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PATHWAYS INTERN STUDENT TRAINEE (LEGAL)

General Services Administration
Office of Inspector General
This job announcement has closed

Summary

We are seeking highly qualified and motivated students to hire into the Pathways Intern Program, in our Office of Counsel, located in Washington, DC.  This program facilitates the college-to-career transition by providing opportunities in a variety of career tracks.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
01/09/2024 to 01/18/2024
Salary
$55,924 to - $88,926 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 07 - 09
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Washington, DC
2 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Internships
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
09
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
JC-2024-01 IN
Control number
769674000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current students enrolled at least half-time in an accredited law (J.D.) program at an American Bar Association (ABA) law school in Good academic standing is determined by the educational institution, but is typically a Grade Point Average of a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must provide proof of current enrollment in school and documentation indicating acceptance in an accredited educational institution (if applicable).

Duties

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The General Service Administration (GSA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Counsel (JC), seeks rising law students to serve as an Intern. You will perform duties and gain knowledge in areas specific of the OIG Counsel’s Office to include: government contracting and procurement; fiscal law; civil and criminal investigations; False Claims Act; employment law; ethics; administrative subpoenas; and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) matters. Typical duties may include any of the following:

  • Performs research using pertinent sources such as, internet sources (Westlaw), and other public records sources(PACER), to determine causes of action on legal issues. 
  • Reviews subpoenas for legal compliance.
  • Briefs senior officials orally and in writing on projects assigned.
  • Tracks and inputs legal documents using a case management system; and
  • Writes or assists in drafting legal memoranda.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island).
  • Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date.
  • Sign a Pathways Participant Agreement. Appointment NTE 10 weeks.

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

  • Register with the Selective Service, if you are a male born after 12/31/1959.
  • Signed participant agreement is required for employment under this Program.
  • Have completed at least one year of law school by the summer intern program start date.
  • GPA of at least 3.0 (or equivalent).
  • Provide a copy of up-to-date transcripts (unofficial) at the end of each academic year, unless requested more frequently by the supervisor or Human Resources Office, for verification of enrollment and academic standing as proof of continuing eligibility for participation in the Intern Program.
  • Serve in a trial period for the entire duration of the internship appointment.
  • Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 1 investigation level).
  • Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
  • Complete a financial disclosure report to verify that no conflict, or an appearance of conflict, exists between your financial interest and this position.
  • Work full-time for a period of at least 8 weeks but no more than 10 weeks. This block of time must take place between May 2024 through September 2024.

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:

  • the exact dates you held  each job (from month/year to month/year)
  • number of hours per week you worked (if part time)
  • complete supervisor or reference contact information (e.g,. phone )    

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click here

The GS-07 salary range starts at $55,924 per year. The GS-09 salary range start at $68,405. If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.

Basic Requirements:

GS-07 grade level: Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate level education; or Eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement Provision and completion of a bachelor's degree.

GS-09 grade level: Completion of 2 academic years of graduate level education, or a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree.

*****NOTE: One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours*****


Grade-point average (rounded to one decimal point) of:

    1. 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of your curriculum; or
    2. 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in your major field or the required courses in your major field completed during your final 2 years of the curriculum.

College transcripts: You must submit a photocopy of your college transcript(s). Transcripts MUST show: name of the institution, student's name, course work/degree(s) completed/conferred and dates. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

Education

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

Bargaining Unit status: This position is ineligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit.

Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.  

Additional vacancies may be filled from this announcement as needed; through other means; or not at all.  

GSA OIG does allow for routine telework, but this is not a fully remote position. Applicants selected for this position will be required to report to the agency worksite listed in the announcement on a regular basis.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Pathways - Category Rating

We will use a method called Category Rating to assess your application.  Here’s how it will work:

You will be scored on the questions you answer during the application process, which will measure your possession of the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities:

  1. Knowledge of legal terminology, research techniques and legal concepts.

  2. knowledge of legal reference material, such as reference systems, directives, issuances, regulations, executive orders, precedential decisions, court decisions.

  3. Knowledge, skill, and ability to use computer programs such as Microsoft Office products, email, and other electronic software and systems.

Your answers to the questions will be used to place you in one of the following categories and standard score ranges: [If the use of 4 categories is justified, adjust verbiage].

  • Best Qualified = Candidates scoring between 95 - 100
  • Well Qualified = Candidates scoring between 85 - 94 
  • Qualified = Candidates scoring between 70 - 84

We will verify your answers to the questions in your resume.  If your resume doesn’t support your answers, we may lower your score, which could place you in a lower category.

Within each category, veterans will receive selection priority over non-veterans.

Additional hurdle assessments, such as narrative responses or other assessments, may be administered to applicants who meet the requirements of the first hurdle, e.g., the minimum qualification requirements. If additional assessments are used, you will be provided with further instructions.

We will assess your application to make sure you:

  • meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements, which are described in the Qualifications section.  

If you meet the criteria above, you will be referred to the selecting official.  Veterans will receive selection priority over non-veterans.

Additional hurdle assessments, such as narrative responses or other assessments, may be administered to applicants who meet the requirements of the first hurdle, e.g., the minimum qualification requirements. If additional assessments are used, you will be provided with further instructions.


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