Paralegal - Criminal Division

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is accepting applications for several Paralegal positions in its Criminal Division. The expected start date is July/August 2026.

The Criminal Division has one of the Justice Department's most active and sophisticated national security programs, consisting of international and domestic terrorism, weapons proliferation, counter espionage and cyber security prosecutions.  It also prosecutes equally sophisticated white-collar crimes, including market manipulation, corporate and securities fraud, health care fraud, mortgage fraud, money laundering and tax evasion schemes.   Through its prosecutions, the Office also actively combats public corruption, organized crime, international narcotics trafficking and opioid abuse, violent domestic and international street gangs, civil rights violations, human and sex trafficking crimes, hate crimes, child pornography and exploitation offenses, and gun trafficking.

Among the duties expected from the Paralegal position are the organization and maintenance of electronic case files and material, review and analysis of documents and data, and assistance in the preparation of cases for trial. Paralegals also attend trials and other court proceedings alongside Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) and actively assist them in the courtroom. Paralegals also support AUSAs in other important tasks such as witness interviews and internal strategic planning sessions.  The position is an excellent opportunity for recent graduates who are considering a legal career.  Recent Paralegals from our office have gone on to law schools at Yale, Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Georgetown, Michigan, UCLA, and Fordham.

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.  As needed, applicants should expect to work more than eight hours a day and outside of traditional office hours in order to prepare for and assist at trials and to meet deadlines.  Applicants must 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 conversion to a federal position.  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 the Handshake job posting.