PARALEGAL SPECIALIST

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.

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.