- Position Title
- Paralegal Specialist
- Agency
- Customs and Border Protection
- Announcement Number
- OFO-DE-12718332-MJB Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Monday, March 31, 2025 to Friday, April 4, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?
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.
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.
4.
Reasonable Accommodations for taking the online assessments are provided on a case-by-case basis only to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
Do you have a disability (physical or mental) that you believe will interfere with completing the online assessments and require a Reasonable Accommodation?
Preferences
1.
Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
2.
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.
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.
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?
6.
Are you a current or former Federal employee? If yes, it is recommended that you submit a copy of your SF-50(s) (Notification of Personnel Action) to support your experience. Also, ensure that your resume contains a detailed description of your federal work experience, including the dates you performed those duties, your hours worked per week, job title, as well as series, grade level(s), and salary (if applicable).
7.
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?
8.
In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires a USA Hire online assessment, which measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. If you are required to take the USA Hire assessment, you will be emailed a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. The USA Hire online assessment must be completed within 48 hours, following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). See the How to Apply and Next Steps within the Job Opportunity Announcement for additional details.
Do you acknowledge that you may be required to take an additional online USA Hire assessment, via an email link sent to you after completion of this application, and that failure to complete any portion of the assessment will remove your application from consideration?
Do you acknowledge that you may be required to take an additional online USA Hire assessment, via an email link sent to you after completion of this application, and that failure to complete any portion of the assessment will remove your application from consideration?
Assessment 1
The following questions will be used to rate applicants who meet the minimum eligibility and qualification requirements.
1.
Which of the following best describes your experience and/or education to qualify for the GS-11 grade level?
2.
Which of the following best describes your experience to qualify for the GS-12 grade level?
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.
3.
Select the choice which best describes your ability to communicate in writing.
4.
Indicate the extent to which you have gathered and analyzed facts, determined the accuracy of the data, defined problems, and identified solutions.
5.
Indicate the extent to which you have communicated information orally to others.
6.
Select the choice which best represents your experience conducting searches for court precedents, relevant statutes, administrative decisions, and regulatory materials.
7.
Indicate the extent of your experience evaluating evidence, facts, circumstances, and other incidents to better process a case including recommending a decision.
8.
Indicate the extent to which you have planned and organized your own work.
9.
Select the choice which best represents your experience gathering existing information from various sources, including computer systems, to prepare routine reports.
10.
Indicate the extent of your experience briefing management on controversial issues or problems with widespread impact.
11.
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?
12.
Select the choice which best reflects your experience in reviewing case files, identifying salient issues, and applying the relevant laws in a written decision.
13.
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.
14.
Indicate the extent of your knowledge of legal principles and concepts of customs and general administrative law.
15.
Have you had experience drafting policy guidance that was disseminated to other staff including field personnel?
16.
Have you been responsible for preparing and issuing decisions on cases?
17.
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.
18.
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