About the Position: This is a Paralegal Specialist, GS-0950-07/09/11 position with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Southwestern Division (SWD), Fort Worth District, Office of Counsel located in Fort Worth, TX. There are two vacancies that may be filled at the GS-07, GS-09, or GS-11 grade levels. The full performance grade of this position is GS-11.

Duties

Serves as Paralegal Specialist in the Office of Counsel (OC), exercising discretion and independent judgment in the application of laws, regulations, precedents, and agency practices. Works under the general and technical supervision of the District Counsel, the Deputy District Counsel, and the technical supervision of the Assistant District Counsels. Assists attorneys in preparation of cases. Renders research assistance, maintains case files, and prepares periodic reports, including litigation reports. Serves as an alternate Freedom of Information Act Officer for the District. Serves as assistant to the District Claims Officer and is responsible for the investigation of various matters that may give rise to a claim in favor of or against the United States. Provides support to contract attorneys in review and preparation of Service Contract Act Requests and bond reviews. Assists with the preparation of agency responses and case files for claims, appeals and bid protests, and is the primary point of contact for the execution of the contract industrial relations (CIR) program. Provides assistance to labor attorneys and assembles materials requested for investigations, maintains files, coordinates onsite investigative visits, and conducts research. Assists Ethics Counselors and Labor Counselors representing the agency before outside organizations. Provides litigation assistance and trial support to attorneys who are involved in litigation.

Requirements

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.

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 EmployeesCurrent Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army)Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel WorkforceInteragency Career Transition Assistance PlanLand Management Workforce Flexibility ActMilitary Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473Non-Department of Defense (DoD) TransferPriority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician EligiblePriority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) EligiblePriority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability RetirementPriority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference EligibleReinstatementVeterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the experience or education 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. To qualify for the GS-07: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) utilizing automated filing systems and/or databases to acquire or store legal information; OR 2) assisting attorneys with the preparation of legal documents and correspondence. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05). OR Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. OR Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with 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. Superior Academic Achievement is based on:(1) Class Standing - Applicants 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.) - Applicants 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 - Applicants 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.achsnatl.org/). OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages. To qualify for the GS-09: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) utilizing automated systems and/or databases to retrieve, update and/or store legal information; AND 2) performing legal research and assembling the information for use by attorneys. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). OR Education: 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. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. To qualify for the GS-11: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) drafting legal briefs, pleadings, litigation recommendations, and/or other legal documents or correspondence; AND 2) conducting legal research and/or analysis to assist attorneys with investigations and responses; AND 3) compiling legal references, case files, and/or other sources for information required by attorneys or court personnel. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). OR Education: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. Time in Grade Requirement for the GS-07: 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-05). Time in Grade Requirement for the GS-09: 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-07). Time in Grade Requirement for the GS-11: 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-09).

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address RK-W2SU02 US ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT FORT WORTH DO NOT MAIL Fort Worth, TX 76102 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk