PARALEGAL SPECIALIST

Summary

You will serve as a Paralegal Specialist in the ???????JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL (JAG) of NLSC.

Duties

You will prepare forms, standard legal documents and routine correspondence. You will prepare cases in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, precedents, policies, office practices and established procedures. You will examine all client service record entries for accuracy and review courts-martial charge sheets to determine completeness, and legal sufficiency and admissibility in court-material. You will process and coordinate courts-martial witness and expert witness travel arrangements within Defense Travel System (DTS). You will train subordinate enlisted and civilian personnel. You will deliver formal and informal presentations/trainings regarding legal or administrative procedures to appropriate audience.

Qualifications

GS-11: I have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) or pay band in the federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate: (1) Prepares forms, standard legal documents (e.g., records requests, subpoenas, endorsements, discovery responses, etc.), and routine correspondence (e.g., Naval messages); (2) Prepares litigation and court-martial support documents (e.g. pleadings, motions, Article 62 appeals, direct and cross examination questions) requiring complex independent legal research, analysis, and factual understanding of specific cases; (3) Prepares assigned cases in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, precedents, policies, office practices and established procedures. Logs and manages discovery and fully understands trial counsel discovery obligations; (4) Proofs charge sheets, written requests, court-martial filings, and correspondence to ensure correct assembly, format, and grammar; (5) Examines correspondence, pleadings and other legal documents to verify factual and legal content; (6) Reviews accused, victim, and witness service records for relevance and completeness; (7) Evaluates correspondence, case files, pleadings or other legal documents to determine sufficiency of materials and to identify needed actions. Reviews cases in accordance with applicable criminal laws, rules, regulations, precedents, policies, office practice and established procedures; (8) Interviews victims and witnesses to obtain and verify information and prepare for trial. Supports trial counsel in conducting VWAP and substantive interviews; (9) Conducts investigation and information gathering to determine pertinent facts; (10) Accompanies attorneys during hearings and litigation and assists in the organization of witness testimony, presentation of evidence, and required research; (11) Safeguards sensitive, classified, and attorney-client privileged information by following the strict guidelines of the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, applicable professional responsibility (ethics) instructions, rules or regulations, rules of evidence, and security regulations. GS-09: I have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) or pay band in the federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate: (1) Prepares forms, standard legal documents (e.g., records requests, subpoenas, endorsements, discovery responses, etc.), and routine correspondence (e.g., Naval messages); (2) Prepares litigation and court-martial support documents (e.g. pleadings, motions, Article 62 appeals, direct and cross examination questions) requiring complex independent legal research, analysis, and factual understanding of specific cases; (3) Prepares assigned cases in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, precedents, policies, office practices and established procedures. Logs and manages discovery and fully understands trial counsel discovery obligations; (4) Proofs charge sheets, written requests, court-martial filings, and correspondence to ensure correct assembly, format, and grammar; (5) Examines correspondence, pleadings and other legal documents to verify factual and legal content; (6) Reviews accused, victim, and witness service records for relevance and completeness; (7) Evaluates correspondence, case files, pleadings or other legal documents to determine sufficiency of materials and to identify needed actions. Reviews cases in accordance with applicable criminal laws, rules, regulations, precedents, policies, office practice and established procedures; (8) Interviews victims and witnesses to obtain and verify information and prepare for trial. Supports trial counsel in conducting VWAP and substantive interviews; (9) Conducts investigation and information gathering to determine pertinent facts; (10) Accompanies attorneys during hearings and litigation and assists in the organization of witness testimony, presentation of evidence, and required research; (11) Safeguards sensitive, classified, and attorney-client privileged information by following the strict guidelines of the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, applicable professional responsibility (ethics) instructions, rules or regulations, rules of evidence, and security regulations. Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management web site: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (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.

Education

In lieu of specialized experience, you may qualify with the following education or combination of both education and experience: GS-11: 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 GS-09: 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 A transcript must be submitted with your application if qualifying using education. See Required Documents for additional information.

How You Will Be Evaluated

In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. When the application process is complete, we will review your resume to ensure you meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this announcement. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume and application package, along with your supporting documentation to determine your ability to demonstrate the following competencies: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPUTER LITERACY WRITTEN COMMUNICATION PROBLEM SOLVING LEGAL SUPPORT LEGAL, GOVERNMENT AND JURISPRUDENCE This recruitment will utilize the following technical assessment tools: USA Hire, Structured Interview You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation. .Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. All eligibility, qualifications, and time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Required Documents

