Duties

Summary

This position is located at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Enforcement.

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Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The following are the duties of this position at the CN-52, broadly equivalent to 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.

• Serve as a senior paralegal in the Office of Enforcement. Provide guidance and mentoring to more junior paralegals and support staff.
• Research legislation, regulations, and precedents for the most complex cases or issues surrounding Federal consumer financial law and consumer protection litigation.
• Examine case files and determines issues and sufficiency of evidence or documentation; search for legal precedents and analyze their applicability to include the preparation of digest of points on law involved.
• Conduct interviews and assist staff attorneys in interviewing potential witnesses.
• Gather, organize, and assemble legal documents and case files requiring attachments, enclosures, and authorities in highly sensitive cases.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
52

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

This opportunity is also open to Status Candidates under Announcement 21-CFPB-307-MP. Please refer to that announcement for details on open period, eligibility, and how to apply.

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.
Key Requirements:

Please refer to "Conditions of Employment."

Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National

A Public Trust background investigation will be required

As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before appointment or onboarding with the agency, if after November 22. Please do not submit any vaccine documentation at this time. If you are selected for a position at the Bureau, additional information will be provided regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.

Due to COVID-19, the Bureau is currently in a maximum telework posture through at least January 15, 2022. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office and maximum telework is revoked, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework on a routine or situational basis in accordance with the Bureau's telework policy.

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements within 30 days of the announcement's closing date.

Specialized Experience: To qualify at the CN-52 level, you must have the following: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the CN-51 level in the Federal service (the CN-51 level is broadly equivalent to the GS-11 level). For this position, specialized experience includes:

• Experience researching legislation and case law; AND
• Reviewing and summarizing case files and legal documents; AND
• Conducting and summarizing interviews or meetings either orally or in writing for senior management.

Specialized Experience: To qualify at the CN-51 level, you must have the following: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the CN-40 level in the Federal service (the CN-40 level is broadly equivalent to the GS-09 level). For this position, specialized experience includes:

• Experience working with cases in active litigation such as preparing briefs and other litigation papers for review or approval by attorneys; AND
• Analyzing evidence relevant to litigation; AND
• Analyzing legal issues involved in productions, corresponding with opposing counsel or expert witnesses, preparing for depositions, researching legislation and case law; AND
• Developing recommendations, and summarizing legal documents either orally or in writing for senior management.

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., if related.

OR

• To combine education and experience for the CN-51, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours), may be used to combine education and experience.

Specialized Experience: To qualify at the CN-40 level, you must have the following: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the CN-30 level in the Federal service (the CN-30 level is broadly equivalent to the GS-07 level). For this position, specialized experience includes:

• Experience assisting in investigations and litigation; AND
• Conducting legal research; AND
• Producing written and oral reports based on interviews, research and data analysis.

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., if related.

OR

• To combine education and experience for the CN-40, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.

A new hire's direct and overall experience are critical factors in determining a salary offer, it is important that your resume fully reflects all of your work experience. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau determines the salary offer for each selectee based primarily on three key factors:

• The selectee's directly related experience at the same level as the position.
• The selectee's overall experience in a particular industry or area.
• The salaries of other Bureau employees in similar positions and with similar levels of experience.

We also take the selectee's skill set into account. Applicants should note that salary offers seldom fall near the upper end of the salary range as listed in this vacancy announcement. Salary may be set from the minimum of the salary range to the midpoint of the salary range. In some instances, based on a selectee's extensive experience directly related to the position, salary may be set at or above the mid-point up to the maximum salary for that band level. See information on our base pay ranges and salary structure.

Education

Additional information

OTHER INFORMATION:

• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
• This announcement may be used to fill like positions in other organizations within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• This is a bargaining unit position.
• We offer opportunities for telework.
• We offer opportunities for flexible work schedules.
• Bureau employees are subject to government-wide ethical standards of conduct, financial disclosure requirements, and post-employment prohibitions, which applicants may review at www.oge.gov. In addition, employees must comply with the Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (5 CFR 9401), which, among other things, prohibit an employee or the employee's spouse or minor child from owning or controlling a debt or equity interest in an entity supervised by the Bureau. Regulations also impose restrictions on the outside activities of certain Bureau employees, including examiners and attorneys. Applicants may review the Bureau ethics regulations and a summary of the regulations at www.consumerfinance.gov. Questions regarding these requirements and prohibitions should be directed to the Bureau Ethics Office at EthicsHelp@cfpb.gov .

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• A one year probationary period may be required.
• Public Trust - Background Investigation will be required.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
• 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.
• 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.

Our comprehensive benefits are among the most generous in the federal government. They include:- Challenging and rewarding work benefiting American consumers - Opportunities for development and advancement- Comprehensive Federal health, vision, dental, life, and long-term care insurance programs- Learn more about Federal benefits programs at: http://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/201706_cfpb_benefits.pdf

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 résumé includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your résumé may result in a "not qualified" determination.

Rating : Your application will be evaluated in the following areas: Legal Knowledge, Analytical Thinking, and Written Communication.

Category rating will be used to rank and select eligible candidates. If qualified, you will be assigned to one of three quality level categories: A, B or C 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 receive a score in the middle category or better to be rated as "well qualified" to receive special selection priority.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

A complete application includes 1. A résumé, 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). Please ensure all required documents, including any required work samples, narratives, or other materials as stated in this announcement, are attached to your application package

All applicants are required to submit a résumé 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 you must submit in order to be eligible.

EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION: For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, you MUST 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.