PARALEGAL SPECIALIST- DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY

Duties

• Provide legal services for commanders, service members and other eligible beneficiaries as authorized by congress and policy; manage organizations through training, leadership, personnel and office management; conduct interviews, legal research, analysis, and writing; perform leadership and technical functions in the military justice, civil law, operational and international law domains.
• Under the supervision of an attorney, provide administrative and litigation support in processing and execution of all judicial, and nonjudicial (Article 15, UCMJ), and other adverse actions, to include administrative discharges/separations according to applicable laws and instructions, the Manual for Courts-martial (MCM) and other guidance.
• Manages designs, develops, upgrades, installs and maintains office automation systems, including hardware, software, and voice mail communications systems for the Eglin Law Center.
• Incumbent provides assistance to the legal assistance program as needed or other duties in support of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate.
• Performs other administrative, clerical, or additional duties in support of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see Legal and Regulatory Guidance
• If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
• This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• For more information on Acq Demo please go to DoD AcqDemo Homepage http://acqdemo.hci.mil/ and Fact Sheet http://acqdemo.hci.mil/faq.html
• Relocation costs or other incentives may be available and considered by the organization.
• Selectee is expected to be granted with and/or maintain the appropriate security clearance required for the position.
• Employee must maintain current certifications
• Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays
• Shift work and emergency overtime may be required
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
• This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• An Associate 's degree from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university in Paralegal Science (or similar field) is desired.
• Skill in typing (40 wpm); a qualified typist is required.
• Understanding of the Staff Judge Advocate Manpower Standard and civilian personnel actions both GS and NSPS personnel programs, is required.
• Working knowledge of the Internet and Web page design is recommended.

Qualifications

Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, for Administrative and Management positions.

GENERAL EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least 3 years of general experience, 1 year (52 weeks) at the next lower broadband NH-01, equivalent to the next lower grade GS-04 or equivalent in other pay systems. General experience is described as provide a basic knowledge of generalize experience will be providing administrative and litigation support in processing and execution of all judicial, and nonjudicial, and other adverse actions, to include administrative discharges/separations according to applicable laws and instructions, the Manual for Courts-martial (MCM) and other guidance. NOTE: Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OR
EDUCATION: 4- year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

OR
COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate for this position is a disciplined legal professional who possesses an understanding of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), the Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM), and Department of the Air Force Instructions. They must be capable of performing substantive legal work that directly supports attorney-led litigation, from drafting complex charges and specifications to managing administrative discharge boards. This individual should demonstrate exceptional research and writing skills, ensuring all legal reviews and transcripts are accurate and mission-ready. Beyond technical proficiency, the candidate must exhibit a high degree of empathy and professionalism when managing the Victim and Witness Assistance Program (VWAP), serving as a trusted advocate and liaison for those navigating the military justice system.

In addition to their legal acumen, the ideal candidate is a tech-savvy administrator who can seamlessly pivot to the role of Computer Security Administrator (CSA). They must possess technical proficiency to troubleshoot hardware and software issues, maintain web application, and manage specialized databases like DCMS, WASP, and WebLIONS. This role requires a proactive problem-solver who can oversee office automation systems while simultaneously managing the daily operations of a legal office, including Defense Travel System (DTS) coordination and notary services. Successful candidates will be characterized by their ability to communicate effectively with senior leaders and government officials, maintaining a high standard of office management and organizational discipline under the pressure of a high-tempo Legal Office environment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

Knowledge of rules, procedures, policies, and programs of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate to perform the procedural and administrative work of the organization sue as preparing and editing legal documents and administrative correspondence, maintaining files and record , and assembling information for various legal documents and reports; knowledge of legal services and terminology in the area of military justice, legal assistance, and legal research techniques; and knowledge of grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and required legal formats and directives regarding preparation of written communications to produce legal and administrative documents and communications.

Knowledge of office functions to screen telephone calls and visitors, customer assistance, prepare and review correspondence, and perform other administrative work of the organization.

Ability to interpret and apply regulatory and procedural requirements to process unusually difficult and complicated transactions.

Understanding of hardware and software installation and inte, ration requirements for office automation systems, LAN administration, and working knowledge of JA specific soft are/web based programs is required.

Knowledge of grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and required legal formats and directives regarding preparation of written
communications to produce legal and administrative documents and communications is required.

Skill in logic and interpersonal skills to conduct interviews, recognize, explore, and exploit leads, detect discrepancies in information, distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information, and analyze, interpret, and evaluate information obtained is required.

Knowledge of principles and concepts to interpret regulation and instructions is required.

Working knowledge of computers and computer software is r quired to support office operations and procedure a variety of textual documents, such as letters, reports, memorandums, and form letters.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Executes paralegal duties in compliance with ABA and DAFI standards, this role provides comprehensive support across military justice, civil, and operational domains. Duties include conducting in-depth research, drafting charges/packages for judicial, nonjudicial actions (Article 15/UCMJ), administrative separations, and managing the lifecycle of legal proceedings-from evidence gathering and witness interviews to the assembly of final transcripts. It also includes participating in the Victim and Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) and ensuring all actions adhere to the Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM). The position also utilizes specialized databases including DCMS, AMJAMS, and WASP to monitor case progress, analyze disciplinary trends, and prepare briefings for leadership.

Provides essential front-desk and administrative support for the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate's legal assistance program. Primary duties include receiving visitors, routing inquiries, and managing correspondence suspense systems. The role involves directly consulting clients to determine eligibility for services, gathering background data to identify conflicts of interest, and making necessary agency referrals. Additionally, the incumbent serves as a Notary Public under state and Air Force guidelines and acts as a formal witness for legal documents. They are responsible for preparing critical paperwork, including wills, powers of attorney, deeds, and promissory notes. Finally, the incumbent utilizes the Web-based Legal Information Online System (WebLIONS) to efficiently schedule and manage legal assistance appointments, alongside other duties assigned by leadership.

May monitor, inventory, and order publications and forms to ensure that adequate supplies are available. May assist assigned personnel in processing travel order requests and vouchers and may assist visiting personnel or witnesses/experts with transportation and billeting arrangements in Defense Travel System (DTS). Prepares and maintains itineraries.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Additional information

This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in selection.

This job announcement may close at any time - apply now!

This is an acquisition demonstration project position NH-02 equivalent to a GS-05 to GS-11.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

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