The Tax Division is seeking highly skilled candidates to serve as a Paralegal Specialist (Special Assistant). The incumbent will assist an attorney who is blind or visually impaired by performing a range of paralegal duties that include conducting legal research; reading, proofreading, and cite-checking documents; composing correspondence, and assisting the attorney during telephone calls, meetings, depositions, trials, court hearings, meditation/settlement conferences, and associated travel.
Summary
The Tax Division is seeking highly skilled candidates to serve as a Paralegal Specialist (Special Assistant). The incumbent will assist an attorney who is blind or visually impaired by performing a range of paralegal duties that include conducting legal research; reading, proofreading, and cite-checking documents; composing correspondence, and assisting the attorney during telephone calls, meetings, depositions, trials, court hearings, meditation/settlement conferences, and associated travel.
Current Federal Employees serving under career or career-conditional appointments; Former Federal Employees with reinstatement eligibility; Current and Former Overseas Employees; VEOA, and 30% Disabled Veterans; Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A); Military Spouse; Peace Corps; AmeriCorps; Vista; and CTAP and ICTAP eligible
PLEASE BE SURE TO READ THE ENTIRE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE YOU APPLY.
This vacancy is also being announced concurrently at the GS-09/11 grade level with Announcement TAX-PARALEGSPAST-23-RC-17DEopen to the public. 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 (Special Assistant) GS - 0950 - 9/11, your typical work assignments may include the following:
assists an attorney who is blind or visually impaired by performing a range of paralegal duties that include preparing for and assisting the attorney during telephone calls, meetings, depositions, trials, court hearings, meditation/settlement conferences, describing proceedings to the attorney, and associated travel;
prepares and edits written products, correspondence, and court documents ensuring accuracy, proper format, spelling, punctuation, and grammar;
conducts legal research of defined scope and complexity as well as referencing and citing sources, applicable precedents, transcripts, legislative history, and other relevant documents;
manages the logistical aspects of trial/hearing/deposition/mediation or settlement conference and relays events that typically would be picked up only visually;
responsible for travel both locally and otherwise, may be required to drive to meetings and other appointments if public transportation is not readily available.
You may need to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result before you can be appointed into this position.
May require completion of one year probationary period.
You will need to successfully complete a pre-employment background security process pending completion and adjudication of the background investigation before you can be appointed to the position.
If you were born male, on or after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Additional information is found at: www.sss.gov
This is NOT a remote position. You will be required to work in person at our Washington, DC offices. However, some Telework may be authorized.
Qualifications
ATTENTION: After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder. Failure to complete a required assessment will render your application ineligible for consideration.
To qualify for the position of Paralegal Specialist (Special Assistant) at (GS-0950-9/11), you must possess the required specialized experience specific to this series and grade:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: To qualify for the GS-09 you MUST have at least one year of specialized experience in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector at the GS-07 grade level which includes but not limited to:
provides assistance to an attorney who is blind or visually impaired with a variety of paralegal and other duties
uses commercial databases, such as Lexis/Nexis and/or Westlaw, to perform basic legal research;
establishes and maintains digital case files containing case related documents, such as administrative files received from the client, discovery, exhibits, court filings, and general correspondence;
drafts or edits legal correspondence;
prepares and arranges for service of subpoenas, and summonses and complaints;
organizes and maintains deposition and trial exhibits;
OR
Education: a Master's or equivalent graduate degree in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law); a LL.B. or J.D.; or two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position;
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of one full year.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: To qualify for the GS-11 you MUST have at least one year of specialized experience in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector at the GS-09 grade level which includes but not limited to:
assists an attorney who is blind or visually impaired by performing a range of paralegal duties that may include preparing for and assisting the attorney during telephone calls, meetings, depositions, trials, court hearings, and/or meditation/settlement conferences, describing proceedings to the attorney, and associated travel;
independently drafts, proofreads or revises documents; explains and describes contents of the documents to the attorney, including charts or graphs;
analyzes voluminous documents to explain relevant content to the attorney;
independently uses commercial databases, including Lexis/Nexis and/or Westlaw to perform legal research, locate cases, and/or check legal citations;
independently uses presentation software, such as Sanction or PowerPoint, and/or synthesizing information in charts or graphs in preparation for trial or at trial.
OR
Education: an LL.M, a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Law); OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position;
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of two full years.
Time in Grade Requirement: Current government employees on a permanent appointment in the competitive service must demonstrate one year (52-weeks) at the next lower grade level to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the occupational series and grade.
You MUST meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement 06/12/2023
YOUR RESUME MUST provide specific details as to how your experience meets the specialized experience as described in the vacancy announcement. YOUR RESUME MUST alsosupport your responses to the online questionnaire. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating. See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.
Your latest resume submitted for this vacancy announcement will be used to determine qualifications and supersedes previous submissions.
Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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 more information about this requirement, please visit the U.S. Department of Education website for Foreign Education Evaluation.
All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
You must provide an unofficial transcript if you are using education to qualify. If you are selected for a position, you must provide an official, sealed transcript before your hiring date can be established to include the date your degree was conferred.
Additional information
Additional selections may be made to fill available positions. if applicable.
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. 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 click here.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for other parts of the hiring process should contact the Tax Division at 202-514-4661. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) apply for the position through this announcement; (3) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and (4) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: USAJOBS Career Transition Programs
Sharing of Certificates: The certificate(s) (or lists) of eligible candidates resulting from this vacancy announcement may be shared with other Department of Justice offices or components (outside of the Tax Division) who are hiring for positions in the same occupational series, grade level, full performance level, and duty location during the 240-day period beginning on the date of issuance of the certificate of eligibles. In order for your application materials to be shared, you must indicate on the occupational/assessment questionnaire that you are willing to have your application materials and other personal information included in the application shared with one or more other components within the Department of Justice outside of the Tax Division.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the job opportunity announcement closes (at 11:59 pm ET) on 06/12/2023, we will review your supporting documents and resume to determine if you are in the "Area of Consideration" for this vacancy. Government-Wide Merit Promotion vacancies may only accept applications from a limited audience, pay careful attention to the "Who May Apply" and the "Hiring Paths" information. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
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):
Applies Technology to Tasks
Assist and Apply Assistive Technologies for the Blind or Visually Impaired
Attention to Detail
Automated Litigation Support Systems
Customer Service
Decision Making
Flexibility
Integrity/Honesty
Interpersonal Skills
Learning
Legal Research
Legal, Government and Jurisprudence
Oral Communication
Performance Recognition
Reading Comprehension
Reasoning
Self-Management
Stress Tolerance
Teamwork
Writing
To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. You will not be considered for the position if you 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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Resume: All applicants must submit a detailed resume. Your resume must contain detailed information about your past employment, education, and qualifications. You should also include unpaid work experience (volunteer work) as well, because we may be able to credit you for this experience. If you're unsure about what to include in your resume, please review the USAJOBS Resume Writing Tutorial on YouTube. Your resume should include: 1) position title, 2) employer name and contact information, 3) start and end dates (including month and year), 4) the number of hours worked per week (or indicate full time), and 5) a detailed list of duties performed, accomplishments. If you are a current or former federal employee, include the highest grade/step achieved in each position. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. You are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder, as this will ensure you're including everything that is required.
Transcript: An unofficial transcript if you are using education to qualify.
If you are a current or former Federal employee applying for promotion, transfer, reinstatement, or reassignment:
Do not submit a pay adjustment or an award SF-50, these do not contain sufficient information about your appointment.
our SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action should list the full position title, series, grade, step and salary, organization, duty location, service computation date, effective date, and your service type and tenure status. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions and within grade/range increases
Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute.
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, documenting receipt of the award identified in the application questionnaire #05.
When claiming VEOA eligibility or a Veteran's Preference, you must submit your last DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) form, specifically the Member #4 Copy, indicating dates and character of service and discharge type.
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, and/or Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. See Veteran Family Preference for more information.
If you are currently on active duty, please provide an official statement of service from your command certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.
For more information on each type of Veterans Preference, and the documentation required for each, see https://www.fedshirevets.gov
If you are a person with a severe 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.
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. See USAJOBS' Career Transition Programs for more information.
If you are applying for this position based on eligibility under other noncompetitive special appointing authorities, you MUST submit proof of this eligibility. Examples Include: Peace Corps volunteer letter, military spouse hiring authority documentation, etc. USAJOBS - What documents might I need to provide? Application Manager Help - Documents
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. 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:
To begin the application process, 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.
After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.
If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements.
Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re- use the URL sent to you via email and also found in your USAJOBS account under the "Track my application" link for the corresponding application.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://usajobs.gov). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account at https://usajobs.gov . On the Home page, scroll down and locate your job application. Once the job has been located, click the "Track this application" link on the right under the application date. The page will refresh to display the Agency's Application Information page where you can scroll down and review any notifications the agency has sent you. 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/.
If you need help with the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help Site (for everything on the USAJOBS-side), or the Application Manager Help Site (for everything on the DOJ-side). Regrettably, the Department of Justice cannot assist you with USAJOBS account issues. If you contact us for assistance and the problem is related to your USAJOBS account, we will have to direct you to USAJOBS to remedy the issue.
Civil Trial Section, Western Region
c/o 150 M Street, NE
, Washington, DC 20530
US
Next steps
If you meet the minimum qualifications for this job, you will receive an email from assessments@USAHire.opm.gov with a link to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. This assessment must be completed within 48 hours after the close of this JOA. If you have not received the link to the assessment within 24 hours of the closing date and you meet the minimum qualifications for the position, you should contact USASHelp20@opm.gov to request the invitation to be re-sent.
Based 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.
Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.
Applicants selected for further consideration will be required to complete a reading aloud exercise and a document proofing and formatting exercise during the hiring process.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Resume: All applicants must submit a detailed resume. Your resume must contain detailed information about your past employment, education, and qualifications. You should also include unpaid work experience (volunteer work) as well, because we may be able to credit you for this experience. If you're unsure about what to include in your resume, please review the USAJOBS Resume Writing Tutorial on YouTube. Your resume should include: 1) position title, 2) employer name and contact information, 3) start and end dates (including month and year), 4) the number of hours worked per week (or indicate full time), and 5) a detailed list of duties performed, accomplishments. If you are a current or former federal employee, include the highest grade/step achieved in each position. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. You are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder, as this will ensure you're including everything that is required.
Transcript: An unofficial transcript if you are using education to qualify.
If you are a current or former Federal employee applying for promotion, transfer, reinstatement, or reassignment:
Do not submit a pay adjustment or an award SF-50, these do not contain sufficient information about your appointment.
our SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action should list the full position title, series, grade, step and salary, organization, duty location, service computation date, effective date, and your service type and tenure status. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions and within grade/range increases
Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute.
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, documenting receipt of the award identified in the application questionnaire #05.
When claiming VEOA eligibility or a Veteran's Preference, you must submit your last DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) form, specifically the Member #4 Copy, indicating dates and character of service and discharge type.
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, and/or Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. See Veteran Family Preference for more information.
If you are currently on active duty, please provide an official statement of service from your command certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.
For more information on each type of Veterans Preference, and the documentation required for each, see https://www.fedshirevets.gov
If you are a person with a severe 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.
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. See USAJOBS' Career Transition Programs for more information.
If you are applying for this position based on eligibility under other noncompetitive special appointing authorities, you MUST submit proof of this eligibility. Examples Include: Peace Corps volunteer letter, military spouse hiring authority documentation, etc. USAJOBS - What documents might I need to provide? Application Manager Help - Documents
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. 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:
To begin the application process, 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.
After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.
If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements.
Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re- use the URL sent to you via email and also found in your USAJOBS account under the "Track my application" link for the corresponding application.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://usajobs.gov). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account at https://usajobs.gov . On the Home page, scroll down and locate your job application. Once the job has been located, click the "Track this application" link on the right under the application date. The page will refresh to display the Agency's Application Information page where you can scroll down and review any notifications the agency has sent you. 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/.
If you need help with the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help Site (for everything on the USAJOBS-side), or the Application Manager Help Site (for everything on the DOJ-side). Regrettably, the Department of Justice cannot assist you with USAJOBS account issues. If you contact us for assistance and the problem is related to your USAJOBS account, we will have to direct you to USAJOBS to remedy the issue.
Civil Trial Section, Western Region
c/o 150 M Street, NE
, Washington, DC 20530
US
Next steps
If you meet the minimum qualifications for this job, you will receive an email from assessments@USAHire.opm.gov with a link to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. This assessment must be completed within 48 hours after the close of this JOA. If you have not received the link to the assessment within 24 hours of the closing date and you meet the minimum qualifications for the position, you should contact USASHelp20@opm.gov to request the invitation to be re-sent.
Based 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.
Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.
Applicants selected for further consideration will be required to complete a reading aloud exercise and a document proofing and formatting exercise during the hiring process.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
