Paralegal/Legal Assistant IV

Job Description

A Paralegal/Legal Assistant IV executes the following duties:

Performs specialized legal research in support of forfeiture work, including research of legislative intent, controversial judicial precedents, case law, law review articles, and slip opinions. Utilizes a variety of automated legal research tools as well as public information databases and other automated resources to research case- or program-specific legal matters, and to participate in assigned areas of criminal or civil proceedings, e.g. electronic discovery
Receives, examines, and evaluates new and complex cases referred for judicial forfeiture proceedings by the seizing agencies with reference to the facts of the case and agency standards for case litigation worthiness, appropriate statutes, and pertinent case law
Reviews investigative reports for probable cause for forfeiture, determines the need for additional information and evidence, and plans a comprehensive approach to obtain this information and evidence
Advises the forfeiture attorney regarding the merits of the potential forfeiture and the probabilities of success of the forfeiture in light of the strengths and weaknesses of probable cause and potential defenses
Assists forfeiture attorney in persuading claimants and claimants’ attorneys of the correctness of the agency’s legal position and the appropriateness of the agency’s proposed settlement. Prepares appropriate documents for settlement or other appropriate disposition. If settlements cannot be agreed upon, prepares all necessary pleadings for the court in order to attain the issuance of default decrees of forfeiture
Prepares presentations for court proceedings by compiling, organizing, and indexing various evidentiary exhibits
Assists the forfeiture attorney in pretrial preparations by preparing, reviewing, and organizing discovery; notifying, interviewing, preparing summaries of, and managing witnesses; and researching case law
Interviews federal agents and other local law enforcement officers concerning the probable cause for forfeiture and the availability of evidence and witnesses
Prepares legal pleadings necessary to commence judicial forfeiture proceedings and subsequent motions, papers, and proposed orders to accomplish forfeiture, settlement or dismissal. Prepares drafts of legal memoranda or briefs for the forfeiture attorney
Assists in preparing for court proceedings by compiling, organizing, and indexing various evidentiary exhibits
Receives transcripts of depositions and prepares summaries to assist attorneys
Uses CATS database to extrapolate data for reports, charts, graphs, and trial exhibits
Provides assistance to third parties or lien holders seeking remission or mitigation of forfeiture
May or may not be required to supervise other contract employees
Provides training to other contractor paralegals as required

Requirements

A Paralegal/Legal Assistant IV must meet the following qualifications:

Possession of a four year bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, or a four year BS/BA degree in another field plus a paralegal certificate
At least four years of paralegal litigation experience; trial experience is very helpful
Knowledge of forfeiture laws, policies, and procedures
Knowledge of the capabilities and use of automated resources and technology for the development, presentation, and prosecution of federal cases; at least one year of automated litigation support experience
Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and methods of legal research and analysis sufficient to perform assigned case development and documentation assignments which are typically covered by established precedents
Excellent written and oral communication skills, analytic ability, and thorough knowledge of legal research tools
Hands-on familiarity with a variety of computer applications, including word processing, databases, spreadsheets, and telecommunications equipment

This position requires U.S. Citizenship and a 7 (or 10) year minimum background investigation.