Paralegal Specialist

Duties

WHO ARE GENERAL LEGAL SERVICES? General Legal Services (GLS) employs approximately 68 attorneys and 8 paralegals. Work in the GLS Area Counsel field offices is focused on providing advice, support, and litigation representation for IRS and Chief Counsel management in administrative forums and in arbitration, with the majority of case work centering on labor, EEO, and personnel law. The field offices also provide assistance to the Department of Justice in federal courts on such matters, as well as for suits against IRS employees, and may assist with processing claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

WHAT IS THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM? The Department of the Treasury's Recent Graduates Program affords developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service to individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. Successful applicants are placed in a dynamic, developmental program with the potential to lead to a civil service career in the Federal Government.

Following the completion of program requirements, selectees may be considered for non-competitive conversion to a career-conditional or term appointment. All conversion requirements will be identified in the Participant Agreement. Program requirements include but are not limited to:

• Successful completion of at least 1-year of continuous service;

• Completion of at least 40 hours of interactive training;

• Demonstration of successful job performance; and

• Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate may be converted.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM? For additional information regarding the Pathways Program, please refer to the following website: www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads

The following are the duties of the Paralegal Specialist at the GS-11. You will have the opportunity to learn to perform these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this developmental position.

• Participate in pre-trial preparation and litigation support for administrative cases before a third party in a wide variety of forums, including the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), arbitration, and state unemployment boards.

• Initiate and coordinate necessary procurement activities; reviewing, organizing, and preparing e-discovery searches; preparing and organizing litigation related materials and exhibits; redacting documents; conducting research or research assistance; assisting attorneys during the presentation cases in hearing. Prepare drafts of settlement agreements, implementation memoranda, briefing documents for clients, decision summaries, and other communications or correspondence related to cases.

• Analyze and evaluate case files and supporting documents for sufficiency of information, noting and taking corrective action to cure any deficiencies; reconciling factual differences and reconstructing missing facts; researching, reviewing and analyzing available precedent, regulation, policy and procedure relevant to cases.

• Verify implementation of settlements and decisions, including payment of arbitrator fees, attorney fees, back pay, or other required actions. Perform administrative tasks, including assisting attorneys in making arrangements for hearings, arbitrators, transcripts, court reporters and witnesses.

• Assist in inventory management, including maintenance of electronic files and information in electronic databases or systems. Coordinate, establish, and manage in person or remote proceedings, including the use of teleconferencing, web-based video platforms, or other remote technology means.

• Gather information for and responding to inquiries regarding internal and external administrative reports. Support training activities of the Office, including preparing training materials and delivering training.

This is not an all-inclusive list. If selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform the duties of the position and will receive training to help you grow in the position.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Refer to "Other Information"

• Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National

Qualifications

To be eligible for the Recent Graduates Program, applicants must have, within the previous two years*, completed all educational requirements for a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying institution;

For more information on education requirements go to Treasury's Pathways Program.

• Veterans who, due to a military service obligation, were precluded from applying to a Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the two-year eligibility period may have their eligibility period extended so that they receive the full 2 years of eligibility. The remaining two-year eligibility period will begin upon his or her release or discharge from active duty. The veteran's eligibility period may not extend beyond six years from the date of completion of all requirements of an academic course of study.

In order to qualify for the Paralegal Specialist position at the GS-07 level, you must meet the following requirements:

Education and/or experience requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.

To qualify for the GS-07 level,you must meet the following requirements by the closing of this announcement: One full year of graduate level education.

A. Education: In the Recent Graduates Program you may qualify based solely on education as follows: One full year of graduate level education.

OR

You may substitute Superior Academic Achievement for specialized experience as follows: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. Superior Academic Achievement is based on:

(1) Class Standing

• Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR

(2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.)

• Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR

(3) Honor Society Membership

• Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/).

OR

B. Specialized Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-05 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as: Using software for tracking, preparing reports and projects; managing or updating files; conducting research and analysis to support conclusions or propositions, and/or to find precedents or answer legal questions; drafting documents and correspondence; coordinating in person or remote meetings using teleconferencing, web-based video platforms, or other remote technology means.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).

OR

C. You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination will be identified in the online questions.

In order to qualify for the Paralegal Specialist position at the GS-09 level, you must meet the following requirements:

Education and/or experience requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.

To qualify for the GS-09 level, you must meet the following requirements by the closing of this announcement:

A. Education: In the Recent Graduates Program you may qualify based solely on education as follows: Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D. in a related field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR

B. Specialized Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-07 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as: Using software for tracking, managing, preparing reports and projects; managing or updating files; independently conducting complex research and analysis of single issue or fundamental substantive issues to analyze and support conclusion or propositions, and/or to find precedents or answer legal questions; independently drafting documents and correspondence for others; and coordinating and managing in person or remote proceedings, including use of teleconferencing, web-based video platforms, or other remote technology means.

OR

C. You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination will be identified in the online questions.

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. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

Education

For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

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. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.

• Relocation expenses are not authorized.

• This is a non-bargaining unit position.

• Position may be converted to a permanent or term position.

• We offer opportunities for telework.

• We offer opportunities for flexible work schedules.

Conditions of Employment Continued:

• All selectees must sign a Pathways Participant Agreement.

• Subject to a 1-year trial period.

• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.

• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.

• Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.

• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.

• Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel..

• Undergo an income tax verification.

• The employment of any candidate, including a current employee or a new hire, selected for this position may be conditional upon classification and/or audit of federal tax returns. This audit may include up to 2 years of returns.

• This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time.

There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents:

• Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights, for those who undergo an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history record check for personnel vetting, which includes Rap Back,
• FD-258 Privacy Act Statement

• FBI (this is the same statement used when your fingerprints are submitted as part of your background investigation), and

• SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov), (applicable to those who hold a sensitive position or have eligibility for access to classified information)"

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