Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Office of General Counsel, Division of Enforcement Litigation, Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation Branch. The Paralegal Specialist is responsible for preparing motions and other legal documents, including enforcement applications and certified lists, digesting transcripts and exhibits, conducting corporate asset investigations, interpreting and applying appropriate court rules, practices and procedures, and performing research and investigative assignments.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As a Paralegal Specialist GS-0950-9/11, your typical work assignments may include:

• Analyzing and reviewing incoming submissions from a wide variety of sources, including Regional offices, outside counsel, and court clerks. Ensuring that all required materials are available and notes and corrects deficiencies (e.g., missing documents, inconsistent materials and leads not investigated) before forwarding the case on to the assigned attorney.
• Compiling the record of the case, and composing the Certificate of Record/Certified List, appropriate applications, certificates of service, notices, letters of transmittal and other relevant documents. Since rules of the various circuits differ, such assignments require extreme accuracy in addition to a detailed knowledge of the varying rules which govern the format of documents to be filed with the Courts. The incumbent is responsible for assuring that all documents meet the specific requirements for each circuit.
• Identifying and assembling all documents which constitute the record of the case before the Board. Requesting further information where needed.
• Performing necessary research and independently drafting, filing and processing applications or motions for summary entry of judgment, and applications or motions for entry of consent judgment.
• Preparing certificates of service, various other motions, and other legal documents in conformity with the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedures, and rules of the various Circuit Courts, and assuring their timely and accurate filing, keeping the attorney assigned to the case apprised.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
11

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U. S. Citizenship Required.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• Relocation expenses are not authorized.
• This position is part of the bargaining unit.
• All materials must be received by the closing date of this announcement to be considered.

Qualifications

To be eligible at the GS- 9 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience.

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-7, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the following duties. This experience must be fully supported and articulated in your resume to receive consideration.

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the GS-9 Paralegal Specialist) and that is typically related to the work of the position to be filled:

• Experience maintaining case files and performing research of legal documents; and
• Experience evaluating court opinions to prepare correspondence for attorneys; and
• Experience responding to inquires based on interpretation of legal references and legal proceedings.

Education : One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law): a Master's or equivalent graduate degree (such as an LL.B. or J.D.); OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 1 full year.

To be eligible at the GS-11 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience.

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-9, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the following duties. (Please ensure your experience is highlighted in your resume.)

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the GS-11 Paralegal Specialist and that is typically related to the work of the position to be filled:

• Experience analyzing court orders to make determinations of appropriate courts for filing and to identify which legal statute violated; and
• Experience reviewing, and preparing documents and correspondence from a variety of sources such as court clerks and outside counsel; and
• Experience performing legal research utilizing legal reference materials and legal databases. Examples would include Westlaw, PACER, Hein Online, Cite Net, KnowVation, and NxGen.

Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law): 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. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Combining Education and Experience : Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 2 full years.

Ideal Candidate Statement

The ideal candidate for the Paralegal Specialist will have interpersonal skills to interact with colleagues and senior level management; general knowledge of the law and legal procedures to prepare legal documents and various correspondence; and strong research and analytical skills. Excellent communication skills desired.

Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

NOTE: 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.

Education

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; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html .

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage.

Additional information

SUPPLEMENTARY VACANCIES: Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: The National Labor Relations Board is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for appointment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, political affiliations, handicap, age, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factor. Applicants with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Agency's Selective Placement Coordinator by email smschedule@nlrb.gov . NLRB offers a wide array of reasonable accommodations and programs for individuals with disabilities. (Note: for additional information for job seekers with disabilities, please click on the following website, https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/hiring/.

PLACEMENT POLICY: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

WORK SCHEDULE: NLRB supports the use of flexible work schedules as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, a review of resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that your scores do not reflect that you meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position, you will lose consideration for this position.

You will be further evaluated on the following Competencies required for the position:

• Customer Service
• Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence
• Oral Communication
• Reasoning
• Written Communication

Qualified candidates will be ranked into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified or Qualified.
If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. Candidates in the "Best Qualified" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

To preview the assessment questionnaire, please click on the following link:
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10940101

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
NCS/High Risk

Trust determination process
Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

Your resume: Resume must include your, position title, grade, how to contact you, descriptions of jobs held including the name and address of the employer, job title, description of duties, beginning and ending date, (month and year) of employment, and average hours worked per week.

Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee: An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
- Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
- Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
- SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Transcripts - Copy of Transcripts (Required if using education to qualify) (Must show your name, name of school, degree and date conferred).

Performance Appraisal: All applicants are required to submit their most recently completed annual performance appraisal (dated within 18 months from the closing date of the vacancy announcement), which identifies your official rating of record (must be at least "Fully Successful") and is signed by the supervisor, or a statement explaining why the performance appraisal is unavailable. If you fail to provide a copy of the performance appraisal, or a statement advising why it is unavailable, you will be removed from further consideration.

Veterans - DD-214 (Member Copy 4) Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty

Disabled Veterans - DD-214, SF-15, and proof of disability, Department of Veterans Affairs letter dated 1991 or later

Certain Military Spouses - Copy of service member's PCS order authorizing the spouse to accompany the service member AND Proof of marriage to the service member; OR Proof the service member was released or discharged from active duty due to a service connected disability AND documentation of the service member's 100% disability AND proof of marriage to the service member; OR Proof the service member's death while on active duty AND proof of marriage to the service member.

Disability Schedule A - Disability Letter

Family Member Preference (Derived Preference)

Reinstatement

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) (Please note: To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position. CTAP and ICTAP eligible applicants must submit documentation as proof to be considered.)

Former Peace Corps or VISTA Volunteers

All materials must be received by the closing date of this announcement, 11/09/2020, to be considered.

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.