Paralegal Specialist

Duties

The Office of Chief Counsel, General Legal Services (GLS) employs approximately 68 attorneys and 8 paralegals. Work in the GLS Area Counsel field offices is focused on providing advice, support, and litigation representation for IRS and Chief Counsel management in administrative forums and in arbitration, with the majority of case work centering on labor, EEO, and personnel law. The field offices also provide assistance to the Department of Justice in federal courts on such matters, as well as for suits against IRS employees, and may assist with processing claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-11. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

As a Paralegal Specialist in the Claims, Labor and Personnel Law Branch, you will

• Participate in pre-trial preparation and litigation support for administrative cases before a third party in a wide variety of forums, including the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), arbitration, and state unemployment boards.
• Initiate and coordinate necessary procurement activities; reviewing, organizing, and preparing e-discovery searches; preparing and organizing litigation related materials and exhibits; redacting documents; conducting research or research assistance; assisting attorneys during the presentation cases in hearing.
• Prepare drafts of settlement agreements, implementation memoranda, briefing documents for clients, decision summaries, and other communications or correspondence related to cases. Analyze and evaluate case files and supporting documents for sufficiency of information, noting and taking corrective action to cure any deficiencies; reconciling factual differences and reconstructing missing facts; researching, reviewing and analyzing available precedent, regulation, policy and procedure relevant to cases.
• Verify implementation of settlements and decisions, including payment of arbitrator fees, attorney fees, back pay, or other required actions. Perform administrative tasks, including assisting attorneys in making arrangements for hearings, arbitrators, transcripts, court reporters and witnesses.
• Assist in inventory management, including maintenance of electronic files and information in electronic databases or systems. Coordinate, establish, and manage in person or remote proceedings, including the use of teleconferencing, web-based video platforms, or other remote technology means. Gather information for and responding to inquiries regarding internal and external administrative reports. Support training activities of the Office, including preparing training materials and delivering training.

Please note these duties are not all-inclusive.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Refer to "Additional Information"
• Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See "Required Documents" for a list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

• • Career Transition Assistance Program
  • Competitive Transfer
  • Current Chief Counsel Employee
  • Current IRS Employee
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
  • Land Management
  • Non-Competitive Federal Employee
  • Veterans Employment Opportunities Act

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.

To qualify for this position of Paralegal Specialist, you must meet the qualification requirements listed below by the closing of this announcement:

For GS-9:

Specialized Experience: Your resume must detail at least one year of specialized experience which includes using case-tracking software to track and prepare reports for legal matters; updating and managing legal files; independently conducting legal research and analysis of single issue or fundamental substantive issues associated with federal or public sector labor, personnel, or employment matters; preparing drafts of documents and correspondence used in litigation and legal advice; and coordinating and managing in person or remote proceedings, including use of teleconferencing, web-based video platforms, or other remote technology means. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-7).

OR

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education: Options for qualifying based on a combination are identified in the online questions.

For GS-11:

Specialized Experience: Your resume must detail at least one year of specialized experience which includes using legal case-tracking software to track and prepare reports; managing and updating legal files; independently conducting legal research and analysis in multi-issue or complex substantive issues associated with federal or public sector labor, personnel or employment matters; preparing drafts of documents used in litigation and legal advice; creating and delivering training; and coordinating, establishing and managing in person or remote proceedings, including use of teleconferencing, web-based video platforms, or other remote technology means. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-9).

OR

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M. in a related field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education: Options for qualifying based on a combination are identified in the online questions.

NOTE: If qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application package.

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

Time in Grade Requirement for GS-9: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-7).

Time in Grade Requirement for GS-11: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-9).

Education

For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page .

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
• Relocation expenses are not authorized.
• This is a Non-Bargaining unit position.
• We offer opportunities for telework.
• We offer opportunities for flexible work schedules.

Conditions of Employment Continued:

• Subject to a 1-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• Must successfully complete a background investigation.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9 . Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
• Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
• Undergo an income tax verification.
• The employment of any candidate, including a current employee or a new hire, selected for this position may be conditional upon classification and/or audit of federal tax returns. This audit may include up to 2 years of returns.