Paralegal Specialist

Summary With an emphasis on high ethical standards, excellence in public service and the delivery of superlative advice and counsel, our Office performs the legal work for the United States Department of the Interior, and manages the Departmental Ethics Office and Departmental FOIA Office. With more than five hundred total employees, more than four hundred of which are licensed attorneys, the Office strives to provide sound legal services to fulfill the Department's diverse and wide-ranging mission. Responsibilities This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, Southwest Region, Tulsa Field Office, duty stationed in Tulsa, OK. At the full performance level (GS-11) the major duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: 1. Assist attorneys with administrative and judicial litigation. 2. Review newly filed cases and supporting documents and make recommendation to trial attorney on proposed response. 3. Prepare initial draft of court filings, draft letters or other correspondence associated with case management. 4. Provide litigation support to attorneys during trials by handling exhibits, taking notes, reviewing trial transcripts, scheduling interviews, meetings, depositions, and other proceedings. 5. Review, organize, and monitor administrative and judicial cases with updates to appropriate tracking tools. 6. Assist client agencies with compilation of the Administrative Record, initial disclosures, and discovery requests. 7. Organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing systems. Salary Range Information: GS-09 $59,966 - $77,955 per annum GS-11 $72,553 - $94,317 per annum First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level. This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available. This vacancy is also announced as SOL-SWR-25-FS-002(DEU) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Competitive Examining procedures. Requirements Conditions of Employment Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/. Qualifications Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet one of the following below for the grade to which you are applying. GS-09 Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-09, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is 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. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1. Experience in Real Estate, Probate, and/or Federal Indian Law reviewing case materials, searching for and summarizing relevant articles in magazines, law reviews, published studies, reports, and/or similar materials for use of attorneys in the preparation of opinions, briefs, and other legal documents. 2. Experience in Real Estate, Probate, and/or Federal Indian Law reviewing and collecting documentary evidence and arranging case files for use in a variety of legal proceedings. 3. Experience in Real Estate, Probate, and/or Federal Indian Law monitoring the progress of pending cases and initiating action to ensure that legal pleadings, forms, reports, correspondences, and/or other documents are prepared and submitted within established timelines. MUST MEET 2 of 3. -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., related to the position. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: A qualifying combination of post baccalaureate education and specialized experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. GS-11 Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-11, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is 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. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1. Experience in Real Estate, Probate, and/or Federal Indian Law reviewing case materials, searching for and summarizing relevant articles in magazines, law reviews, published studies, reports, and/or similar materials for use of attorneys in the preparation of opinions, briefs, and other legal documents; AND 2. Experience in Real Estate, Probate, and/or Federal Indian Law reviewing and collecting documentary evidence and arranging case files for use in a variety of legal proceedings; AND 3. Experience in Real Estate, Probate, and/or Federal Indian Law monitoring the progress of pending cases and initiating action to ensure that legal pleadings, forms, reports, correspondences, and/or other documents are prepared and submitted within established timelines. MUST MEET ALL. -OR- Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., related to the position. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: A qualifying combination of post baccalaureate education and specialized experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. 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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and 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 on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp Merit Promotion candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement. Education Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements. Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 Additional Information Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties. Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position. The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361. NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S. A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete. If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check. Current Federal employees or individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau security office. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. Agency Benefits: Working for the DOI, Office of the Solicitor offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; health, life, dental, vision, and long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. SOL has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework in accordance with the DOI Telework policy and with supervisor approval. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis. For additional information on telework you may access the Department of Interior's Telework Handbook at https://www.doi.gov/telework/policies.