About the Position: Position(s) will be filled under the Department of the Army Pathways Recent Graduates Program. Click here for more information on Pathways program participation. After Program completion, Department of the Army Recent Graduates MAY be converted to a permanent position or to a term position (a project-based term of employment lasting between one and four years). This position is located in United States Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District in Philadelphia, PA.

Duties

As a Paralegal Specialist, you will: Provide administrative support, such as preparing and distributing correspondence, making travel arrangements, ordering office supplies, entering information into accounting and legal databases, etc. Receive and refer office visitors and phone calls and takes messages. Prepare, review, and coordinate with attorneys on all matters pertaining to Freedom of Information Act requests and Privacy Act requests including the determination of what is to be sent forward for denial. Work with attorneys to preserve, compile, review, redact, and produce evidence in discovery. Serve as records coordinator, and develop and contribute to knowledge management tools. Under the supervision of the District Counsel and/or Deputy District Counsel, assist attorneys with research, coordination, and writing in developing advice and providing advocacy in litigation. Aid and assist the District’s Claims Officer in processing claims under the Federal Tort Claim Act. In coordination with the assigned attorney(s), responds to inquiries from potential claimants, providing appropriate claims for completion and filing with the Government.

Requirements

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position requires pre-employment financial disclosure and annually thereafter in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R.
• The duties of this position require the incumbent to possess or obtain and maintain a valid state Driver's License in one of the 50 U.S. states or possessions to operate vehicles.
• Appointment to this position is subject to a one year probationary period unless the appointee has previously met the requirements as described in 5 CFR Part 315. While probationary the incumbent can be terminated with limited appeal rights.
• This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of 5% of the time.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Positions are open to: Recent graduates who have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution. Short-term training programs (e.g. several two-week programs completed) are not considered an academic course of study. Current students who will graduate no later than 9 months from the date applications are due for this vacancy announcement. Preference eligible veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their two-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed six years after degree or certificate completion Applicants can be selected at the GS-07 level. The target grade of this position is GS-11. After Program completion, Department of the Army Recent Graduates MAY be converted to a permanent position or to a term position (a project-based term of employment lasting between one and four years). To be eligible for conversion to a permanent or term position, Recent Graduates must: Be a U.S. Citizen Successfully complete all the requirements of the Recent Graduate Program as defined in the Agency Participant Agreement. Demonstrate successful job performance. Meet the Office of Personnel Management qualification standard including any applicable positive education requirements and/or selection placement factors and any other designated special qualifications requirements and conditions of employment (e.g. medical standards) appropriate for the position to which being converted. To learn more, please visit the Office of Personnel Management webpage, Hiring Authorities: Students & Recent Graduates. In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience 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. 1. Select the one statement that best describes the education and/or experience that you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of Paralegal Specialist (Recent Graduate) at the GS-07 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal Service. A. I have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service which includes 1) With supervision, assist with performing research. 2) With supervision, assist with drafting legal documents such as reports, motions, briefs, discovery, legal memoranda and legal transactional documents to support administrative review and litigation. 3) With supervision, assist with performing office management duties such as answering emails, sending out, assisting others in the office, using automated systems to compose documents, etc. B. I have successfully completed one full academic year of graduate-level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as, English, History, Political Science, Psychology, Criminal Justice, etc. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) C. I have successfully completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree and am claiming Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in B above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) Class Standing - You 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; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - You must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your 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 (3) Honor Society Membership - You may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achshonor.org/). (NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts and/or verification of class standing for further verification.) D. I have the specialized experience as described in A, but less than one year; and I have some graduate education as described in B, but less than the required one year. I have computed the percentage of the requirements that I meet, and the total is at least 100% (To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then, divide your semester hours of graduate education by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.). (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) E. I have the experience as described in A AND the education described in B or C. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) F. My experience and/or education is not reflected in any of the above statements. This position will require successful completion of Administrative Careers with America (ACWA) assessment after selection.

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 GA-APF-W2SF04 US ARMY ENGINEER DIST, PHILADELPHIA DO NOT MAIL Philadelphia, PA 19107 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk