Paralegal Specialist

As a Paralegal Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Under the supervision of the Section Chief or Deputy Section Chiefs, support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of the General Counsel Natural Resources Section (GCNR) to research environmental laws, such as the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Clean Water Act (CWA), and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA), to assist with environmental claim development and litigation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional legal and technical staff and partner Federal agencies, State agencies, and Tribes to assist in solutions and strategies for pursuing environmental claims and litigation.
• Conduct legal, legislative, regulatory, and/or factual research in order to become thoroughly familiar with the subject matter details of a case or legal matter, prepare reports, or determine the need for additional information.
• Assist GC attorneys with litigation, such as trial research, preparation, and presentation; drafting pleadings and discovery responses; preparing affidavits; gathering and organizing administrative records.

NOTE: These duties are described at the full performance level of the GS-12; the GS-11 is developmental leading to such performance.

Key Requirements:

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
• More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
• Qualification requirements must be met by closing date of the announcement.

Additional Considerations:

• One year probationary period may be required.
• Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized.
• This position requires Moderate Risk Security Clearance.
• Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicant's successful completion of security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

*Note: A one year probationary period will be required unless you are a current Department of Commerce (including NOAA) employee and are in the same line of work and with no more than a 30 day break in service.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period, we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• Your performance and conduct;
• Needs and interests of the agency;
• Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of then Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

EDUCATION:There is no positive education requirement for this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

To qualify at the GS-11 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Gathering and organizing case records and files; and
• Providing assistance with processing, proofreading, cite-checking, or editing draft legal documents.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF 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., if related.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements. Note: Only graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience.

To qualify at the GS-12 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Conducting legal research at the direction of an attorney; and
• Supporting litigation activities, such as assisting attorneys conducting depositions, hearing, trials, or other legal proceedings.