About the Position: Serves as a Paralegal Specialist in the Alaska Trial Defense Service (TDS) Office. Responsible for all defense activities for Soldiers on Active Duty as a subject matter expert and defense liaison on all phases of military justice and administrative separation matters directly related to pre-trial, post-trial, and administrative elimination actions.

Duties

This is a developmental position; duties listed below will be performed in a developmental capacity at the GS-05 or GS-07 level. At the full performance level GS-09, the incumbent will: Perform investigative and interviewing duties. Gathers and interprets data from government agencies and private businesses and organizations for use in courts-martial and boards. Locate and interviews alleged victims, complaining witnesses, and potential Government and Defense witnesses early in pre-trial stages when inconsistencies or questions arise. Prepares sworn statements or memoranda for record. Receive and review Military Justice Reports, Army Regulations, technical publications, LEXIS/WESTLAW updates, messages of concern to or from the Staff Judge Advocate/Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, TDS, and training memoranda. Assist trial defense attorneys in counseling Soldiers regarding their legal rights for Article 15 proceedings, administrative separations, Article 31 questioning, “suspect rights”, Summary Courts-Martial, Special and General Courts-Martial. Provide administrative support to the Senior Defense Counsel, Defense Counsel, and TDS Field Office Paralegal with respect to required reports, evaluation reports, awards, and Defense Travel System. Conduct pre-trial/pre-board case analysis. Reviews and evaluates administrative board case files for compliance with applicable regulatory guidance in content, procedures, and administrative counseling documentation.

Requirements

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• The duties of the position require Temporary Duty Travel (TDY) approximately 5% of the duty time.

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. 30 Percent or More Disabled VeteransCurrent 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) TransferPeople with Disabilities, Schedule APriority 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 education and/or experience 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. GS-05 Requirements General Experience: Three years progressively responsible experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level, which includes assisting with administrative duties within an office to includes record keeping and preparing correspondence and documentation. This definition of general experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04). OR Education: Four year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) 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 36. Then divide your total number of completed undergraduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 120. Add the two percentages. GS-07 Requirements Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes performing administrative duties within a legal office which include assisting by gathering data to prepare legal correspondence for cases; utilizing interviewing techniques and legal resources to validate information and ensure reliability. 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, such as: Legal Studies, Criminal Justice, and Law. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) 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, such as that identified in Education above. 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.achshonor.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. GS-09 Requirements Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes providing technical support to a legal office by gathering data to prepare legal correspondence for cases; utilizing interviewing techniques and legal resources to validate information and ensure reliability. 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 in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Legal Studies, Criminal Justice, and Law. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) 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. You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Legal, Government and JurisprudenceManages and Organizes InformationPlanning and EvaluatingResearchWritten Communication Time in Grade Requirement for GS-05: No time in grade required at the GS-05 grade level. Time in Grade Requirement for 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 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).

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 A1-W0AKAA US ARMY ALASKA DO NOT MAIL Fort Richardson, AK 99505 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk