Duties

Summary

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (FMSHRC) is an independent adjudicatory agency that provides administrative trial and appellate review of legal disputes arising under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), as amended. The mission of the FMSHRC is to provide just and legally sound adjudication of proceedings authorized under the Mine Act, thereby enhancing compliance with the Act and contributing to the improved health and safety of the nation's miners.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As an PARALEGAL SPECIALIST Intern, your major duties may include:

• Conducting in-depth legal research in matters arising under the U.S. Constitution, the Mine Act, Code of Federal Regulations, the Federal Rules of Evidence, and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, utilizing tools such as Westlaw and the Commission's website and in-house library.
• Preparing factual outlines and summaries from transcripts of hearing reviewing filings, briefs and settlement proposals.
  
• Preparing drafts of decisions, orders, and notices, based upon results of the legal research, in cases before an Administrative Law Judge.
  

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
07

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

You MUST meet the definition of a STUDENT for the duration of your appointment. The definition of a student is: an individual accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis (as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled), including awardees of the Harry S. Truman Foundation Scholarship Program under Public Law 93-842. Students need not be in actual physical attendance, so long as all other requirements are met. An individual who needs to complete less than the equivalent of half an academic/vocational or technical course-load immediately prior to graduating is still considered a student for purposes of this Program.

An academic year of undergraduate education is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in an accredited college or university.

Transcripts must be submitted with your application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable with your application. However, if selected for the position, you will be required to submit your official transcript. Please note your unofficial transcripts must be recent (within last six months), show your cumulative GPA, and indicate the courses you are currently enrolled in.

The definition of a qualifying educational institution for this announcement is as follows:
Applicants must be enrolled in one of the top 15 accredited law schools as ranked by U.S. News & World Report Best Law Schools, OR be ranked in the top third of their class at one of the top 150 law schools as ranked by the U.S. News & World Report. To view the U.S. News & World Report Best Law Schools 2021 rankings, please follow this link: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings

Qualifications

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

To qualify for the grade GS-07 level, you must meet the following requirement by the closing date of this announcement:

Education: In the Internship Program you may qualify based solely on education as follows:

Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate level education

OR

Bachelor's Degree with Superior Academic Achievement demonstrated through class standing (upper third of graduating class);grade point average (a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of possible 4.0 based on 4 years education or courses completed during the final 2 years; or a GPA of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on required courses in the major field); or election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. Please refer here for information on the OPM Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) provision.

A copy of transcript or list of college courses designating semester or quarter hours earned is required. (Please note that official transcripts will be required upon selection)

Education

You MUST meet the definition of a STUDENT for the duration of your appointment. The definition of a student is: an individual accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis (as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled), including awardees of the Harry S. Truman Foundation Scholarship Program under Public Law 93-842. Students need not be in actual physical attendance, so long as all other requirements are met. An individual who needs to complete less than the equivalent of half an academic/vocational or technical course-load immediately prior to graduating is still considered a student for purposes of this Program.

An academic year of undergraduate education is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in an accredited college or university.

Transcripts must be submitted with your application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable with your application. However, if selected for the position, you will be required to submit your official transcript. Please note your unofficial transcripts must be recent (within last six months), show your cumulative GPA, and indicate the courses you are currently enrolled in.

The definition of a qualifying educational institution for this announcement is as follows:
Applicants must be enrolled in one of the top 15 accredited law schools as ranked by U.S. News & World Report Best Law Schools, OR be ranked in the top third of their class at one of the top 150 law schools as ranked by the U.S. News & World Report. To view the U.S. News & World Report Best Law Schools 2021 rankings, please follow this link: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings

Additional information

• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
• We will not pay relocation expenses.
• This is a non-bargaining unit position.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Subject to a Trial period for the duration of the appointment.
• Provide proof of education (transcripts) prior to the job offer; you will be required to submit official transcripts verifying your qualifications prior to a job offer being issued.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
• 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 ( http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-9_IFR_02-02-09.pdf ). Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
• All selectees must sign a Pathways Participant Agreement.
• Must successfully complete a Public Trust background investigation.
• Submit to random drug testing while you occupy the position.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process.

A complete application includes 1. A resume, 2. Vacancy question responses, 3. Provide proof of education (transcripts) and 4. 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).

We use a multi-step process to evaluate and refer applicants:

1. Minimum Requirements: Your application must show that you meet all minimum qualifications as described under the "Qualifications Required" section. If your application is incomplete, you will not be considered.

2. Rating: Your application will be evaluated in the following areas: Analytical, Research and Analysis, Communication. Your application will be evaluated against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. You may also be further evaluated using additional assessment processes.

Category rating-like procedures will be used to rank and refer eligibles. Based on your responses to the online questionnaire, you will be assigned a score. Your score will determine in which of the three categories you will be placed: Categories A, B, or C.

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.

Review your resume and responses carefully. Please ensure that it fully describes your experience as it relates to the position for which you are applying. Your resume will be among the factors used in setting your pay, should you be made an offer of employment. Responses that are not fully supported by the information in your application package may result in adjustments to your score. A human resources representative will validate the qualifications of those candidates eligible to be referred to the selecting official.

3. Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application will be referred to a selecting official for consideration and possible interview.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

It is anticipated that there will be significant interest in the announcement. As a result, the announcement will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on the date of receipt of the 50th application or at 11:59 p.m. ET on 3/8/2021; whichever occurs first. Any required documents should be submitted at the time that you apply as documents will not be accepted after the vacancy closes.

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).

EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION

You are required to submit transcripts for this initial phase of the application process. These may be unofficial transcripts; you will be required to submit official transcripts verifying your qualifications prior to a job offer being issued. Unofficial transcripts must be recent (within last six months), show your cumulative GPA, and indicate the courses you are currently enrolled in.

If you are claiming that you are ranked in the top third of your class at one of the top 150 law schools as ranked by the U.S. News & World Report Best Law Schools 2020 and it does not show that on your transcript, you must submit proof from your college register's office.

Must submit proof of student enrollment on at least a half-time basis for Spring 2021.

To be used in meeting qualification requirements, 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 http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/search.aspx . If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency, if you are selected; more information may be found at: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp#e4a

VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION
If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge.

10 point preference eligibles must also submit an Application for 10-point Veteran Preference, SF-15, along with the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 form. An SF-15 may be found at: http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf . For more information on veterans' preference, click here .

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.