This position is within the Department of Agriculture (USDA), Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) located in Alexandria, VA . The primary purpose of the position is to perform a variety of paralegal functions, which include legal research, evaluation of cases, assist in preparing cases, input data into and retrieve data and reports from databases, interpret state and agency regulations and laws, write reports, and draft legal memoranda, and legal correspondence.

Duties

Determines whether the evidence supports legal conclusions and whether Agency adjudication decisions are consistent with applicable laws and USDA regulations. Provides technical advice regarding factual and legal questions Agency precedence, past interpretations of regulations, law and procedures. Separates, screens, selects, assembles and organizes files and records material for disposition or transfer to records depository in accordance with established procedures. Uses established databases to perform data searches, report design, and other data retrieval assignments.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. GS-09 One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-07 level in Federal Service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform as a Paralegal Specialist: Such experience include: (1) Researches legal, congressional, statutory, regulatory, or program history to identify issues or factual background that pertain to the issues of adjudicatory history and cases. (2) Compiles statistical data for case adjudications and prepares charts, graphs, and tables to illustrate. (3) Provides oral briefings and overviews analyzing the significance and implications of statistical analyses. (4) Attends hearings and/or reviews audio files to assist adjudicator in the presentation of the case, responds to new issues and modify and revise exhibits. (5) Provides technical advice regarding factual and legal questions Agency precedence, past interpretations of regulations, law and procedures. (6) Advises management of potentially controversial issues, or issues with particular significance to the client agency's program. Time-in-Grade Requirements: Merit promotion applicants holding or having held a GS position in the past 52 weeks must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements. One year at the GS-7 is required to be eligible for the GS-9. Time-in-Grade requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Applicants MUST submit an SF-50 that illustrates time-in-grade and reflects title, series, and grade. No Award SF-50 will be accepted. Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0900/paralegal-specialist-series-0950/ 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 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

Qualifying Education
GS-09: Successful completion of a master's or equivalent graduate degree or two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B.or J.D., if directly related to position.

Combining Education and Experience
GS-09: When combining education and experience only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS11. (When crediting education that requires specific course work, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used.)

Contacts

• Address Office of Hearings and Appeals 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Marilyn Rivas
• Phone: 855-227-8131
• Email: [email protected]