This position is located in the Defense Legal Services Agency, Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The OGC serves as the principle legal advisor to the Secretary of Defense on, and has final authority and responsibility for, legal policy and determinations, and the delivery of legal services within DOD and its components. The incumbent works in one of the offices within OGC providing paralegal assistance to a Deputy General Counsel and staff attorneys in the assigned organization.

Duties

Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: Researches and analyzes legal issues relative to facts, issues, and applicable policy. Develops and makes usable ambiguous or confused data and other supportive material. Serves as a senior paralegal specialist providing support and assistance to the legal work being performed in an assigned office with the Office of the General Counsel. Prepares comprehensive digests, summaries, or reports which serve as the basis for judicial, administrative, or other legal arguments, interpretations, or opinions. Provides paralegal support for the attorneys in a variety of situation such as drafting and reviewing pleadings, motions, briefs and memoranda of law, etc.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment
• Required to participate in the direct deposit program
• This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
• The incumbent of this position must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI)
• This position may require you to work other than normal hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime

Qualifications

For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the length of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration. Read more about what should I include in my federal resume? at https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/ You may qualify at the GS-12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to: 1) Providing paralegal support for attorneys in a variety of situations such as drafting and reviewing pleadings, motions, briefs and memoranda of law, depositions of witnesses, compilation of discovery documents, and in the conduct of trials; 2) Analyzing legal issues relative to facts, issues, and applicable policy; And 3) Researching statutory, regulatory, court and/or administrative precedents, testimony, and other legal opinions or documentary material. 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, 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. ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act Chapter 21 of Title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 2108a, requires Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, at the time they apply for a Federal job, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, assuming the service member is otherwise eligible. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. The service member's military service dates are necessary in order to determine whether he or she meets the definition of "veteran" under 5 U.S.C. 2108(1). The "certification" must reflect the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date of submission. The "certification" must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters and must indicate when your terminal leave will begin (if applicable), your rank, dates of active duty service, the type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable). Further, under paragraph (h) of the rule, agencies are required to verify a qualifying separation from military service prior to appointment, through the DD-214 or other appropriate documentation. Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible." Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if member is on terminal leave. Current or Former Political Appointees: Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title; Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee); Agency; and, Beginning and ending dates of appointment. All qualifications and time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Contacts

• Address Defense Legal Services Agency Human Resources Directorate 4800 Mark Center Drive Alexandria, VA 22350 US
• Name: Washington HQ Services
• Email: [email protected]