Job opening: PARALEGAL SPECIALIST

Salary: $75 715 - 98 426 per year

Published at: Dec 10 2024

Employment Type: Full-time

This Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) position is within the Office of General Counsel (OGC), DeCA. The General Counsel of the Department of Defense is dual hatted as the Defense Legal Services Agency (DLSA) Director; DLSA provides a full range of legal advice and services to officials of the Defense Agencies and the DoD Field Activities. DeCA is a Defense Agency responsible for operating military commissaries worldwide.

Duties

Serve as a Paralegal Specialist in the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) Office of General Council (OGC), providing assistance to Agency attorneys on matters that do not require a law degree and admission to the bar. Act as DeCA OGC legal representative at meetings and by telephone between DeCA, outside agencies, contractors and clients for the purpose of gathering information to use in developing recommendations, legal advice, opinions, and legal strategy by attorneys assigned to DeCA. Gather, analyze and prepare litigation reports for submission to the DeCA General Counsel, Department of Justice (DoJ), investigators, and others. Use statistical techniques to gather and analyze litigation data to evaluate the usefulness in researching legal issues. Research, compose (citing applicable supportive law, rule, regulation, and facts), and file a variety of legal documents including notices, entries of appearance, schedule changes, motions, discovery, affidavits, and settlement documents as determined necessary by the responsible attorney for submission to Federal administrative fora or Federal courts in cases involving the agency. Open and assemble cases and matters to be reviewed, coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, and support assigned attorneys in litigation of matters before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), or other Federal litigation cases involving the agency. Submit entry and updates to computer case management systems to track the status of administrative and judicial, active/inactive, and closed cases throughout the agency. Read the entire announcement before starting the application process.

Requirements

Be a U.S. citizen or national.
Meet minimum age requirement. See Additional Information.
Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered with or exempt from Selective Service.
May be subject to successful verification of identity and employment eligibility through E-Verify. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
May be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as required. New federal employees will be fingerprinted.
Be able to obtain and maintain clearance eligibility based on the appropriate background investigation.
May be subject to a probationary/trial period.
Direct deposit of pay is required.
Meet the physical requirements listed in the Qualifications section.
Must be able to obtain and maintain security clearance eligibility based on the appropriate background investigation.

Qualifications

In accordance with the Group Coverage Qualification Standards for Administrative and Management Positions, http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/group-stds/gs-cler.asp.applications To qualify at the GS-11 grade level Experience - One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level by the closing date of this announcement. Specialized experience include: Searching, analyzing and actively using online data and public filings, processing systems and other records maintained by government entities throughout the country to determine the status of various litigation and other matters. Assisting in the evaluation, development and litigation of EEO, personnel, labor, and contract cases for clients. Participate in court and administrative hearings on employee complaints, appeals, protests, investigations and arbitrations, depending on specific assignment. Investigating, gathering, classifying, interpreting and summarizing the factual situation, including any necessary statistical data which involves interviewing witnesses, collecting documents and statements, and compiling case files. Researching independently and briefing assigned attorney(s) with relevant facts, supportive legal standards and case law. Establishing, coordinating, maintaining, and closing of litigation and other files. Filing motions and pleading. OR (b) A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. Education must be from a college or university accredited by an organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education (https://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/) and in an appropriate field of study as described elsewhere in this announcement. Or (c) A combination of experience and education equaling 100% of the qualifications You will receive credit for all relevant qualifying experience (paid and unpaid), including volunteer work done through National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Additional Requirements that must be met by the closing date: Physical requirements: Work is sedentary and the incumbent usually sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some physical activity such as walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as papers and books. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. Time-in-grade applies to the promotion of current and former federal employees who hold or have held a permanent GS position in either the competitive or excepted service in the previous 52 weeks, including current employees applying under VEOA. Your application package must contain proof you meet this requirement. See Required Documents for more information. For GS-9: You must have 52 weeks of Federal service at or equivalent to GS-7. Time after competitive appointment. Current federal civilian employees must have completed at least 90 days of federal civilian service since being selected for a non temporary appointment from a competitive examination register of eligibles (an announcement opened to the public) or under a direct hire authority. As part of the online application process, you will respond to a series of questions designed to evaluate your level of experience in these competencies: CommunicationsLegal, Government and JurisprudenceMinimum Qualifications GS-11Reasoning Overtime: Occasional Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Non Exempt Bargaining Unit Status: Not Covered Those retired under CSRS or FERS considered: No. DoD criteria not met. Work environment: Work involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical offices and meeting rooms. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated Telework eligible: Yes - as determined by the agency policy Remote work eligible: No

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts and/or other documentation to support your educational claims.

Transcripts. REQUIRED when using education to meet qualifications or when education is required.

Foreign education may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses.

Unofficial transcripts from U.S. Department of Education accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions listing your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned are acceptable for the application process. If selected, official transcripts are required before a firm job offer is made. A photocopy of your degree/diploma is not acceptable.

When relying on foreign education, submit transcripts and a copy of the equivalency evaluation results letter with a course-by-course listing. Documents must be in English or include an English translation. The hiring employer for this position does not evaluate degrees from foreign colleges or universities.