Paralegal Trainee Position

Deptartment of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration - Office of Chief Counsel, Paralegal Trainee

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of the Chief Counsel, located at FDA’s White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, Maryland, is currently seeking recent or soon-to-be college graduates to fill paralegal trainee positions in the Office. We are especially interested in individuals with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and who are enrolled in or planning to enroll in a paralegal degree or certificate program and who are interested in exploring a career in a legal environment. No other federal agency touches the daily life of citizens as directly as the FDA. In regulating about 25 percent of the United States consumer economy, the FDA is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of two trillion dollars worth of products a year - including items as diverse as artificial hearts, surgical lasers, gene therapy, dialysis machine, cloned animals, genetically engineered foods, counterterrorism products, and drug produced using nanotechnology techniques.

We will provide all necessary training (including legal research) and require a 2-year minimum commitment. The starting grade is a GS-7 (which currently pays $42,209 per year). After one year in the position, the paralegal may be eligible to be promoted to a GS-9 (which currently pays $51,630). Upon successful completion of the program and earning a paralegal degree or certificate, the paralegal trainee may be eligible for a permanent position starting at a GS-11 (which currently pays $62,467). Trainee positions receive the complete federal government employee benefits package including annual leave, sick leave, flexible spending account, flexible work schedules, life insurance, health insurance, thrift savings plan, and retirement benefits.

DUTIES: The Office’s paralegals and paralegal trainees assist attorneys in conducting investigations, preparing cases for trial, and providing advice and legal assistance to the Office of Chief Counsel. Under the supervision of attorneys and experienced paralegals, paralegal trainees will develop a familiarity with the day to day activities of a government agency General Counsel’s office through a variety of duties, such as:

• Conducting current events and topical issue research;
• Researching and tracking Congressional legislative actions;
• Conducting historical regulatory analysis;
• Drafting inter-office reports, memoranda, court filings and general correspondence
• Preparing materials for criminal and civil litigation, including background research and analysis;
• General case management, including summarizing transcripts, organizing materials and preparing case summaries;
• Verifying citations and legal references
• Assisting in Agency responses to Freedom of Information Act requests; and
• Performing related duties as assigned.

GENERAL INFORMATION: U.S. Citizenship required. Candidates should have a proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite programs. Department of Health and Human Services is an equal opportunity employer and has a smoke-free workplace.

FOR CONSIDERATION: Please submit resume and unofficial transcript(s), along with a statement of interest, via email to:

Email Address: OCOCCParalegal@fda.hhs.gov

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