Paralegal Specialist, GS-0950-09 (66472)

Duties
• Provide legal assistance and support to attorneys by assisting in the research and analysis of litigation cases.
• Conduct investigations obtaining information from a variety of sources including police reports, witnesses, claimants, insurance companies, claimants' attorneys, and medical practitioners to prepare documentary files.
• Perform legal research and write in an array of legal areas.
• Advise and assist with Davis Bacon and Service Contract wage rates and the review of contractor payrolls.
• Prepare and document responses to interrogatories and discovery requests, and draft affidavits/declarations.
• Perform a variety of administrative and other support functions.
• Process Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for the Walla Walla District Office of Counsel.

This job opportunity is open to CURRENT, PERMANENT USACE EMPLOYEES ONLY.

This opportunity is being announced through the USACE Voluntary Internal Opportunities Program (VIOP). Current, permanent USACE employees with non-competitive eligibility to be placed in this position are eligible to apply. We are specifically seeking a non-competitive reassignment for this opportunity. Employees interested in permanent or temporary promotions longer than 120 days must apply through USAJOBS, or other approved merit procedures or hiring authorities. Temporary or term employees and Department of Army Fellows assigned to USACE will not be considered for positions or assignments through VIOP.

Conditions of employment
• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.

Who May Apply: Current, Permanent USACE Employees only.

GS-9 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes (1) the use of office automation software (word processing, spreadsheet, and databases); (2) retrieval, update and storage of electronic data; (3) and preparing, editing, and formatting of correspondence and/or reports (4) perform legal research and/or assemble information for use by attorneys.

OR

Education: 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 field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Paralegal or Legal Studies.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Additional information
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.
• Relocation incentive may be authorized.
• A one-year trial/probationary period may be required.