Paralegal Specialist

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including the following specialized and/or education, as identified by grade level.

FOR THE GS-05 LEVEL: Applicants resume must describe three years of progressively responsible experience, with one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04)

• Interpreting law regulations and policies;
• Performing legal preliminary investigation and fact-finding;
• Using automation to create research reports, legal and non-legal correspondence.

OR EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION FOR THE GS-05: Four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree.

FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Practical knowledge of a body of laws and related rules, regulations, and precedents involved in Federal employee appeals and litigation relating to Federal employment;
• Skill in interpreting and applying them to varying situations; skill in evaluating the relevancy of precedents and summarizing pertinent data on issues;
• Skill in researching and maintaining legal databases using electronic resources;
• Skill in communicating with others in order to exchange legal information;
• Skill in problem analysis and problem solving sufficient to communicate in the style and mode appropriate for work at the level of an appeals court.

OR EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION FOR THE GS-07: Applicants may qualify based upon the completion of 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement leading to such a degree in a closely related field as Paralegal Studies or Legal Studies. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Practical knowledge of a body of laws and related rules, regulations, and precedents involved in Federal employee appeals and litigation relating to Federal employment;
• Skill in interpreting and applying them to varying situations; skill in evaluating the relevancy of precedents and summarizing pertinent data on issues;
• Skill in researching and maintaining legal databases using electronic resources;
• Skill in communicating with others in order to exchange legal information;
• Skill in problem analysis and problem solving sufficient to communicate in the style and mode appropriate for work at the level of an appeals court.

OR EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION FOR THE GS-09: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a closely related field such as Paralegal Studies or Legal Studies.

FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Practical knowledge of a body of laws and related rules, regulations, and precedents involved in Federal employee appeals and litigation relating to Federal employment;
• Skill in interpreting and applying them to varying situations; skill in evaluating the relevancy of precedents and summarizing pertinent data on issues;
• Skill in researching and maintaining legal databases using electronic resources;
• Skill in communicating with others in order to exchange legal information;
• Skill in problem analysis and problem solving sufficient to communicate in the style and mode appropriate for work at the level of an appeals court.

OR EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION FOR THE GS-11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a closely related field such as Paralegal Studies or Legal Studies.

TRANSCRIPTS are required if:

• You are qualifying for the position based on education.
• You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
• This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-5/7/9/11 GRADE LEVELS: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.

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.