Legal Research and Litigation Support Paralegal

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-12. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position. Performs complex and comprehensive legal research and technical duties with respect to agency programs.

Researches and analyze relevant statutes, regulations and case law using on-line resources such as Westlaw/Lexis, and where appropriate conducts research using law library resources.

Creates, updates, and maintains databases in practice support applications, including but not limited to SalesForce or other similar matter management support and e-discovery software tools as required; supporting attorneys and legal staff in the use of these applications and providing training on these applications as necessary.

With direction from an attorney, provides support for all phases of personnel and labor related litigation, including matters before the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), MSPB and arbitrators, as well as other types of administrative litigation, including but not limited to Government Accountability Office (GAO) protests.

Is responsible for document control of all transactional and programmatic legal documents submitted to agency or used within the office and agency.

You must meet the following requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis.

To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your résumé. For the GS-12, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as: -Leading litigation support for cases by managing discovery, e-Discovery, and legal records in compliance with court, administrative forums, and agency requirements AND - Analyzing legal issues, drafted pleadings and other legal documents requiring minimal attorney revision and provided recommendations to attorneys AND - Advising attorneys on case strategy, and mentored junior paralegals to improve legal operations.

For the GS-11, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as: - Conducting legal research and analyzing statutes, regulations, case law, and evidence to support litigation strategy and legal recommendations AND -Managing discovery and e-Discovery activities, preparing legal memorandum and discovery responses, and ensuring compliance with court, administrative forums, and agency requirements AND -Coordinating with attorneys, investigators, auditors, and program officials to resolve legal issues and manage complex case activities.

OR 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 You may qualify with a combination of experience and education.

To combine education and experience, your total qualifying experience is calculated as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level. Then, your education is calculated as a percentage of the education required for the grade level. The two percentages are added together.

The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.

For the GS-9, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as: - Conducting legal research to support litigation and administrative proceedings, AND -Drafting legal correspondence and other legal materials while reviewing case files for accuracy and compliance AND -Managing case files, tracked deadlines supporting document productions, and assisting attorneys with trial and/or hearing preparation.

OR You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: 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. OR You may qualify with a combination of experience and education.

To combine education and experience, your total qualifying experience is calculated as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level. Then, your education is calculated as a percentage of the education required for the grade level. The two percentages are added together.

The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education. For the GS-12, you must have been at the GS-11 level for 52 weeks.

For the GS-11, you must have been at the GS-9 level for 52 weeks. For the GS-9, you must have been at the GS-7 level for 52 weeks. .