Paralegal Specialist

Duties

As a Paralegal Specialist, you will:

• Conduct substantive research using attorney files, law reports, statutes and regulations, library reference files, computer databases, and other pertinent sources.
• Analyze facts and legal issues, and prepare appropriate memorandum, discussion paper, brief or report reflecting facts, supporting case law, applicable regulations, sources, citations, and other items discovered during the course of legal research.
• Review, develop and recommend to Division Chief and attorneys action to be taken on visa petition appeals, and composes and writes reports to the District personnel in the area and the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of the division attorneys.
• Establish computer filing system to track correspondence, visa petition appeals, legal advice, and federal litigation.
• Input data into computer databases and systems concerning federal court litigation and visa petition appeals, retrieve and analyze data therefrom and prepares reports and charts as needed.

Qualifications

GS-13: You qualify at the GS-13 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the federal government, which has equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the following duties:

• Planning, developing, interpreting and resolving broad, complex and unprecedented problems;
• Providing authoritative advice to external parties dealing with the organization or internal agency employees, and making decisions or recommendations with respect to cases and assignments;
• Analyze issues of fact and issues of law to make recommendations to attorneys on factual and legal issues involved in their cases;
• Analyze new legislation, which has an impact on agency policies, procedures, and guidelines or implementation.

Please read the following important information to ensure we have everything we need to consider your application:
It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable), as it relates to this job opportunity. Please be clear and specific when describing your work history as we cannot make assumptions regarding your experience. Your application will also be rated and ranked among others based on your responses to the online questions.

Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information:

• Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job)
• Duties (be specific in describing your duties)
• Employer's name and address
• Supervisor name and phone number
• Start and end dates including month, day and year (e.g. June 18 2007 to April 05 2008)
• Start and end dates for each grade/pay level if you've held a federal position.
• Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
• Salary

Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide the above information may result in a finding of ineligible.

Federal Experience
If you are using current or prior federal experience as a basis for qualifying for this position, the grade levels and length of employment (mm/dd/year) at each grade level must be listed in your work history. This information will be further validated if selected for this position.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience)
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 criteria 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 service. Please provide the dates and amount of time/hours worked earning this experience.

Education

EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTION: There is no educational substitution at this grade level.