The Paralegal Specialist position is located in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in various offices throughout the Office of General Counsel (OGC). The mission is to provide legal advice and services to the SECVA and all organizational components of the Department. The General Counsel is, by statute, the Department's Chief Legal Officer. The Paralegal Specialist works in a para-professional capacity involving the various legal service areas within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Duties

This is a non-bargaining unit position, but eligible to be represented. This job announcement will remain open for 10 days. The initial application review cut-off for this job announcement is 50 applications. The first 50 applications received will be considered first. Applications received after the initial cut-off number (50 applications) may not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by management. Major Duties: Provides direct legal services to clients on case and/or program assignments, including, but not limited to, handling, from start to finish or as otherwise assigned. Case development will include, but not be limited to, gathering all relevant facts and information needed for case processing, conducting legal research and applying the same to the issues presented, interviewing witnesses/claimants and other stakeholders, negotiating settlements/compromises within authority, and managing and prioritizing caseload. Performs a variety of case and program assignments with minimum oversight and direction. Participates and assists in litigation preparation and other program work by performing a variety of services, including, but not limited to: compiling, organizing, and indexing various evidentiary exhibits. Exercises good judgment in consulting with OGC managers and non-supervisory staff when faced with obstacles, novel issues, or complex issues where quality legal service cannot be delivered by following established guidance. Utilizes all available research systems and resources in conducting extensive legal research and writing on assigned cases and/or programs. Coordinates and manages the administrative portions of assigned programs and/or work units within OGC, including, but not limited to: coordinating case assignments; reviewing workforce statistics and reporting data needed to support managerial oversight functions (i.e. workload balancing, work-sharing arrangements, client and incumbent satisfaction tasks, performance measurements); and preparing presentation and briefing materials for attorneys and supervisors. Provides a wide range of legal support and administrative services to support OGC management and operations. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level (GS-11) without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Available Duty Location: This is not a remote position. The selected applicant will work from VA owned or leased office space. Position Description/PD#: Paralegal Specialist/PD33069A and PD33068A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Selectees are subject to a background/suitability investigation.
• Selectees may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• A complete application package, i.e., Resume, Transcripts, etc., as required by job announcement.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the Seasonal Influenza Prevention Program for VHA Health Care Personnel (HCP) is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs HCP.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Pre-employment physical examination/evaluation may be required.
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/08/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/08/2024. For a GS-9 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7 level. For a GS-11 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9 level. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. Provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" to indicate your current federal status. You must also submit additional SF-50(s) to clearly demonstrate one year time-in-grade as required in the announcement. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess one year time-in-grade. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade. Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Qualifications You may qualify for the Paralegal Specialist position based on your education, experience or combination of education and experience as described below. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. GS-09 Level Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-07) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as: Demonstrates a practical understanding of legal activities. Prioritizes and manages assigned cases and program duties to meet deadlines and instructions established by attorneys and/or supervisors. Provides effective direct legal service delivery on assigned matters to include fact finding, problem analysis, problem solving, legal writing, and interpreting regulations and policies. Reviewed complaints, claims, and requests along with supporting documentation under close supervision. Maintains complete and accurate time and status entries in case management systems. Accessed and obtained factual and legal information from available electronic systems and research sources. Reviewed subject matter and details of cases and assignments to develop basic knowledge and expertise of applicable law, policies and practices. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have master's or equivalent graduate degree; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 1 full year of graduate education. GS-11 Level Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-09) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as: Performs a variety of case and program assignments with minimum oversight and direction. Experience investigating, analyzing, and resolving issues with minimal guidance. Provides effective direct legal service delivery, to include fact finding, problem analysis, problem solving, legal writing, and interpreting regulations and policies. Prepares memoranda, briefs, draft legal opinions, and other technical documents for review which may significantly affect the agency position. Researched legislative history, precedent cases, decisions and opinions; Experience interviewing clients or witnesses or claimants. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 2 full years of graduate education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analytical Reasoning Attention to Detail Client Orientation Self Management Legal Research Writing Information Management Per Office of Personnel Management General Schedule Qualification Policies, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, human resources director, or official documentation such as SF-52, SF-50 documenting an official detail/assignments, or other comparable documentation). The documentation must indicate whether the employee performed the duties full time or, if part-time, the percentage of times the employee performed the additional duties. To receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your position, you must provide official documentation of such experience as indicated above. 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/alph-ndx.asp.

Education

Transcripts must be legible. Transcripts must contain the applicant name, the institution name, term/semester courses were completed, and, if relying on a degree to meet qualification requirements, that degree must be conferred on the transcript. A diploma will not be accepted as a substitute for a transcript.

PLEASE NOTE: 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 (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Contacts

• Address Office of General Counsel 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]