PARALEGAL SPECIALIST

Duties

Provides ancillary legal work to state/territory SJA and other assigned Army National Guard (ARNG) and Air National Guard (ANG) attorneys servicing the state/territory National Guard's case load. Conducts legal research of Federal and state/territory code, regulations, policies, procedures, case law, legal and administrative decisions and opinions, etc., and summarizes findings to aide staff attorneys in case or project resolution. Research is performed on a variety of legal subjects which may include, but are not limited to: Federal and state/territory code, and legislative proposals or intent; military justice and status issues for Title 10 and Title 32 members; claims; labor relations; equal opportunity; administrative actions; contractual agreements; ethics; environmental concerns; law enforcement; bankruptcy; taxation; legal assistance; and a wide variety of miscellaneous legal issues. Interviews clients and potential witnesses; collects and organizes pertinent factual and research material to build case files; and prepares and organizes exhibits. Composes, prepares, and ensures accuracy of various legal or legislative documents. Drafts and edits non-legal memoranda, research reports and correspondence relating to cases. Maintains case files and identifies and corrects file deficiencies or discrepancies.

Provides research, analysis, guidance, and support to administer courts-martial, non-judicial punishment, administrative boards and other legal actions and administrative processes. Reviews procedures, timing criteria and documents relative to the administration of justice under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and associated state/territory code. Performs research to identify factual and legal issues to uncover relevant information for summaries of precedent cases, interviews, testimony, depositions, and related case material for use by the attorneys. Performs research and preparation of notes and memoranda regarding allegations and possible charges, maintains logs and files, and files motions. Prepares and files charge sheets, disposition sheets, and other records. Maintains transcript files and exhibits. Provides assistance to serviced units concerning the administrative preparation, coordination, and implementation of documents regarding military justice.

Manages the Preventative Law Program. Facilitates legal training for unit readiness non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and Directorate of Manpower and Personnel (J1) personnel, or others by request, on a variety of topics including but not limited to: the military justice system (both Federal and state/territory), inquiries and investigations, unlawful command influence, adverse administrative actions, administrative separations, the Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968, urinalysis testing and other issues affecting traditional guard members and NG full-time employees.

Manages the SJA portion of the state/territory Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program. Advises senior leaders and organizational managers on the suitability of various disputes for resolution through the use of ADR methodologies by promoting program awareness, as well as planning for and providing timely advice or support needed to employ ADR program interventions. Develops, plans, or generates guidance for existing dispute processes to ensure they interface with National Guard Bureau (NGB) ADR goals. Works to implement the most appropriate form of ADR that both meets and is able to address the needs of the disputants.

Serves as the primary point of contact for claims. Accepts complaint, summons, documents, or inquiries; identifies the type or purpose; screens for completeness; and identifies the action to be performed. As required by the action, performs preliminary investigation and gathers pertinent information, researches legal and factual issues, interviews claimant, involved parties and potential witnesses and builds case files, and recommends disposition of claim.

Serves as the primary point of contact for ethical determinations. Screens requests for ethics opinions and gathers the applicable facts. Analyzes the specifics of each situation. Conducts legal research and applies cumulative knowledge to the factual element and recommends a course of action or refers that recommendation to the SJA. Assists the Staff Judge Advocate with implementation of the joint ethics regulatory annual reporting requirements.

Reviews changes in regulations on the Freedom of Information Act and updates and advises other legal personnel and field staff of changes. Consults and assists in formulation of NGB regulations regarding the release of information. Reviews Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Analyzes specific criteria and conducts required research for the information requested and coordinates with organization's functional managers for release of appropriate information.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Alaska Army National Guard membership is required.
• Males born after 31 December 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
• May be required to successfully complete a trial period.
• U.S. Citizenship and Secret Clearance is required.
• Bargaining Unit: Non- Bargaining
• APPOINTMENT FACTORS: Excepted/Enlisted in the Alaska Army National Guard.
• MILITARY GRADE REQUIREMENT: Due to the nature of this position, the minimum military grade is Staff Sergeant (SSG/E-6) and the maximum military grade is Master Sergeant (MSG/E-8).
• You will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Incumbent is subject to termination due to loss or reduction in funding for this position.
• This position is covered by the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment (30 Sep 96) of the Gun Control Act (Lautenberg Amendment) of 1968. An individual convicted of a qualifying crime of domestic violence may not perform the duties of this position.
• Ability to establish effective professional working relationships with coworkers and customers, contributing to a cooperative working environment and successful accomplishment of the mission.
• Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day
• For Dual-Status Technician positions service affiliation under Title 32 USC 709 is required.
• For positions requiring the operation of motor vehicles, candidates must have a valid state driver's license for the state in which they live or are principally employed.
• For positions requiring a security clearance (Secret or Top Secret) the applicant must possess or be able to obtain a clearance within one year of appointment.

