The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is accepting applications for a Paralegal position in its Appeals Section of the Criminal Division. The expected start date is June 2026.
The Appeals Section is responsible for overseeing the handling of Second Circuit Court of Appeals matters in criminal cases originating in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The Paralegal in this section supports its mission primarily by cite- and fact-checking, proofreading, performing research and e-filing. The position affords opportunities to attend moot court sessions, Court of Appeals arguments, legal training sessions, as well as to observe proceedings in district court. The position provides outstanding experience for those interested in a law degree, and law journal work, in particular.
Based on the nature of the particular legal issue or case, and the functional area of law assigned, the Paralegal will perform the following legal assistance duties in direct support of the work of five or more Assistant U.S. Attorney’s:
- Editing and preparing a variety of substantive legal documents to include appeal brief responses, develops table of contents, table of authorities, and indices to briefs
- Performing extensive and thorough legal research into the legislative history, precedent cases, decisions, and opinions that may be applicable to particular legal matters
- Providing appeals case management and organizes briefs for court presentation by preparing and organizing exhibits containing a variety of visual and audio material
- Monitoring the progress of pending appeals and initiates action to insure that forms, reports, correspondence, and other documents are prepared and submitted within established deadlines. Keeps appropriate staff members informed about the current status of cases.
At minimum, applicants must have a B.A. or similar four-year degree. They should have a strong academic record, excellent organizational skills, an ability to work well with a group and an interest in the law and public service. On occasion, applicants should expect to work more than eight hours a day and outside of traditional office hours to meet deadlines. Applicants should be prepared to commit to stay in the position for a minimum of two years.
The position is a contractor position. Once in this position, and if government funding allows, there may be opportunity to apply for federal conversion. All positions are subject to funding availability and security clearance. Applicants must be citizens of the United States and must pass a background investigation, including a drug test and credit check. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must demonstrate either that they have registered with the Selective Service or that they are exempt from doing so.
The United States Attorney's Office does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. Applicants should upload a cover letter, resume, and unofficial transcript to this Handshake job posting.