Summary About the Position: Serves as a paralegal specialist in the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville (CEHNC) Office of Counsel, exercising discretion and independent judgment in the application of laws, regulations, precedents and agency practices. Management may fill at the GS-9 or GS-11 level. Duties described reflect the full performance GS-11 level. Duties at the GS-9 level will be performed in a developmental capacity under close supervision. Responsibilities Prepare response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and drafts routine correspondence for attorneys in support of cases at General Accounting Office (GAO), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and/or Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Provide a full range of support to the attorneys with preparation of litigation documents such as briefs, discovery requests and settlement agreements. Perform legal research and analysis in the fields of contract law, personnel and employment law, ethics and other legal fields. Provide HNC Office of Counsel with paralegal support which includes evaluation of claims, protests, appeals and other legal matters. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Current Army Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Employee Current Department of Army Civilian Employees Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army) Current DoD Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Employee (non-Army) Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce Executive Order (E.O.) 12721 Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473 Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI) Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible Reinstatement Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Specialized Experience: GS-09: One year of specialized experience which includes experience with statutes, regulations and precedents to identify the factual and legal issues and/or to prepare summaries of precedent cases and related materials for the attorneys use; experience with legal reference sources and commonly used legal research procedures/methods to locate, analyze and/or prepare reports. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: any degree with a concentration in Pre-Law or Paralegal Studies, etc. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. Specialized Experience: GS-11: One year of specialized experience equivalent which includes experience with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); experience with the Privacy Act; investigate and/or develop facts presented in assigned problems arising under area regarding EEO and Merit Systems Principles; experience utilizing both automated and manual legal research. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). OR Education: PhD or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: any degree with a concentration in Pre-Law or Paralegal Studies, etc. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Administrative Law Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Legal, Government and Jurisprudence Reasoning Time in Grade Requirement for GS-09: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-07). Time in Grade Requirement for GS-11: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-09). Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct deposit of pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a(n) 56 Career Field position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances are not authorized as agency determination is that a PCS move is not in the Government Interest.