PARALEGAL SPECIALIST

Summary THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION. This National Guard position is for a PARALEGAL SPECIALIST, Position Description Number PDT5162000 and is part of the WY Joint Forces Headquarters ARNG, Wyoming National Guard. This position is in the Excepted Service "under the authority of Title V, P.L. 114-328, and Sections 932 and 1084 (FY17 NDAA)". This is a Title 5 Excepted Service position. Military affiliation is not required. Responsibilities The primary purpose of this position is for Paralegal support within the Wyoming National Guard's Staff Judge Advocate's (SJA) 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 Wyoming National Guard unit commanders and their assigned legal personnel. (1) Provides ancillary legal work to Wyoming SJA and other assigned Army National Guard (ARNG) and Air National Guard (ANG) attorneys servicing the Wyoming 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. (2) Provides research, analysis, guidance, and support to administer courts-martial, non-judicial punishment, administrative boards and other legal actions and administrative processes. (3) Manages the Preventative Law Program. (4) Manages the SJA portion of the Wyoming National Guard's Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program. (5) 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. * This is NOT an all-inclusive list of duties. * Requirements Conditions of Employment KEY REQUIREMENTS: U.S. Citizenship Required. This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program. Employees are paid through Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer (DD/EFT). May be required to successfully complete a trial/probationary period. Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation Recruitment/Relocation Incentive MAY BE authorized, if eligible. Subject to funding and approval. PCS is not authorized in lieu of Incentives. Indefinite position may convert to Permanent if funding/position is available CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Must obtain and maintain a SECRET security clearance. 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. 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. This designation will not exceed 14 calendar days per year unless otherwise approved in advance by the Adjutants General (TAG). Indefinite employees may be terminated or displaced at management's discretion with a 30-day written notice. Qualifications AREAS OF CONSIDERATION: Referrals of qualified applicants will be issued as follows: Area 2: Permanent and indefinite WYNG Title 5 and T32 DST employees with the Wyoming Air/Army National Guard. Area 3: Current Federal employees within the Competitive and Excepted Service, and Competitive Service Reinstatement Eligible employees. Former NG T32 Dual Status employees receiving an Honorable or a General Discharge under Honorable Conditions are eligible for reinstatement provided they have been separated for at least one year before applying for reinstatement and received a rating of record of their most recent permanent position of a least fully successful (or equivalent). Area 4: Currently serving and former Active Guard/Reserve (AGR), and M-Day/Drill Status Guard (DSG) members of the National Guard. This provision is intended to boost the candidate pool to reach more qualified candidates and places DSG/M-Day personnel on par with currently serving civilian personnel. * Veterans' Preference Rules are mandated by law and some applicants may receive priority consideration before other applicants without veterans' preference. * Area 7: U.S. Citizens TITLE 5 POSITION INFORMATION: Type of Appointment: Temporary Indefinite Tenure: Group 3 - Indefinite (Refer to Employment Conditions below for additional information) Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 4:30 pm FLSA: Exempt Telework: The duties of this position require primary physical presence. Situational telework may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Para/Line: 121C/300 Selecting Official: MAJ Darren Cook This position does not require National Guard Military Membership. IMPORTANT NOTE: This position is traditionally filled by a Title 32 Dual Status Technician (T32 DST), which means the employee must be a military member of the Wyoming Army National Guard. However, we have been unable to attract any qualified candidates nor fill the position. As we continue to advertise the T32 DST position, the agency has opted to fill this position with a civilian employee that isn't required to meet the aforementioned military requirement. Its purpose is to fill a position where the need for an employee's services is not permanent, or management expects the position to potentially become permanent at some point in the future. You will be asked to sign an agreement acknowledging you are aware of the temporary nature of this position and willing to be displaced under reduction in force procedures should the position be filled with a T32 DST incumbent. COMPETITIVE SERVICE APPLICANTS: Upon acceptance to this position, if selected candidate is a competitive employee, they will convert to Excepted Service and be required to sign a memorandum IAW 5 CFR 302.102. Acceptance of the proposed appointment will take the employee out of the competitive service while s/he occupies the position. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: In order to qualify, you must meet the experience and/or education requirements described below. 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. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Must possess 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: To qualify based on your experience, your resume must describe at least one years of equivalent experience which prepared you to do the work of this position. To qualify for the GS-9 position, must possess at least 1-year specialized experience, education, or training equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) applying the principles, concepts, and methods of legal research and reference sources such as agency manuals and directives. Experience applying the techniques and skills necessary to analyze both issues of fact and issues of law in order to prepare digests of case decisions, evaluate the applicability of precedents, or to draft briefs, other litigation papers, advisory opinions, or findings. To qualify for the GS-11 position, must possess at least 1-year specialized experience, education, or training equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) 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. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. TIME-IN-GRADE: Any applicant who within the previous 52 weeks held a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-9 position you must have served at least 52 weeks no lower than a GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served at least 52 weeks no lower than a GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. NOTE: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement. If you are a current GS employee applying for a higher grade than the grade you currently hold provide an SF-50 showing the next lower grade was held for at least one year. Some SF-50s effective within the last 52 weeks will not demonstrate the next lower grade was held for at least one year (e.g., General Adjustment SF-50 from this year). In many cases, we may need to see two (2) SF-50s to determine time-in-grade and eligibility for promotion. If you are a DoD employee, you may obtain copies of your SF-50(s) from MyBiz (https://compo.dcpds.cpms.osd.mil/) Education SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: GS-9: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in paralegal studies or paralegal certification which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work as a paralegal specialist. (Note: Must attach a copy of your transcripts.) GS-11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in paralegal studies or paralegal certification which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work as a paralegal specialist. (Note: Must attach a copy of your transcripts.) You must provide transcripts or other 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. Additional Information 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/register/) The Wyoming Military Department's (WYMD) 335, Personnel - General Merit Placement & Promotion Plan, is available at: https://www.wyomilitary.wyo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WYMD-335-MPP-15-April-2023.pdf Please do not send/fax/courier/email any applications or resumes to the Wyoming National Guard Human Resource Office, you must apply on-line via www.USAJOBS.gov. The Human Resource can only process materials received through USA Jobs. TENURE: GROUP III - INDEFINITE Purpose: To fill a position that may last for more than 1 year where the need for an employee's services is not permanent, or management expects the position to potentially become permanent (career or career-conditional) at some time in the future. Often used to back-fill positions left vacant by employees entering Title 10 or Title 32 military orders with reemployment rights. An employee with statutory reemployment rights (USERRA) is protected for five years. Indefinite employees may be terminated or displaced at management's discretion with a 30-day written notice when the position and/or employee's services are no longer needed. The potential exists for non-competitive conversion to career-conditional or career appointment within the Excepted Service under the following conditions: Incumbent was appointed under open, competitive procedures to the indefinite position. Incumbent completes at least 2 years of current continuous service under an indefinite appointment. Incumbent's performance under an indefinite appointment is a least "fully successful" or equivalent. Outplacement program requirements have been met, and Similarly situated employees (in the same title, pay plan, series and grade) within the organization, hired under the same appointment conversion provision, have been considered under internal competition procedures. Employees serving a Title 5 Indefinite appointment are entitled to the following employee benefits: Accrual of annual and sick leave Health and life insurance benefits Enrollment in the Thrift Savings Plan, and Enrollment in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)