Paralegal Specialist

Duties

As a Paralegal Specialist for The Office of Counsel, you will be responsible for the following:

• Provide paralegal support to staff attorneys and the Chief Counsel on a variety of technical issues and problems through written and oral communication and basic research. Maintains IG subpoena, FOIA or other case files and supports drafting documents and review/summary of information.
• Assist with compilation, review, tracking and summarizing information, including use of the database systems to input, sort, search, and track investigative and litigation materials and assists with eDiscovery and litigation holds. Incumbent coordinates with the OIG eDiscovery coordinator and serves as an Office of Counsel liaison to the OIG eDiscovery coordinator.
• Assists with researching and drafting content for legal aspects of the OIG website, such as whistleblower protections, mandatory disclosures, and Inspector General authorities.
• Performs a variety of tasks to support attorneys in administrative and judicial proceedings, settlement negotiations, investigations, and other legal contexts.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• May be required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually (5CFR Part 2634, Subpart I USOGE, 6/08).

Qualifications

Specialized Experience and or Education:

GS-9: To qualify for the GS-9, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as experience which has equipped you with: 1) Written and oral communication and summarizing complex information. 2)Research (basic legal research is preferred). 3)Data system use to compile, track, and search documents and information.
OR
Successful completion of a Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, OR a LL.B. or J.D., if related.

GS-11: To qualify for the GS-11, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as experience with: 1) FOIA, EEO, or other personnel matters, whistleblowers, Privacy Act, or other legal authorities. 2) Compilation, sorting, searching of information or use of Relativity or similar data system or experience with eDiscovery. 3) Basic legal research or litigation files or case tracking.

OR
Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, OR a LL.M, if related.

OR

A combination of Education and Experience, that has equipped you with the qualifications to perform the major duties of this position as described above. If applicable credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.

Education

Foreign Education: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

• The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
• More than one selection may be made from this announcement.
The Office of Inspector General may request information regarding the vaccination status of applicants for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
• The selectee may be required to complete Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually (5CFR Part 2634, Subpart I USOGE, 6/08).
• For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov