Paralegal Specialist

JobSummaryThis position is located in the Environmental Defense Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division. The Section represents the United States in complex litigation arising under a broad range of environmental statutes, and defends the United States against challenges to its cleanup and compliance actions at Superfund sites, federally-owned facilities and private sites. The incumbent will provide paralegal support to the Section's attorneys. LowGrade9 HighGrade11 PromotionPotential11 SubAgencyNameEnvironment and Natural Resources Division - Environmental Defense Section OrganizationCodesDJ/DJ01 RelocationFalse HiringPathfed-competitiveTotalOpenings1 AgencyMarketingStatementAre you interested in a rewarding and challenging career? Join the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), U.S. Department of Justice! ENRD is consistently ranked as a good place to work by the Partnership for Public Service. Our offices are conveniently located adjacent to the NoMA-Gallaudet University (Red Line) Metro Station, a short walk from Union Station. ENRD's building was constructed in 2019; offices and shared spaces in the building are clean, well-equipped, and packed with amenities. A wide variety of restaurants, coffee shops, stores, entertainment venues, and other attractions are easily accessible to employees in the neighborhood. The rich, culturally-diverse NoMA neighborhood is one of the most up-and-coming neighborhoods in DC! TravelCode1 ApplyOnlineUrlhttps://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/Apply DetailStatusUrlhttps://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/ApplicationStatus MajorDutiesThis vacancy is also being announced concurrently with Announcement# ENRD-24-059-DE for applicants who DO NOT have Federal status. Please review that announcement to determine if you are eligible to apply. Note: Applicants must apply separately for each announcement. As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service. As a Paralegal Specialist, typical work assignments may include the following: Conducting research in various databases including Westlaw, PACER and Lexis; performing cite checks pursuant to The Bluebook; compiling legislative histories; researching and verifying credentials of witnesses; proofreading and editing legal briefs and memoranda prior to filing in court; and ensuring conformance of documents to applicable court rules. Organizing and writing synopses of factual materials; summarizing depositions; preparing, organizing, and indexing administrative records; and preparing non-legal memoranda. Creating and maintaining litigation databases. Providing specialized litigation support services and coordinating trial logistics at off-site facilities, including with U.S. Attorneys' Offices and other government agencies; and traveling to various locations throughout the United States to assist with legal and technical assignments at trial. Performing case docketing; maintaining filing deadline calendar and coordinating with attorneys on each court filing; and preparing and assisting with filing all court documents. Collecting, analyzing, and recording case data in the Division's Case Management System.EducationAll academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html RequirementsEvaluationsYour qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Database Management Systems Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Legal, Government and Jurisprudence Oral Communication Performance & Awards Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Technical Competence Writing Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12535763 *Note: Additional candidates may be selected if more positions become available in the Division within 90 days after the HR office issues the selection certificate. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire HowToApplyPlease read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. For more general information, system requirements, reasonable accommodation information, and to request assistance regarding the USA Hire Assessments, review the following resources: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=USA_Hire_Assessments. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. WhatToExpectNextBased on your qualifications and assessment scores, after a review of your complete application is made you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the recruitment process has been completed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We expect to make a final job offer within 80 days after the closing date of the announcement. RequiredDocumentsYou must submit a detailed resumé containing the following information for each job entry listed in your employment history: Official position title; Employer name and contact information; Start and end dates (month and year); A detailed list of duties & accomplishments, Your highest salary (or Federal grade/step) achieved; and Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time. Additional required documents must be submitted by the closing date of the job announcement. Documentation requirements may vary from applicant to applicant based on your eligibility claims. It is your responsibility to carefully review the list below to determine which documents are required for your application. To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: Resumé (cover letter optional) A writing sample, up to 5 pages double-spaced SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action which shows career or career-conditional tenure in the competitive service or Federal reinstatement eligibility, such as an appointment action, within-grade increase, promotion, or separation whichever is most recent. An Award or General Pay Adjustment action will not suffice. An unofficial graduate transcript if you are using education to meet the minimum qualification For Federal employees, performance appraisal issued within the last 12 months Veteran preference documentation, if applicable for VEOA consideration Schedule A documentation, if applicable For Land Management eligibles, submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 or equivalent proving eligibility for appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act. Supporting documents, if applicable for other special appointment authorities CTAP/ICTAP documentation, if applicable Your online responses to the Occupational Questionnaire If you are using education to qualify for this position, or if education is required: You must submit a transcript, which may be unofficial, as long as it contains a full listing of courses, credit earned, grade and grade-point-average, subject area, degree(s) earned, and dates of award. Your transcript must come from a nationally-accredited educational institution recognized by the Department of Education. Please do not submit electronic transcripts with documentation security protection. These may prevent our application system from accepting and processing the document. If submitting a foreign transcript, you must have the transcript reviewed by an approved foreign education review organization recognized by the Department of Education. Your transcript must also be in English or have an English translation included. If you are a Veteran or a qualifying parent or spouse: Submit all DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, Member-4 Copy) forms. If you are a Veteran with a service-connected disability rating you will need to submit the SF-15 (Application for 10-point Veterans Preference) and a copy of your VA Letter stating your disability rating. If you are the qualifying parent or spouse of a disabled, deceased, or deployed Veteran, and are seeking a derived preference eligibility, you must submit appropriate supporting documentation such as the Veterans DD-214, SF-15, VA Letter. For more information on each type of Veterans Preference, and the documentation required for each, see FedsHireVets. If you are a person with a disability, claiming eligibility under Schedule A: You must submit "proof of a disability" documentation ("Proof of a disability" is a letter stating that you have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability or psychiatric disability). You must get this letter from your doctor, a licensed medical professional, a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or any Federal, state, or local agency that issues or provides disability benefits. For more information about Schedule A and verification requirements, please see OPM's Schedule A site. If you are a displaced Federal employee claiming eligibility under CTAP or ICTAP: You must submit your separation notice or agency RIF letter from your agency. If you have not yet been separated, you can provide the letter of intent to separate you from the agency because of reduction-in-force. Additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility can be found at http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered. Do not include the following types of information in your profile or resume: Classified or government sensitive information Social Security Number (SSN) Photos of yourself Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate content, you may not be considered for this vacancy. BenefitsBenefitsUrlhttps://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/Guide-Me/New-Prospective-Employees/ OtherInformationCareer Transition Programs: The Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in DOJ with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If you have received written notification of your eligibility for consideration under CTAP/ICTAP, you may receive special priority consideration for this position if you are well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under the VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement. You can find additional information at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/ Military Spouses: You're eligible if you are a spouse of an active duty member of the armed forces; a spouse of a service member who is 100% disabled due to a service-connected injury; or a spouse of a service member killed while on active duty. You must meet certain criteria for each of these eligibility categories. Learn more about the specific criteria for military spouses Schedule A: DOJ welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities and is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department. DOJ also encourages eligible Schedule A applicants to submit their resumes to resume@benderconsult.com, and reference "Federal Career Opportunities" in the subject line. Additional information is found at: www.benderconsult.com Land Management applicants on a time-limited appointment are eligible to apply. The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, P.L. 114-47 was signed into law on August 7, 2015, allowing certain individuals who currently are or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete for permanent positions in the competitive service at a land management agency, or any other agency, under merit promotion procedures. Benefits: DOJ offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. General Employment Information: DOJ EEO STATEMENT: The U.S. Department of Justice fosters an inclusive and diverse workforce, find our EEO statement online at: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/page/file/1394116/dl?inline SELECTIVE SERVICE: Additional information is found at: www.sss.gov. KeyRequirementsWithinAreaFalse CommuteDistance0 ServiceType01 AnnouncementClosingType01 AgencyContactEmailcarmen.browne@usdoj.gov AgencyContactPhone(202) 616-3127 SecurityClearanceOther DrugTestRequiredTrue PositionSensitivitiyModerate Risk (MR) AdjudicationTypeCredentialing

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