About the Position: Serves as a Paralegal Specialist in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District, Office of Counsel and provides support to attorneys, district leadership, and others in a variety of paralegal functions.

Duties

Serve as a Paralegal Specialist in the Office of Counsel (OC), exercising discretion and a high level of independent judgment in the application of laws, regulations, precedents, and agency practices. Assist attorneys in preparation of complex cases, often involving projects of high visibility or national significance. Conduct extensive, specialized, independent legal research, maintains case files, and prepares periodic reports, including litigation reports. Provide in-depth support to contract attorneys in preparation of Agency responses and case files for claims, appeals and bid protests. Lead the management of electronic discovery requirements for the District?s litigation, including contract claims/appeals. Assist attorneys in the preparation of real estate instruments, compensability opinions, and in the administration of real estate closings. Conduct assessment and evaluation of claims and assist attorneys in the legal research required to support liability determinations and opinions. Administer the handling of FOIA requests, to include record compilation, application of FOIA exemptions, redactions, and preparation of responses. Assist attorneys in the handling of employee disciplinary matters and in the research, document preparation, and discovery pertaining to labor and employment litigation before the MSPB and the EEOC. Provide oversight and guidance in all aspects of evolving electronically stored information (ESI) such as identification, preservation, harvesting, processing, culling, reviewing and producing the ESI discovery. Perform administrative tasks within the Office of Counsel to include assistance with financial disclosure reporting requirements, timekeeping and payroll, budget functions, training, travel, GPC transactions, and other CEFMS functions.

Requirements

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• The position requires the incumbent to travel to other duty locations approximately 10% of the time.
• Security Clearance: Secret

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Current Department of Army Civilian EmployeesInteragency Career Transition Assistance PlanLand Management Workforce Flexibility ActMilitary Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) EligibleVeterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Specialized experience at the GS 11 level is defined as: Experience in (1) providing support to attorneys in prosecuting or resolving cases or controversies (i.e., litigation and other forms of dispute resolution), including, preparing case files, propounding and responding to discovery requests, interviewing and preparing witnesses, and evaluating the merit, strength, and weakness of claims, causes of action, and defenses, (2) identifying, interpreting, and applying legal authorities and agency policies and procedures relevant to the performance of assigned tasks,(3) drafting correspondence, pleadings, and detailed narrations of facts for court or administrative proceedings., (4) independently researching factual and legal questions which present a variety of issues in the areas of fiscal and contract law. (5) utilizing and maintaining knowledge management and case tracking systems. You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Administration and ManagementAdministrative LawCase ManagementCompliance Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-11). All qualification requirements, including time-in-grade and time-after-competitive-appointment, must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Contacts

• Address GR-APF-W2R904 US ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT, VICKSBURG DO NOT MAIL Vicksburg, MS 39183 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk