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THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION.
This National Guard position is for a PARALEGAL SPECIALIST (T5), Position Description Number T540000 and is part of the AL JFHQ AL Command Administrative Office, National Guard.
ORGANIZATION: JFHQ JAG OFFICE, MONTGOMERY, AL
SELECTING OFFICIAL: MAJ M. STEVENS
03/12/2021 to 03/27/2021
$53,433 - $69,462 per year
GS 9
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
Not required
No
Permanent - NON-MERIT
Full-Time
Excepted
9
No
No
AL-11059325-T5-21-091
595115300
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference
Military spouses relocating under PCS orders or whose spouse is 100% disabled or died while on active duty.
Current members, those who want to join or transitioning military members.
Title 5 CAT 1- All Preference eligible qualified applicants that are claiming 5 points or more veterans preference. CAT 2- All qualified Non Preference eligible applicants if the preference eligible list has no qualified applicants or there was a Passover request done.
1. Provides ancillary legal work to the 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. Performs research on a variety of legal subjects which may include, but are not limited to: Federal and state/territory code, and legislative proposals; 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 or 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.
2. 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. Implements the Preventative Law Program.
3. Supports 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. Works to implement the most appropriate form of ADR that both meets and is able to address the needs of the disputants.
4. 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. Provides the case file to a higher graded employee for final recommendation and/or decision regarding the disposition of claim. Serves as a point of contact for ethical determinations.
5. Provides legal assistance by receiving requests for routine or emergency legal assistance. Exercises judgment in screening and determining those that can be personally serviced or require referral to an attorney or another provider. These issues include, but are not limited to, preparation of powers-of-attorney and wills; notary services; legal review of correspondence or documentation; information on legal rights, benefits, privileges, or obligations; explaining pertinent legal provisions, regulations, and related administrative practices; and their application to specific cases or questions; claims, voting requirements, loan contracts, motor vehicle registrations, titles, transfers, and releases; etc. Performs pre-counseling sessions; interviews clients to obtain information necessary for preparation of forms and documents; reviews completed documents for procedural adherence to guidelines; initiates corrective actions as necessary; coordinates review of actions by staff attorneys as required; and arranges for notary and witnesses for execution of documents and proper filing or recording of documents.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Specialized Experience: 1 year equivalent to at least GS-7 Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience, as indicated in the table, are not required by this standard to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements.
Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11. (When crediting education that requires specific course work, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used.)
Master's or equivalent graduate degree
or
2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degreeor
LL.B. or J.D., if relatedIf 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 (https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.) of employment and duties performed.
2. Other supporting documents: SF-15, VA Disability Letter and DD 214s are required if claiming Veteran's Preference.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To view the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11059325
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
VETERAN'S PREFERENCE: In order to adjudicate your Veterans' Preference claims, please upload all supporting documentation. Such as: DD214s and/or SF-15, etc
A. ARE YOU A VETERAN CLAIMING SOLE SURVIVORSHIP PREFERENCE OR 5-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE?
You should provide legible copy/copies of the following: DD-214 (member 4 copy), "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active
Duty," showing all dates of service, as well as character of service (Honorable, General, etc.) or Statement of Service/Proof of Service (in lieu of a DD-214) from your command or local Personnel Support office. The Statement of Service/Proof of Service must provide all dates of service, the expected date of discharge and anticipated character of service (Honorable, General, etc.). If you have more than one DD-214, you are strongly encouraged to upload all your DD-214s.
B. ARE YOU A DISABLED VETERAN or CLAIMING 10-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE?
Disabled veterans, veterans, widows, spouses or the mother of a veteran, who are eligible for 10-point veterans' preference, should provide legible copies of the following: Applicable supporting documents as noted on Standard Form-15 (SF-15). To obtain a copy of SF-15, go to http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf.
C. ARE YOU UNSURE AS TO WHETHER YOU QUALIFY FOR VETERANS' PREFERENCE?
Please review the OPM Vet Guide to determine if you qualify for Veterans' Preference. Please visit: https://fedshirevets.gov/Index.aspx.
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 (https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/595115300. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.