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Paralegal Specialist

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
May 8, 2021
Duties

Summary

What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?

GS-11 Salary: $72,750.00 (Step 01) to $94,581.00 (Step 10); GS-12 Salary: $87,198.00 (Step 01) to $113,362.00 (Step 10).
NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.

Open to current or former Federal employees: SOL-21-11090254-ST-KHB
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As a Paralegal Specialist within the Office of the Solicitor, Division of General Law, Employment and Labor Law Unit located in Washington, DC some of your specific duties will include:
  • Conducting independent and substantive research and analysis using complex legal databases, such as Westlaw and Pacer, on a myriad of legal and factual matters, analyzing the facts and legal issues involved, and preparing draft pleadings and correspondence in cases and counseling matters. Research focuses on federal employment law and regulations.
  • Managing the tracking of all action items received in the Unit's intake/matter tracking system, provides analysis on matters received, and assists attorneys with drafting appropriate responses, and monitors major judicial and administrative litigation cases.
  • Conducting investigations and coordinating staff input involving, but not limited to, discovery proceedings, development of, and responses to, depositions, and interrogatories; preparing and drafting complex legal documents and correspondence such as declarations, pleadings, administrative records, pretrial, post-trial and dispositive motions, outlines, summaries, memorandums, and letters;
  • Participating in all phases of discovery, case development, and preparation for evidentiary hearings, trials, and appeals; provides in-depth analysis of data, develops recommendations and justifications for the attorneys taking matters to court.
  • Providing litigation support to attorneys during trials by handling exhibits, taking notes, reviewing trial transcripts, scheduling interviews, meetings, depositions, and other proceedings;
  • Serving as primary point of contact on administrative litigation involving client agencies; responding and asking questions to client agencies on compilation of the Agency File in MSPB actions, or generally, in any administrative record, and responding to questions from client witnesses on discovery drafts (initial disclosures and responses);
  • Electronically filing federal administrative cases with appropriate certificate of service.
  • Other duties as assigned: Performing a variety of administrative duties in support of attorneys within MIB and the regional offices, these duties may generally include: Back-up administrative support to the office including processing correspondence in the Department's document tracking system, mailing correspondence, and assisting with travel arrangements and travel processing, and other matters as assigned.

SOL has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework in accordance with the DOI Telework policy and with supervisor approval. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis.

For additional information on telework you may access the Department of Interior's Telework Handbook at https://www.doi.gov/telework/policies .

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel occasionally for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment


Key Requirements:
  • Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
  • More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
  • Requirements :
    • A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
    • Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.
    • Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.


    Qualifications

    Candidates should have excellent oral communication, writing, research and analysis skills, and the ability to work effectively with other people, and exercise sound judgment.
    GS-11 :

    Applicants must possess one of the following to qualify for the GS-11 level:

    Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level in the Federal service that demonstrates accomplishment of paralegal duties that require a range of knowledge of paralegal assistance principles, concepts, policies and practices. Examples may include: analyzing and evaluating case files against case litigation worthiness standards; noting and correcting case file deficiencies before sending the case on to the concerned trial attorney; reviewing and analyzing available precedents relevant to cases under consideration for use in presenting case summaries to trial attorneys; gathering, sorting, classifying, and interpreting data from private enterprise and labor organizations to discover patterns of possible discriminatory activity; interviewing industrial and union representatives, employees, and potential witnesses to gather information; reviewing s and analyzing relevant workforce statistics; performing statistical evaluations as supporting data for case litigation; consulting with statistical experts on reliability of statistical evaluations; and testifying in court concerning relevant data.

    --OR Possess a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree in a field of study pertinent to legal analysis work such as law; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a graduate degree in a field of study pertinent to legal analysis work such as law;

    --OR Possess a combination of graduate education and experience.

    GS-12 :

    Applicants must possess the following to qualify for the GS-12 level:

    Possess one year of specialized experience equal to the GS-11 level. Examples may include: performing specialized legal research in support of Attorney staff including research of legislative intent, controversial judicial precedents, case law, law review articles, and slip opinions, analyzing legal decisions; compiling substantive information on legal subjects; collecting, analyzing, and evaluating evidence in connection with contract and tort appeals, tort litigation and appeals, personnel litigation; preparing a variety of substantive legal documents to include various motions, appeal files, claim denials, protest reports and litigation reports, and other legal actions required; and providing a variety of litigation legal assistance and technical work requiring a specialized knowledge of processes, procedures, and practices to support legal activities. A paralegal certificate is desired but not required for this position.
    You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

    Education

    • 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 completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .


