Duties

Summary

The Bureau of Competition's Honors Paralegal Program attracts motivated and dedicated individuals from across the country. Honors Paralegals work on both merger and conduct-related investigations with staff attorneys, economists and financial analysts across the Bureau, and have the opportunity to work on a case from the initial stages of an investigation through litigation in federal and administrative courts.

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Responsibilities

Paralegals have the opportunity to become familiar with the legal and economic methodology used by attorneys in the Bureau of Competition during the course of various antitrust investigations and litigation. Specifically, Paralegals in the Bureau of Competition will be expected to perform the following duties:

• Performs research using section or attorney files, library references files, corporate records, private and governmental studies, legal research databases, and other pertinent sources, to supply factual information for inclusion in memoranda, briefs, and similar documents.
• Uses computer databases to assist in factual and/or legal research; encodes substantive case materials for entry into computer; retrieves and analyzes materials through data searches.
• Reviews state and local board associations and trade associations and targets for investigation those that have anticompetitive effects or are unreasonably restrictive.
• Assists senior staff in analyzing initial-phase investigation to discuss the need for further development and to identify the technical and legal issues involved.
• Writes and/or edits interview reports and other memoranda reflecting facts, sources, citations, etc., discovered during the course of legal research. Drafts notices, stipulations and other routine orders in substitution of attorneys; prepares table of contents, indexes and table of authorities for legal briefs, memoranda, and other such documents; reviews and researches citations, footnotes, textual references and other entries for accuracy.
• Digests substantive materials or transcripts of testimony from investigational hearings and/or depositions; indexes documents in accordance with legal categories determined by the attorney to whom assigned.
• Assists attorneys in conducting interviews with investigative sources and prospective witnesses to gather information useful in assessing the impact of regulations on industries; investigates corporate counsel contact information to set-up industry interviews.
• Organizes, maintains and/or archives files (interrogatories, document requests, requests for admission, objections, motions, affidavits, general correspondence, exhibits, etc.) for case team members throughout the course of an investigation or litigation; maintains accounting systems for all materials to be used as exhibits in administrative proceedings and federal court trials.
• Coordinates various support services as required by attorneys assigned to a case (i.e. requesting court reporters, shipping materials, coordinating with litigation support, etc.)
• Assists in court proceedings, traveling to trial site (when necessary), grand jury hearings, investigational hearings, depositions, etc., in support of attorneys and case team during the course of investigation and/or litigation.

Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
9

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. citizenship requirement must be met by the closing date of this vacancy.
• Position is subject to a background investigation.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must register with Selective Service.
• You may serve a one-year probationary period under this appointment.
• R?sum? and supporting documents (See How To Apply).
• Due to COVID-19, the FTC is currently in a maximum telework posture through December 31, 2021. In addition, the agency is currently exploring the possibility of having a remote workforce for current and future employees beyond January 2022.
• If selected, you will be permitted to temporarily telework from a location outside the local commuting area.
• However, once employees are permitted to return to the office, you may be required to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within 60 days. At that time, you will be eligible to request telework in accordance with the FTC?s policy.

Qualifications

To qualify for a Paralegal Specialist at the GS-07 level, you must meet the following requirements:

You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: such experience may include assisting in investigation and/or litigation; conducting legal and relevant industry research; database development and use; review and analysis of documents and data during the discovery process; interviewing investigational sources; producing written and oral reports based on interviews, research and data analysis.

OR

Have 1 full year of graduate education

OR

Have Superior Academic Achievement S A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.)-- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: a. 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or b. 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum

OR

Have equivalent combinations of graduate education and experience. 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

If you qualify on the basis of education in lieu of experience, you must submit a copy of your transcripts. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package; however, official transcripts will be required prior to receiving an official job offer.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION

The Bureau of Competition's (BC) Honors Paralegal Program has expanded to over 20 paralegals, attracting motivated and dedicated individuals from across the country. Honors Paralegals work on both merger and conduct-related investigations with staff attorneys, economists and financial analysts across the Bureau, and have the opportunity to work on a case from the initial stages of an investigation through litigation in federal and administrative courts. The Bureau of Competition considers its Honors Paralegal Program to be an unqualified success, allowing the Bureau to spread its resources more broadly and efficiently. Those who have participated in the program have found it to be a rewarding opportunity to learn about a career in law, economics, and public policy. The distinguished group of Honors Paralegal alumni have gone on to attend graduate programs and start careers in public policy, law, and business, among others.

Additional information

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: VETERANS GUIDE

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see SELECTIVE SERVICE ).

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 87 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: CAREER TRANSITION .

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. 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 when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category.

Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies.

Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies.

Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference .

The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Other supporting documents:
- Cover Letter, optional
- College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education (required)
- Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
- Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)

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.