PARALEGAL SPECIALIST

PARALEGAL SPECIALIST

Department: Department of the Army

Location(s): Fort Richardson, Alaska

Salary Range: $84439 - $109777 Per Year

Job Summary: Opened Area(s) of Consideration: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 DEFINITION OF AREA(S) OF CONSIDERATION: Area 1 - All current on-board AKNG T5 Competitive or Excepted Service Employees. Area 2 - All other current onboard AKNG T32 Excepted Service Employees. Area 3 - All current or former members of the Alaska National Guard Area 4 - All current and former Federal Employees with Reinstatement Eligibility. Area 5 - All U.S. Citizens. PDCN: T5162000 Selecting Supervisor: Andrew VanCannon

Major Duties:

• Provides ancillary legal work to state/territory SJA and other assigned Army National Guard (ARNG) and Air National Guard (ANG) attorneys servicing the state/territory 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. Research is performed on a variety of legal subjects which may include, but are not limited to: Federal and state/territory code, and legislative proposals or intent; military justice and status issues for Title 10 and Title 32 members; claims; labor relations; equal opportunity; administrative actions; contractual agreements; ethics; environmental concerns; law enforcement; bankruptcy; taxation; legal assistance; and a wide variety of miscellaneous legal issues. Interviews clients and potential witnesses; collects and organizes pertinent factual and research material to build case files; and prepares and organizes exhibits. Composes, prepares, and ensures accuracy of various legal or legislative documents. Drafts and edits non-legal memoranda, research reports and correspondence relating to cases. Maintains case files and identifies and corrects file deficiencies or discrepancies. Provides research, analysis, guidance, and support to administer courts-martial, non-judicial punishment, administrative boards and other legal actions and administrative processes. Reviews procedures, timing criteria and documents relative to the administration of justice under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and associated state/territory code. Performs research to identify factual and legal issues to uncover relevant information for summaries of precedent cases, interviews, testimony, depositions, and related case material for use by the attorneys. Performs research and preparation of notes and memoranda regarding allegations and possible charges, maintains logs and files, and files motions. Prepares and files charge sheets, disposition sheets, and other records. Maintains transcript files and exhibits. Provides assistance to serviced units concerning the administrative preparation, coordination, and implementation of documents regarding military justice. Manages the Preventative Law Program. Facilitates legal training for unit readiness non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and Directorate of Manpower and Personnel (J1) personnel, or others by request, on a variety of topics including but not limited to: the military justice system (both Federal and state/territory), inquiries and investigations, unlawful command influence, adverse administrative actions, administrative separations, the Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968, urinalysis testing and other issues affecting traditional guard members and NG full-time employees. Manages the SJA portion of the state/territory Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program. Advises senior leaders and organizational managers on the suitability of various disputes for resolution through the use of ADR methodologies by promoting program awareness, as well as planning for and providing timely advice or support needed to employ ADR program interventions. Develops, plans, or generates guidance for existing dispute processes to ensure they interface with National Guard Bureau (NGB) ADR goals. Works to implement the most appropriate form of ADR that both meets and is able to address the needs of the disputants. Analyses the qualifications, experience, training and subject matter expertise of neutrals and recommends the selection of specific one. Works with managers, supervisors, and employees to prevent and resolve problems and to build constructive relationships in the work environment. 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. As required by the action, performs preliminary investigation and gathers pertinent information, researches legal and factual issues, interviews claimant, involved parties and potential witnesses and builds case files, and recommends disposition of claim. Serves as the primary point of contact for ethical determinations. Screens requests for ethics opinions and gathers the applicable facts. Analyzes the specifics of each situation. Reviews changes in regulations on the Freedom of Information Act and updates and advises other legal personnel and field staff of changes. Consults and assists in formulation of NGB regulations regarding the release of information. Reviews Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Analyzes specific criteria and conducts required research for the information requested and coordinates with organization's functional managers for release of appropriate information. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: GENERAL EXPERIENCE is 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 / EDUCATION is experience/education which is directly related to the position to be filled and which has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. To qualify for this position, you must meet the Specialized Experience, Education, or a combination of both as described below: Specialized Experience - Must have at least 1-year specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-09, 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. 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. Performs research to identify factual and legal issues to uncover relevant information for summaries of precedent cases, interviews, testimony, depositions, and related case material for use by the attorneys. Performs research and preparation of notes and memoranda regarding allegations and possible charges, maintains logs and files, and files motions. Accepts complaint, summons, documents, or inquiries; identifies the type or purpose; screens for completeness; and identifies the action to be performed. OR Education - Possess a Ph.D, an equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. NOTE: In order to be considered for this position using education as a basis of qualification, you must submit a copy of your transcripts. OR Combination - A combination of Specialized Experience and Education as described above. Only graduate education in excess of that required for a Master's degree or equivalent may be used when combining education and experience to meet the total qualification requirements. NOTE: In order to qualify for this position using a combination of experience and education, you must submit a copy of your transcripts. EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Resume must have complete dates and hours worked per week for each occurrence of both civilian and military employment (Example: 2 JAN 1980 to 3 MAR 1981; 0800-1630 M-F or JAN 1980 to MAR 1981; 40 hrs/wk) Use of year only will result in disqualification. The duties listed must fully substantiate -in your own words- that you meet the minimum requirements and specialized experience listed above, in detail; otherwise, you will not be considered qualified for this position. Length of time is not of itself qualifying. Your experience will be evaluated on the basis of duties performed. Your record of experience, training, and education must show possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to fully perform the duties of the position. DESIRABLES: Demonstrated experience and/or subject matter expertise in: assisting judge advocates, attorneys, and investigating officers in conduct of investigations, including advising on interviewing witnesses and evidentiary requirements, and report organization; processing and coordination of legal actions, from intake to final agency disposition; serving as a senior paralegal in a military command environment, government agency, or in-house counsel office; preparing decision memoranda, drafting legal correspondence, and writing case summaries/briefs for attorneys and senior leaders; providing support to and reporting for administrative boards of officers and quasi-judicial hearings; conducting preliminary reviews of cases for legal sufficiency, including expertise in legal research and writing; providing client services, including legal assistance and coordination of estate planning documents, powers of attorney, wills, etc.; federal/Army EO/EEO/SHARP programs and policies; technical supervision of paralegals, legal paraprofessionals, and/or legal assistants in legal support roles and responsibilities.

How to Apply: To apply for this position, you must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To view the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12951666 A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-07