You are required to provide documentation that supports the eligibility and qualification claims made in your resume. You must submit the applicable documents listed here and those listed with the eligibilities you select in the announcement questionnaire with your application package. Applicants who do not provide supporting documentation that fully support their claims will not be referred to the hiring manager. Cover letter is optional. A complete resume is required. Resumes are restricted to no more than 2 pages. Illegible/unreadable resumes will not be considered. Your resume must show relevant experience, job title, duties and accomplishments. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. The following information should be provided in your resume: employer's name, starting and end dates (Mo/Yr), hours per week if experience was less than full time (35-40 hours per week), and pay plan, series and grade level (e.g. GS-0201-09) for relevant federal experience. TIP: A good way to ensure you include all essential information is to use the Resume Builder in USAJOBS to create your resume. Are you applying for a promotion? For GS positions, to be considered for promotion, you must provide SF-50(s) that shows you held the next lower GS grade for at least one year. SF-50s that have an effective date within the past year (e.g., General Adjustment SF-50 from this year or Within Rate/Grade Increases (WRI/WGI) SF-50 within a year) do not clearly show that you meet the one-year time-in-grade requirement. That means if you submit an SF-50 dated within the last year, you must submit another SF-50 that is dated more than one year ago to clearly demonstrate you meet the time-in-grade requirements. If you are a DoD employee, you can obtain a copy of your SF- 50(s) from MyBiz. Are you claiming membership in any professional organizations, or possession of a license, certificate or credentials? Check the Conditions of Employment section above to see if any are required. If you claim membership, license, certification, or credentials, you must submit a copy of said document in your application package. Are you using education as a substitute for some or all of the experience requirement? Is there a basic education requirement for this position? Check the Education section above to see what is allowed and what is required. Any claims you make in your resume regarding education or degrees MUST be supported by submitting with your application official or unofficial transcripts or a list of courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned issued from your school. While unofficial transcripts are acceptable for initial application, an official transcript will ultimately be required if you are selected for the position. You may submit a copy your degree(s) if specific coursework does not have to be verified. Are you a veteran claiming 5-point veterans' preference or claiming sole survivorship preference? You must submit a copy of your latest DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (any copy that shows all dates of service, as well as character of service [Honorable, General, etc.] is acceptable) OR a VA letter that shows dates of service or service connected disability AND character of service. If you have more than one DD-214 for multiple periods of active duty service, submit a copy for each period of service. If you were issued a DD-215 to amend aforementioned information on the DD-214 you must submit that too. If you are not sure of your preference eligibility, visit the Department of Labor's website: Veterans' Preference Advisor Are you a disabled veteran or claiming 10-point veterans' preference? If you are eligible to claim 10 point veterans preference you must submit a DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty as described above for 5-point preference. You must also provide the applicable supporting documentation of your disability (e.g. disability letter from the VA) as described on Standard Form-15 (SF-15). http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf. Are you an active duty service member? Active Duty Service Members are required to submit a statement of service printed on command letterhead and signed by the command. The statement of service must provide the branch of service, rate/rank, all dates of service, the expected date of discharge and anticipated character of service (Honorable, General, etc.). Application documents, including supplemental ones, may be shared outside the Human Resources Office. Supplemental documents may contain your SSN, DOB, or personal information of others (e.g., on military orders, marriage certificates). You may redact this information before submitting; however, if selected, you must provide unredacted originals.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. Resumes are restricted to no more than 2 pages. Illegible/unreadable resumes will not be considered. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: 1. Click the Apply Online button. 2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. 3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. 4. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. 5. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. 6. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. 7. Set aside at least 2 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique asses...

GS-11: I have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) or pay band in the federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate: (1) Prepares forms, standard legal documents (e.g., records requests, subpoenas, endorsements, discovery responses, etc.), and routine correspondence (e.g., Naval messages); (2) Prepares litigation and court-martial support documents (e.g. pleadings, motions, Article 62 appeals, direct and cross examination questions) requiring complex independent legal research, analysis, and factual understanding of specific cases; (3) Prepares assigned cases in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, precedents, policies, office practices and established procedures. Logs and manages discovery and fully understands trial counsel discovery obligations; (4) Proofs charge sheets, written requests, court-martial filings, and correspondence to ensure correct assembly, format, and grammar; (5) Examines correspondence, pleadings and other legal documents to verify factual and legal content; (6) Reviews accused, victim, and witness service records for relevance and completeness; (7) Evaluates correspondence, case files, pleadings or other legal documents to determine sufficiency of materials and to identify needed actions. Reviews cases in accordance with applicable criminal laws, rules, regulations, precedents, policies, office practice and established procedures; (8) Interviews victims and witnesses to obtain and verify information and prepare for trial. Supports trial counsel in conducting VWAP and substantive interviews; (9) Conducts investigation and information gathering to determine pertinent facts; (10) Accompanies attorneys during hearings and litigation and assists in the organization of witness testimony, presentation of evidence, and required research; (11) Safeguards sensitive, classified, and attorney-client privileged information by following the strict guidelines of the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, applicable professional responsibility (ethics) instructions, rules or regulations, rules of evidence, and security regulations. GS-09: I have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) or pay band in the federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate: (1) Prepares forms, standard legal documents (e.g., records requests, subpoenas, endorsements, discovery responses, etc.), and routine correspondence (e.g., Naval messages); (2) Prepares litigation and court-martial support documents (e.g. pleadings, motions, Article 62 appeals, direct and cross examination questions) requiring complex independent legal research, analysis, and factual understanding of specific cases; (3) Prepares assigned cases in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, precedents, policies, office practices and established procedures. Logs and manages discovery and fully understands trial counsel discovery obligations; (4) Proofs charge sheets, written requests, court-martial filings, and correspondence to ensure correct assembly, format, and grammar; (5) Examines correspondence, pleadings and other legal documents to verify factual and legal content; (6) Reviews accused, victim, and witness service records for relevance and completeness; (7) Evaluates correspondence, case files, pleadings or other legal documents to determine sufficiency of materials and to identify needed actions. Reviews cases in accordance with applicable criminal laws, rules, regulations, precedents, policies, office practice and established procedures; (8) Interviews victims and witnesses to obtain and verify information and prepare for trial. Supports trial counsel in conducting VWAP and substantive interviews; (9) Conducts investigation and information gathering to determine pertinent facts; (10) Accompanies attorneys during hearings and litigation and assists in the organization of witness testimony, presentation of evidence, and required research; (11) Safeguards sensitive, classified, and attorney-client privileged information by following the strict guidelines of the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, applicable professional responsibility (ethics) instructions, rules or regulations, rules of evidence, and security regulations. Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management web site: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (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.