-800-827-1000 or online via https://iris.custhelp.va.gov/app/ask/
- served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (NOTE: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
- are entitled to veterans' preference?
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service. For information on how to request your veterans documentation please contact the Veterans Affairs Benefits and Services at 1-800-827-1000 or online via https://iris.custhelp.va.gov/app/ask/
Preferences
1.
Are you a current political Schedule A or Schedule C Executive Branch employee or a former political Schedule A or Schedule C Executive Branch employee who held the position within the last five years applying to a competitive or non-political excepted service position under Title 5 of the United States Code or are you a current non-career Senior Executive Service (SES) Executive Branch employee or a former non-career SES Executive Branch employee who held the position within the last five years applying to a competitive or non-political excepted service position under Title 5 of the United States Code?
To verify, please submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) or other relevant documentation reflecting your status as a Political Appointee.
To verify, please submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) or other relevant documentation reflecting your status as a Political Appointee.
2.
There is a time-in-grade (TIG) requirement for promotion into this position for any individual who holds or within the previous 52 weeks held a General Schedule (GS) position under nontemporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch. Have you completed 52 weeks in a position at or above the GS-11 grade level?
If you are a current federal employee or former federal employee within the past 52 weeks, submit one or more SF-50s that support your selected response below showing you meet or are exempt from time-in-grade requirements.
If you are a current federal employee or former federal employee within the past 52 weeks, submit one or more SF-50s that support your selected response below showing you meet or are exempt from time-in-grade requirements.
3.
There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years, before completing an application for CBP employment.
If you do not meet the residency requirement as stated above and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency wavier by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
Exceptions may be granted to applicants if they can provide complete state-side coverage information required to make a suitability determination. Examples of state-side coverage information include: the state-side address of the company headquarters where the applicant's personnel file is located, the state-side address of the Professor in charge of the applicant's "Study Abroad" program, and/or the state-side addresses of anyone who worked or studied with the applicant while overseas. If selected for a position, you must provide documentation to support a request for an exception.
Do you meet the residency requirement?
If you do not meet the residency requirement as stated above and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency wavier by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
- Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
- A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
- Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
- Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government
Exceptions may be granted to applicants if they can provide complete state-side coverage information required to make a suitability determination. Examples of state-side coverage information include: the state-side address of the company headquarters where the applicant's personnel file is located, the state-side address of the Professor in charge of the applicant's "Study Abroad" program, and/or the state-side addresses of anyone who worked or studied with the applicant while overseas. If selected for a position, you must provide documentation to support a request for an exception.
Do you meet the residency requirement?
4.
Are you receiving a civilian retirement annuity from OPM based on retiring from the Federal government? If you select yes and you are selected for this position, your salary will be off-set by the amount of your civilian retirement annuity.
To verify, you must submit a copy of your retirement SF-50 with your application package. It is also recommended to submit a copy of your most recent annuity statement.
Note, this does not apply to military retirement and annuity pay.
To verify, you must submit a copy of your retirement SF-50 with your application package. It is also recommended to submit a copy of your most recent annuity statement.
Note, this does not apply to military retirement and annuity pay.
5.
If you are a CBP employee, please enter your CBP email address in this format without any extra spaces or characters: john.a.smith@cbp.dhs.gov. If you are not a CBP employee, enter N/A.
6.
If you are a CBP Employee, please enter your Hash ID without any additional spaces, punctuation, or letters. Example: CIC1K4L. If you are not a CBP employee, enter NA.
7.
I have read and understand the following statement: You will be considered for the highest grade level for which you qualify for. Eligibility will be verified based on your resume and transcripts. You must have gained the work experience by the closing date of this announcement. Full-time work experience is 35 or more hours worked per week and must be clearly stated on your resume. Qualifications based on work experience will be determined by what is listed on your resume. Work experience refers to both paid and unpaid experience, such as volunteer work.
Your resume must include the following:
Do you agree to provide a resume that contains the necessary requirements listed in the instructions above?
Your resume must include the following:
- Be in English
- Include full legal name
- Address
- Phone number
- Complete work history (which includes job titles)
- Detailed description of your duties (including tasks performed)
- The dates you performed those duties (MM/DD/YY - MM/DD/YY)
- Hours worked per week for any position you worked that was not full time (less than 35 hours per week)
- Series
- Grade level(s)
- Salary
Do you agree to provide a resume that contains the necessary requirements listed in the instructions above?
8.
If selected for this position, you must successfully complete a multi-week training at a designated training facility as outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement. Failure to successfully complete the required training course(s) in accordance with the standards and policies of Customs and Border Protection will be grounds for removal from the position. Such failure will result in either reassignment to a former or different position, demotion, or separation by appropriate procedures.
If you have previously attended this training, the requirement may be waived. If you answer "no" to the training agreement acknowledgment question below, you will be removed from further consideration for this position.
Do you acknowledge the training requirement and agree to the terms outlined in the job opportunity announcement and above?
If you have previously attended this training, the requirement may be waived. If you answer "no" to the training agreement acknowledgment question below, you will be removed from further consideration for this position.
Do you acknowledge the training requirement and agree to the terms outlined in the job opportunity announcement and above?
Assessment 1
The following question will be used to determine whether or not you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position. You may wish to consult the vacancy announcement for a description of those requirements.
1.
Which of the following best describes your experience to qualify for the GS-12 grade level?
The following questions will be used to rate applicants who meet the minimum eligibility and qualification requirements.
2.
Select the choice which best describes your ability to communicate in writing.
3.
Indicate the extent to which you have gathered and analyzed facts, determined the accuracy of the data, defined problems, and identified solutions.
4.
Indicate the extent to which you have communicated information orally to others.
5.
Select the choice which best represents your experience conducting searches for court precedents, relevant statutes, administrative decisions, and regulatory materials.
6.
Indicate the extent of your experience evaluating evidence, facts, circumstances, and other incidents to better process a case including recommending a decision.
7.
Indicate the extent to which you have planned and organized your own work.
8.
Select the choice which best represents your experience gathering existing information from various sources, including computer systems, to prepare routine reports.
9.
Indicate the extent of your experience briefing management on controversial issues or problems with widespread impact.
10.
Have you had experience in identifying cases in which additional information is needed (for example, to address incomplete or inconsistent data in case files) and requesting such information from the appropriate staff?
11.
Select the choice which best reflects your experience in reviewing case files, identifying salient issues, and applying the relevant laws in a written decision.
12.
Indicate the extent of your knowledge of legal reference sources (for example, agency manuals, reference systems, directives, issuances, precedent decisions, court decisions, and commercial legal publications) as well as methods of legal research.
13.
Indicate the extent of your knowledge of legal principles and concepts of customs and general administrative law.
14.
Have you had experience drafting policy guidance that was disseminated to other staff including field personnel?
15.
Have you been responsible for preparing and issuing decisions on cases?
16.
Indicate the extent of your experience analyzing petitions and appeals to determine whether grounds for additional relief are present and making recommendations for granting or denying such relief.
17.
Indicate the extent of your experience researching information about commodities and products involved in tariff classification cases, or analyzing evidence and circumstances of transactions between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and importers