Paralegal Specialist

As a Paralegal Specialist at the GS-0950-9/11, you will be part of the Office of General Counsel, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If selected, you will be responsible for providing litigation and administrative support to the Legal Unit staff of attorneys.

Duties

• Locating witnesses and potential claimants (including use of computer software search tools) and conducting interviews to obtain information and coordinating for deposition, trial, settlements, and claims processing.

• Utilizing computer software skills for word processing and generation of spreadsheets; utilizing litigation support software for organizing evidence, analyzing discovery, and creating exhibits.

• Communicating with vendors; working with process servers, messengers, and copy service businesses' and filing court documents through electronic processes, by mail, or in person.

• Compiling reports of litigation data to inform management in decision-making.

• Assisting in legal research and analysis of factual and legal issues, laws, agency decisions, precedent; cases, rules, regulations, guidelines, and policies to determine their bearing on legal issues.

Salary

• $52,727 - $82,938/year

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service (see: https://www.sss.gov/register/)
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period

Qualifications

For the GS-9: You must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 in the federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience which has equipped you with the ability to support a legal program in the pursuit of complex administrative adjudications through logistical support, analysis, and organization of significant amounts of documents and evidence and legal research and advanced writing skills.
OR
Successful completion of a master's, or equivalent graduate degree, directly related to the position, OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, OR LL.B. or J.D., if related.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. One year at the GS-7 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-9 level.

For the GS-11: You must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 in the federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience that demonstrates the ability to support a federal-sector hearings program through legal research; drafting memoranda, orders, and simple or unopposed summary judgment decisions; managing case files; scheduling and calendaring; communicating with parties; and providing administrative support to administrative judges.
OR
Successful completion of a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree, directly related to the position, OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, OR LL.M., if related.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. One year at the GS-9 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level.

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements (e.g., time-in-grade and qualification requirements) within 30 days of the closing date specified in the vacancy announcement.

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.

Education Education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. Foreign Education: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Other Information Relocation expenses will not be paid. This is a bargaining unit position: National Council of EEOC Locals, No. 216 Representing BUS code 1125 If selected, you will be expected to report to one of the three offices of the Chicago District Office listed on this announcement. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across EEOC. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements visit the following websites: Persons with Disabilities, Schedule A Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans Special Hiring Authorities for Certain Military Spouses Family of overseas employees Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA Foreign Service Employees Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see: https://www.sss.gov/register/) All employees of the Federal government are subject to the conflict of interest statutes and regulations including the Standards of Ethical Conduct that govern activities with outside organizations and reporting financial holdings. This position may require the incumbent to complete a confidential financial disclosure report within 30 days of appointment. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. TTY users may contact us via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339. Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your Resume (NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES) showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of your qualifications, you will not receive consideration for the position.
2. College Transcripts, if using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify.
3. If applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify your career/career-conditional status, title, series and grade (do not submit an Award SF-50). Also provide the SF-50 that reflects the highest grade level held on a permanent basis or the full performance level of your current position, whichever is higher.
4. Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable.
5. Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.
6. Worker's Compensation Separation: Agency certification of inability to place employee AND Notification of Separation OR Separation SF-50.
7. Disability Annuity Termination: Notification from OPM of disability annuity termination AND Separation SF-50 of the last position held.
8. Military Reserve or National Guard Technician Special Disability Retirement Annuity under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456: Certification of special disability retirement annuity from a military department or National Guard Bureau AND Separation SF-50 of the last position held.
9. Interchange Agreement with Other Merit Systems Eligible: Documentation of eligibility as listed in each individual interchange agreement.
10. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) Eligibles: If you are a current or former land management agency appointee - you must provide documentation to verify eligibility as follows: a) A copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that reflects having initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited (temporary/term) appointment; b) A copy of SF-50(s), Notification of Personnel Action(s), that reflect having served under one (1) or more time-limited (temporary/term) appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two (2) or more years; and (c) A copy of your Performance Appraisal Plan and/or Supervisor Memorandum that reflects having performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.
11. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act, Veterans Recruitment Appointment, and 30% Disabled Veteran Eligible: DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days.
12. Current or Former Political Appointees (if applicable) - The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently or have been a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch within the last 5 years, you must disclose this in your application package.
13. Certain Military Spouses Eligible under E.O. 13473: verification of the member's current active duty status; OR verification of the member's 100% disability (VA Letter); and/or verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage).
14. Certain Family Members Eligible under E.O. 12721: Your most recent non-award SF-50 and performance appraisal.
15. Schedule A, Persons with Disabilities Appointment Eligibles: A copy of your Schedule A letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing your eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u).
16. Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA: A copy of your Peace Corp Description of Service (DOS) Letter, SF-50, or your VISTA Verification of Service letter from your representative after successful completion of the program.

Failure to submit documents required may result in loss of consideration.

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 submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. 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 3 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 assessment link.
8. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.

Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us.

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.