Duties

Summary

This opportunity is also open to Status eligibles under Announcement 19-HUD-1417. Please refer to that announcement for details on open period, eligibility, and how to apply.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-12. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position. As a Paralegal Specialist, you will:

• Performs complex and comprehensive legal duties within the Office of General Counsel (OGC). Prepares written memoranda which identify, discuss, and analyze relevant cases, statutory and regulatory authorities, and materials; and presents conclusions as to the current state of law on issues.
  
• Performs documentary searches and analyses, including the examination of relevant, often voluminous, real estate and loan files in appropriate offices within HUD and elsewhere. Identifies, classifies, and organizes selected documents for the purpose of assembling administrative records, complying with FOIA requests, and preparing documentary exhibits.
  
• Analyzes and summarizes legal decisions, opinions, and other legal matter for use by attorneys; and based on specialized paralegal background, shepardizes cases and evaluates the current status of statutes or judicial opinions as requested. Obtains statutes and opinions from the library and legal research systems, such as Westlaw or Lexis Nexis. Searches for relevant case law, law reviews, or other documents for use by attorneys in preparation of opinions and other legal documents.
  
• Assists in preparing legal opinions, reports, and other memoranda, as well as performing support services related to program matters including preparing releases and satisfactions. Reviews and analyzes legal documents for completeness, accuracy, and legal sufficiency.
  
• Performs technical and administrative duties requiring familiarity with legal services, legal terminology, and office management. Such duties include, but are not limited to, the following: answering inquiries, performing records and correspondence management, entering information into databases, compiling legal packages, scheduling meetings and travel, proofreading, and editing documents and forms.
  
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
• Please refer to "Conditions of Employment."

The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service . 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/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your resume.

This position is located in the Office of General Counsel (OGC). OGC is the chief legal officer of the Department, the principal legal adviser to the Secretary and staff of HUD, and the head of the Departmental Enforcement Center. OGC provides legal opinions, advice, and services with respect to all Departmental programs and activities, and assists in the development of HUD programs and policies. OGC also provides functional legal counsel on defensive and affirmative litigation and the development of legislation and regulations.

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Specialized Experience: For the GS-12, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:

Experience regularly performing legal research and preparing necessary documentation in the course of real estate closings or related transactions, mortgage insurance transactions, or other housing or community development areas.

AND

Experience performing fact-finding or analysis of issues relating to Federal or state laws, policies or programs and preparing summaries and proposed resolutions of such issues.

Specialized Experience: For the GS-11, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:

Experience regularly performing legal research and preparing necessary documentation in the course of real estate closings or related transactions, mortgage insurance transactions, or other housing or community development areas.

OR

Education: 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 an accredited college or university that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Some substitution of education for experience is permissible.

OR

You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination will be identified in the online questions

Specialized Experience: For the GS-09, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:

Experience regularly performing legal research and preparing necessary documentation in the course of real estate closings or related transactions, mortgage insurance transactions, or other housing or community development areas.

OR

Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B. or J.D. in an accredited college or university that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Some substitution of education for experience is permissible.

OR

You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination will be identified in the online questions.

Education

Additional information

- We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
- Relocation expenses may be paid.
- This is a bargaining unit position.
- This position is Non-Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- Recruitment incentive may be offered.
- HUD offers alternative and flexible work schedules.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- A one year probationary period may be required.
- 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.

HUD employees are subject to a number of government-wide and HUD specific ethics laws and regulations, including restrictions on outside employment. To review applicable ethics rules, please visit https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/general_counsel/ethics

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application includes your résumé, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume may result in a "not qualified" determination.

Rating: Your application will be evaluated in the following areas: Research and Analysis skills, Analytical skills, and Communication skills. Category rating will be used to rank and select eligible candidates. If qualified, you will be assigned to one of three quality level categories: Best Qualified, Better Qualified, and Qualified (Good) depending on your responses to the online questions, regarding your experience, education, and training related to this position. Your rating may be lowered if your responses to the online questions are not supported by the education and/or experience described in your application.

Veterans' preference is applied after applicants are assessed. Preference-eligibles will be listed at the top of their assigned category and considered before non-preference-eligibles in that category.

Qualified preference-eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest category.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview.

If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP )) you must be assigned the middle category or better to be rated as "well qualified" to receive special selection priority.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

A complete application includes 1. A resume, 2. Vacancy question responses, and 3. Submission of any required documents. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

All applicants are required to submit a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional.) To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/date/year and number of hours worked for experience listed on your résumé. We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your résumé to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions. Please view résumé tips .

VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION: If you are claiming veterans preference, please see applicant guide for required documentation In order to be considered for veterans preference, you must submit all required documentation as outlined in the applicant guide .

CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) OR INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) DOCUMENTATION: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, click CTAP/ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents.

EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION: 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.

If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.