Job summary

About the Position: Join an outstanding legal team supporting complex and dynamic programs in Florida. This is an opportunity to work both independently and in a team to provide the highest level of legal service. The legal office has six paraprofessionals and over 20 attorneys.

Major duties

Provide paralegal, administrative, and logistical support for cases in litigation in state and federal courts and administrative proceedings, involving contract claims and appeals, environmental issues, and personnel issues. Prepare litigation reports, pleadings, affidavits, exhibit lists, and other documents necessary to litigate before administrative bodies and federal courts. Perform extensive independent research on a multitude of complex legal issues relating to execution of the Corps' missions and present or anticipated litigation in various forms. Use computerized legal research, other online resources, and /or legal periodicals/reference materials. Participate in general legal office management, including assistance with preparation of reports, budget development, data and information management, and office administration. Manage District FOIA's and Privacy Act programs, including all tracking requests, utilizing databases, communicating with requestors and responding to requests, asserting exemptions, and preparing annual reports.

Qualification

PLEASE NOTE: This position may be filled at either the GS-07, GS-09 or GS-11 level. If you are selected at the GS-07 or GS-09 level you have promotion potential to the GS-11. Promotion to the next higher grade is at manager's discretion. Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Current Department of Army Civilian Employees Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army) Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer People with Disabilities, Schedule A Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible Reinstatement Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or 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. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Qualifications for the GS-07: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes knowledge relevant to or demonstrated ability to assist with office administration, to include assisting with budget development, tracking metrics, and developing reports and presentations; knowledge relevant to or demonstrated ability to communicate with managers and supervisors in order to prepare recommendations to meet office requirements; knowledge relevant to or demonstrated ability to draft and prepare correspondence on complex matters; knowledge relevant to or demonstrated ability to assist attorneys and paraprofessionals with preparation of basic motions, interrogatories, briefs, or litigation reports; knowledge relevant to or demonstrated ability to organize facts to assist in case preparation; knowledge relevant to or demonstrated ability to assist with basic legal research; knowledge relevant to or demonstrated ability to manage case files; knowledge relevant to or demonstrated ability to identify relevant regulations and/or guidance; knowledge relevant to or demonstrated ability to extract pertinent information from legal documents for ongoing matters; and knowledge relevant to or demonstrated ability to assist in the preparation of discovery responses. OR One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts). OR Superior Academic Achievement: 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. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). Qualifications for the GS-09:Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting attorneys and paralegals with preparation of motions, interrogatories, briefs, or litigation reports; organizing facts to assist in case preparation; independently conducting legal research and analysis of single issue or fundamental substantive issues; managing case files; identifying relevant regulations and/or guidance; extracting pertinent information from legal documents for ongoing matters; assisting in the preparation of administrative records and discovery responses; assisting with office administration, to include assisting with budget development, tracking metrics, and developing reports; and communicating with managers and supervisors in order to prepare recommendations or draft legal opinions and positions. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). 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., if unrelated in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Paralegal, Legal studies or Business Administration. 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.

Education

(CONTINUED) Qualifications for the GS-11:Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting attorneys and paraprofessionals with preparation of motions, interrogatories, briefs, or litigation reports; organizing facts and ideas to assist in case preparation; independently conducting legal research and analysis in multi-issue or complex substantive issues; Managing and updating case files; identifying relevant regulations and/or guidance; extracting pertinent information from legal documents for ongoing matters; preparing draft legal documents such as affidavits and discovery responses with minimal supervision; and communicating with managers and supervisors in order to prepare recommendations or draft legal opinions and positions; selecting and assembling substantive information by use of statutes, regulations, department orders, digests, commentaries, legal instruments, and other legal reference material; Identifying issues from case law and preparing synopses for attorney use; and researching relevant legislation, regulations and precedents. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS- 09). OR Education: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. 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 second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Interpersonal Skills Learning Legal, Government and Jurisprudence Problem Solving Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-05, GS-07 and GS-09 respectively). 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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Evaluations

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Interpersonal Skills Learning Legal, Government and Jurisprudence Problem Solving Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. You may claim Military Spouse preference. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) applicants will receive preference consideration and will be placed (if selected) at the highest grade for which they have applied and are determined best qualified, up to and including the full performance level. You may claim Priority Placement Program (PPP) preference. DoD Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicants will receive preference consideration at the full-performance grade level only. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.