THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION. NEW MEXICO ARMY NATIONAL GUARD This National Guard position is for a PARALEGAL SPECIALIST, Position Description Number T5162000 and is part of the NM Command Administrative Office, National Guard.

Duties

This position is located in the Joint Force Headquarters - State, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA). The primary purpose of this position is for Paralegal support within the state/territory Staff Judge Advocate's Office providing ancillary legal research and analysis. Manages the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Preventative Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs in the state/territory. Serves as a point of contact for claims, ethics determinations, legal assistance for Army and Air National Guard personnel and their families, and provides technical legal guidance and support to National Guard unit commanders and their assigned legal personnel. Provides ancillary legal work to state/territory SJA and other assigned Army National Guard (ARNG) and Air National Guard (ANG) attorneys servicing the state/territory National Guard's case load. Conducts legal research of Federal and state/territory code, regulations, policies, procedures, case law, legal and administrative decisions and opinions, etc., and summarizes findings to aide staff attorneys in case or project resolution. Research is performed on a variety of legal subjects which may include, but are not limited to: Federal and state/territory code, and legislative proposals or intent; military justice and status issues for Title 10 and Title 32 members; claims; labor relations; equal opportunity; administrative actions; contractual agreements; ethics; environmental concerns; law enforcement; bankruptcy; taxation; legal assistance; and a wide variety of miscellaneous legal issues. Interviews clients and potential witnesses; collects and organizes pertinent factual and research material to build case files; and prepares and organizes exhibits. Composes, prepares, and ensures accuracy of various legal or legislative documents. Drafts and edits non-legal memoranda, research reports and correspondence relating to cases. Maintains case files and identifies and corrects file deficiencies or discrepancies. Provides research, analysis, guidance, and support to administer courts-martial, non-judicial punishment, administrative boards and other legal actions and administrative processes. Reviews procedures, timing criteria and documents relative to the administration of justice under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and associated state/territory code. Performs research to identify factual and legal issues to uncover relevant information for summaries of precedent cases, interviews, testimony, depositions, and related case material for use by the attorneys. Manages the Preventative Law Program. Facilitates legal training for unit readiness non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and Directorate of Manpower and Personnel (J1) personnel, or others by request, on a variety of topics including but not limited to: the military justice system (both Federal and state/territory), inquiries and investigations, unlawful command influence, adverse administrative actions, administrative separations, the Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968, urinalysis testing and other issues affecting traditional guard members and NG full-time employees. Serves as the primary point of contact for claims. Accepts complaint, summons, documents, or inquiries; identifies the type or purpose; screens for completeness; and identifies the action to be performed. As required by the action, performs preliminary investigation and gathers pertinent information, researches legal and factual issues, interviews claimant, involved parties and potential witnesses and builds case files, and recommends disposition of claim. Serves as the primary point of contact for ethical determinations. Screens requests for ethics opinions and gathers the applicable facts. Reviews changes in regulations on the Freedom of Information Act and updates and advises other legal personnel and field staff of changes. Consults and assists in formulation of NGB regulations regarding the release of information. Reviews Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Analyzes specific criteria and conducts required research for the information requested and coordinates with organization's functional managers for release of appropriate information. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance of the position.
• Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day.

Qualifications

GENERAL EXPERIENCE: Experience, education or training that demonstrates the ability to analyze the legal impact of legislative developments and administrate and judicial decisions, opinions, rulings and determinations on agency programs; conduct research for the preparation of legal opinions on matters of interest to the agency. Practical knowledge and use of basic legal principles and concepts to interpret and apply or explain to others the application of a body of law, regulations, precedents, and practices covering one or more recurring types of legal actions encountered in an agency. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Must have1-year specialized experience, education, or training equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the formal and informal rules of evidence and skill necessary to evaluate the adequacy and/or admissibility of evidence, to request additional data or further investigation, when needed, or to develop narrative or graphic exhibits to support specified legal arguments and coordinate actions with other federal agencies or state and local jurisdictions that have closely related responsibilities.

Education

Substitution of Experience for 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

You must provide transcripts or other documentation to support your Educational claims. To receive credit for Education, you must provide documentation of proof that you meet the Education requirements for this position.

Contacts

• Address NM Command Administrative Office 47 Bataan Boulevard Santa Fe, NM 87508-4695 US
• Name: Jonelle Suina
• Phone: 505-407-3610
• Email: [email protected]