Paralegal Specialist

Telework Eligible

Yes

Major Duties

• If selected at the GS-09 level, duties will be performed in a developmental capacity:
• Provide assistance to any practice area or program team within the office, as assigned, to include contracts, fraud, litigation, employment, administrative, and installation law actions
• Assist in employment, labor, ethics, suspension or debarment, acquisition matters, and court and administrative hearings regarding complaints, appeals, protests, investigations, and mediation's.
• Prepare narratives, collect exhibits, compile evidentiary files and correct file deficiencies in support of the agency position and assist attorneys at administrative hearings as necessary.
• Analyze and evaluate claims and other matters arising from various legislative acts (e.g., Federal Tort Claims Act, Civilian Employees’ Claim Act, Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act) and programs.
• Select, review, assemble, summarize, and/or compile substantive, procedural, and office administrative information through utilization of Agency files, databases, statutes, regulations, and legal materials as necessary to process assignment.
• Interview potential witnesses and perform discovery in case preparation as requested by the attorney.
• Interact and network with persons both inside and outside Government, including attorneys, investigators, auditors, contracting officials, corporate officers, and others.
• Research and write legal memoranda on a wide variety of issues, i.e. personnel, installation, procurement fraud, debarment/suspension, contracts, Ethics for Executive Branch Employees, jurisdictional, environmental, and non-appropriated funds.

Qualification Summary

To qualify for a Paralegal Specialist, your resume and supporting documentation must support: A. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position and is directly in or related to this position. To qualify at the GS-09 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. To qualify at the GS-11 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements including time-in-grade (General Schedule (GS) positions only), time-after-competitive appointment, minimum qualifications, and any other regulatory requirements by the cut-off/closing date of the announcement. Creditable specialized experience includes: GS-09: Develop cases, constructs case files, ensures case completeness, and makes recommendations to the assigned attorney(s). Research and summarize factual aspects of cases; analyzes reports, testimony, interviews, and files; drafts memoranda concerning facts of cases. Drafting and editing legal memoranda, draft opinions, research reports and other correspondence relating to cases or diverse legal issues GS-11 Preforms legal research for various cases and types, working with attorneys to prepare for trial, and analyzing precedent setting cases to determine the impact to current assignments. Determines legal, policy, and administrative issues involved and the nature of analysis and legal research required to come to a successful conclusion and to support recommendations. Preparing and editing legal memoranda, draft opinions, research reports and other correspondence relating to cases or diverse legal issues B. Education Substitution: Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Education must be from a college or university accredited by an organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education. See If using education to meet basic qualifications, YOU MUST SUBMIT A TRANSCRIPT as supplemental documentation. To qualify based on education in lieu of specialized experience, you must possess: GS-09: Master's Degree or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.B. or J.D, if related. GS-11: a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. C. Combination: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for grade levels GS-09 and GS-11 and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-09 and GS-11. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.