    Additional information

    Other Information :
    • Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.
    • Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.
    • The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
    • DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify .
    • THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
    Agency Benefits :
    • Working for the DOI, Office of the Solicitor offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid vacation, sick leave , and holidays ; health, life, dental, vision, and long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts , and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System .


    How You Will Be Evaluated

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

    --Vacancy Related Questions: As part of the online application process, you will need to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your possession of the following knowledge skills, abilities and/or competencies: Administrative Support; Attention to Detail; Plan and Organize; Regs/Procedural Guidance; Oral & Written Communication; Customer Service; Pressure/Deadlines; Compile/Analyze data; Interpersonal Communication; General Abilities and Knowledge; Problem Solving; Library Skills; Information Management.

    --Basis of Rating: You will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position. If you are eligible, you will receive a numerical rating based on your on-line responses to the application questions. These responses must be substantiated by your resume. If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible.

    Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and awards during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

    --NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.

    To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11090254

    Background checks and security clearance

    Security clearance
    Not Required

    Drug test required
    No

    Position sensitivity and risk
    Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

    Trust determination process
    Credentialing

    Required Documents

    Required documents may be:
    (1) uploaded directly from your desktop; or
    (2) uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments.

    Transcripts
    --If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) or list of course work, which includes semester hours earned and grade received, by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration. Please ensure that all documentation is legible.

    Current & Former Federal Employees
    -- If you are a current career or career-conditional Federal employee OR a former Federal employee who has reinstatement eligibility? you must submit the following by the closing date of this announcement, or you will not receive consideration as such:
    • a copy of a recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting proof of competitive status, tenure, position title, occupational series, grade level and step?; and
    • your most recent performance appraisal (if you do not have your most recent performance appraisal, please submit an explanation as to why it is unavailable); and
    • if applicable, a list of any awards you received in the last 5 years (i.e., superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.).
    Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA)
    --If you are claiming eligibility under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), you must submit proof that supports your claim. This may include:
    • A legible copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, member 4 copy or any official documentation or statement from the Armed Forces that confirms your dates of service and that your separation, discharge, or release from active duty was under honorable conditions.
    • If you are currently on active military duty, you must provide documentation (e.g., campaign document, award citation, etc.), that verifies entitlement to veterans' preference and that your character of military service is honorable.
    Additional information can be found in the VetGuide .

    Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) & Inter-agency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Eligibles
    --If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, the Servicing Human Resources Office must receive proof by the closing date of this announcement that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330 Subpart F for CTAP and 5 CFR 330 Subpart G for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration. This includes:
    • copy of the agency notice;
    • your most recent Performance Rating; and
    • your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location.
    If you are a CTAP or ICTAP eligible, you will be considered well qualified if you earn a minimum score of 85 (prior to the assignment of veteran's preference points). For more information on CTAP/ICTAP please click here .

    Land Management Workforce Flexibility Eligibles
    --If you are applying as a current or former employee of a land management agency, i.e., Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, or the U.S. Forest Service who is serving or previously served on a temporary or term appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, you must submit the following documentation by the closing date of this vacancy announcement in order to receive consideration:
    • SF-50(s), Notification of Personnel Action, that documents your service under competitive examining procedures in time limited appointments that totals 2 or more years at land management agencies; and
    • Documentation of satisfactory performance such as performance evaluations or references by supervisors or other documents, e.g., memorandums of record, whereas the supervisor documented an acceptable performance level.
    Additional information can be found here .

    Eligibility for Special Appointing Authorities
    If you are applying for this position based on eligibility under a special appointing authority, you must submit proof that supports your claim by the closing date of the announcement. If you fail to submit proof, you will not receive consideration under the special appointing authority. Below is a list of the most common authorities and the documentation requirements. If you're eligible for an authority not listed, you are responsible for submitting documentation that's appropriate for that specific authority.

    REQUIRED DOCUMENTS CONTINUED IN THE HOW TO APPLY SECTION, BELOW.

    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.

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