Paralegal Specialist

Summary

This position serves as a Paralegal Specialist in the Office of the General Counsel, providing comprehensive legal support across a range of administrative and regulatory matters. Responsibilities include assisting with litigation preparation and case management, conducting legal research, supporting ethics compliance, and coordinating responses to requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

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Duties

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• Provide Comprehensive Litigation Support: Maintain case files, compile records, prepare exhibits, coordinate document collection and production; conduct document review; assist with discovery requests and responses, track deadlines, and draft litigation reports and case summaries for administrative and federal cases.
• Conduct Foundational Legal Research : Use legal databases (e.g., Westlaw, Lexis) to research statutes, case law, and agency guidance on a broad range of issues.
• Support Ethics and Compliance Programs : Assist with reviewing financial disclosure reports, tracking deadlines, and helping employees navigate ethics requirements using tools like the Integrity system.
• Assist with FOIA and Privacy Act Requests : Help review and redact documents, apply legal exemptions, and draft responses to public information requests under attorney supervision.
• Collaborate Across the Agency : Work with program offices and legal staff to gather information, coordinate responses, and build professional communication skills in a legal environment.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required
• You will be required to report to an OPM assigned office.
• This position is not eligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit

Qualifications

Requirements for GS-09 Grade Level: Applicants must have one of the following:

• Master's or equivalent graduate degree or successfully completed two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a related field of study as described below.
• A Juris Doctorate
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service, or equivalent performing all of the following: Providing paralegal support on legal or regulatory matters, such as ethics, standards of conduct, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Privacy Act, or litigation support; Conducting legal research and analyzing statutes, regulations, case law, administrative decisions, or legal guidance; Preparing draft memoranda or recommended actions for attorney review; and Coordinating with internal or external stakeholders to obtain information and organize case materials.

Related fields of study may include Legal Studies, Law, Paralegal Studies, Public Administration, Political Science, Criminal Justice, Library and Information Science (with a legal research focus), or Ethics and Compliance.

Requirements for the GS-11 level: Applicants must have one of the following:

• A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree from an accredited or pre-accredited institution in a related field of study as described below.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service or equivalent performing all of the following: Providing paralegal support in legal or regulatory matters such as ethics, standards of conduct, FOIA, Privacy Act, or litigation support; Conducting legal research and analyzing statutes, regulations, case law, or administrative guidance; Reviewing and processing legal documents or records and preparing draft memoranda or recommended actions for attorney review; and Coordinating with internal or external stakeholders to collect information and meet established deadlines.

Related fields of study may include Legal Studies, Law, Paralegal Studies, Public Administration, Political Science, Criminal Justice, Library and Information Science (with a legal research focus), or Ethics and Compliance.

To meet the Recent Graduate Program Eligibility requirements, you must have obtained a qualifying Associates, Bachelor's, Master's, Professional, Doctorate, Vocational or Technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution, within the previous 2 years.

Applicants who will meet all degree or certificate requirements for graduation within 30 days of the announcement's closing date are eligible to apply.

All Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants may verify accreditation at the following website: Accreditation. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by OPM accordingly.

ATTENTION VETERANS: A veteran, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2108, who due to military service obligation, was precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon his or her release or discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may the individual's eligibility period extend beyond 6 years from the date on which the individual completed the requirements of an academic course of study.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

Successful applicants are placed in a dynamic 1 year developmental program with the potential to lead to a civil service career in the Federal Government. At the successful conclusion of this program, you may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a Federal career or career-conditional position.

Additional information

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

If you are unable to apply online and would like to request information about the Alternate Application process, please use the contact information at the bottom of this announcement.

If you are a veteran and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility.

If you are a veteran and you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference click here.

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.

Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here:

PROGRAM COMPLETION AND CONVERSION ELIGIBILITY:

Program participants may be converted, without a break in service, to a term, career or career conditional appointment upon completion of program requirements.

To be eligible for conversion, Recent Graduates must:

- Complete one continuous year of work experience acquired through a Recent Graduate Program

- Complete 40 hours of formal interactive training

- Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted

- Meet any agency-specific requirements specified in the Participant's Agreement

- Demonstrate successful job performance that results in a rating of record of at least Fully Successful and a recommendation for conversion by the first level supervisor.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, the duration of your appointment will be considered a trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

- your performance and conduct;

- the needs and interests of the agency;

- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and

- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.