Qualifications

GENERAL EXPERIENCE is experience, education or training that demonstrates the ability to analyze the legal impact of legislative developments and administrate and judicial decisions, opinions, rulings and determinations on agency programs; conduct research for the preparation of legal opinions on matters of interest to the agency. Practical knowledge and use of basic legal principles and concepts to interpret and apply or explain to others the application of a body of law, regulations, precedents, and practices covering one or more recurring types of legal actions encountered in an agency.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is experience which is directly related to the position to be filled and which has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position.

GS-11- Must have at least 1-year specialized experience, education, or training equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-09 in the formal and informal rules of evidence and skill necessary to evaluate the adequacy and/or admissibility of evidence, to request additional data or further investigation, when needed, or to develop narrative or graphic exhibits to support specified legal arguments and coordinate actions with other federal agencies or state and local jurisdictions that have closely related responsibilities.

OR

Education- Must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

NOTE: In order to be considered for this position using education as a basis of qualification, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Resume must have complete dates and hours worked per week for each occurrence of both civilian and military employment (Example: 2 JAN 1980 to 3 MAR 1981; 0800-1630 M-F or JAN 1980 to MAR 1981; 40 hrs/wk) Use of year only will result in disqualification. The duties listed must fully substantiate -in your own words- that you meet the minimum requirements and specialized experience listed above, in detail; otherwise, you will not be considered qualified for this position.

Length of time is not of itself qualifying. Your experience will be evaluated on the basis of duties performed. Your record of experience and/or training must show possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities needed to fully perform the duties of the position:

- Knowledge of the various titles of Federal law and state/territory codes governing and significant current national and local developments impacting National Guard programs and missions.

- Knowledge of legal reference sources including statutes, codes, subject specific directives, regulations, manuals and other issuances (i.e., types of orders and there sources); court and administrative appellate decisions and nuances sufficient to ascertain legislative history and intent, precedent cases, decisions and opinions relevant to current case work.

- Knowledge of document control and security measures to insure no untimely or inappropriate release of investigative information occur jeopardizing pending prosecution and/or defense actions or the physical well being of participants, their counsel, witnesses, etc.

- Knowledge of legal documents and criminal, civil or military justice procedures sufficient to ensure timely and accurate initiation of, or response to legal documents and submissions and routing.

- Knowledge of, and skill to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in order to provide assistance to customers in the preparation of legal documents, or to assist attorneys by providing written summaries of analyses to support specific legal issues.

Additional information

- Supervisors Desirables: Completion of Comptrollers Accreditation and Fiscal Law Course; Completion of Army Paralegal Competence Course; Completion of National Security Law-Primer (NSL-P) Course; Civilian Paralegal Certification (NALA, NFPA) and/or Completion of Paralegal Studies Certificate or Degree Program; Completion of requisite Army Professional Military Education (PME) for current rank/grade.

- INDEFINITE: Indefinite employees may be separated with a 30 days' notice. Indefinite employment is temporary and is expected to last more than one year but no more than five consecutive years. Indefinite employees may be converted to permanent without further competition. AKNG permanent technician will retain their permanent status if selected for this position, and may be promoted, reassigned or changed to lower grade if selected for this position, and will be required to return to their permanent position unless action is made on a permanent basis. Permanent authorization may not cross service boundaries, or funding categories, (i.e., ARNG to ANG, or 176th WG to 168th WG).

- The duties and responsibilities of your job may significantly impact the environment. You are responsible to maintain awareness of your environmental responsibilities as dictated by legal and regulatory requirements, your organization, and its changing mission.

- If you are a current Federal employee or former Federal employee, you must submit a copy of your latest SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" and/or a copy of the SF-50. You may submit your most recent performance appraisal.

- The National Guard is exempt from the Veterans Preference Act. Submission of a copy of your DD-214 is not required unless you are hired for technician position.

- If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.

- Cost of Living Allowance (COLA): Entitled to 1.49% COLA in addition to base salary, subject to change.

- Direct Deposit Program: If selected for technician position with the Alaska National Guard, you will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program. (Salary will be automatically deposited to bank/credit union account).

- Military Bonuses And Student Loan Repayment Program: If you are selected for this position, you should always check with your servicing incentive manager (AKARNG - J1 or AKANG - Retention Office) to verify how accepting this position will affect your entitlement prior to considering an offer of employment.

- Trial Period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.