PARALEGAL SPECIALIST- ACCELERATED HIRE

As a PARALEGAL SPECIALIST (GS-0950-11), you will provide Paralegal support within the state/territory Staff Judge Advocate's Office providing ancillary legal research and analysis. Manages the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Preventative Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs in the state/territory. Serves as a point of contact for claims, ethics determinations, legal assistance for Army and Air National Guard personnel and their families, and provides technical legal guidance and support to National Guard unit commanders and their assigned legal personnel.

• Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
• May be required to successfully complete a two year trial period.
• Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
• Ability to establish effective professional working relationships with coworkers and customers, contributing to a cooperative working environment and successful accomplishment of the mission.
• May be required to travel by car, in military and/or commercial aircraft, and by other means of transportation as appropriate to perform temporary duty assignments.
• 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 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.

The position under this announcement is being filled using the National Guard Accelerated Hiring Authority (NG AHA). Selection will be made through a process without applying traditional competitive rating and ranking procedures and where interviews are optional. Veteran's Preference does NOT apply. Merit factors shall be the basis for selection. Merit factors are determined by the individuals' ability to perform the duties of the position. Merit is based on such factors as previous work experience, education, abilities, and competencies. In order to be referred, applicant must meet all general, specialized and educational requirements of the position.

GENERAL EXPERIENCE :
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 :
Must have one year specialized experience, education, or training equivalent to at least the next lower grade level 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.
Applicants who meet one of the DoD Priority Placement Program categories below are eligible to apply with this preference. (See Required Documents section)

Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible

Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement

Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible

Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade

Applicants claiming DoD Retained Grade preference must submit the following documentation:

Retained Grade PPP Self Certification Checklist (DD3145-1)

SF-50 effecting the placement in retained grade status, and

A copy of the notification letter received (RIF or classification downgrade)



If only using education to qualify for this position:

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

or

3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree

Graduate Education: Education at the graduate level (above Bachelor's Degree) in an accredited college or university.

or

LL.M.

or

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a four year degree in related field.

You must provide Official Transcripts as documentation to support your educational claims. To receive credit for Education, you must provide documentation of proof that you meet the Education requirements for this position.



If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 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 ( ).

Superior Qualifications and Special Needs Pay-setting Authority may be considered for this position. TAG is final approval authority for incentive programs (applicable to newly appointed federal employees or those with a 90 day break in service).

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
This position is designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration. Head of Agency requests to exceed 14 days in a calendar year must be approved in advance by the National Guard, Director of Manpower and Personnel (NGB-J1).