Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current members of the 137th SOW within the military grades of E-4 through E-6.

This position is located in the Joint Force Headquarters - State (JFHQ-ST), Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA). The primary purpose of this position is for paralegal support within the State Staff Judge Advocate's Office providing ancillary legal research and analysis. Supports the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Preventative Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs in the state. Serves as a point of contact for claims, ethics determinations, and legal assistance for Army and Air National Guard personnel and their families. Provides technical legal guidance and support to National Guard unit commanders and their assigned legal personnel.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provides ancillary legal work to the 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 and summarizes findings to aide staff attorneys in case or project resolution. Performs research on a variety of legal subjects which may include, but are not limited to: Federal and state/territory code, and legislative proposals; 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 or organizes exhibits.


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.

Implements 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.

Supports 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.

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.

Serves as a point of contact for ethical determinations. Conducts legal research and applies cumulative knowledge to the factual element and recommends a course of action or refers that recommendation to the SJA. Assists the Staff Judge Advocate with implementation of the joint ethics regulatory annual reporting requirements.

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. Provides summaries and rationale to the FOIA Officer to determine appropriate action for non-releasable information.

Exercises judgment in screening and determining those that can be personally serviced or require referral to an attorney or another provider. These issues include, but are not limited to, preparation of powers-of-attorney and wills; notary services; legal review of correspondence or documentation; information on legal rights, benefits, privileges, or obligations; explaining pertinent legal provisions, regulations, and related administrative practices; and their application to specific cases or questions; claims, voting requirements, loan contracts, motor vehicle registrations, titles, transfers, and releases; etc.

Conditions of employment

• This is an excepted service position that requires membership in a compatible military assignment in the employing state's National Guard, required prior to the effective date of placement.
• Selectee will be required to wear the military uniform.
• Acceptance of an excepted service position constitutes concurrence with these requirements as a condition of employment.
• Males born after 31 December 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
• May be required to successfully complete a trial period.
• Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance of the position.
• This position is covered by the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment (30 Sep 96) of the Gun Control Act (Lautenberg Amendment) of 1968. An individual convicted of a qualifying crime of domestic violence may not perform the duties of this position.
• Ability to establish effective professional working relationships with coworkers and customers, contributing to a cooperative working environment and successful accomplishment of the mission.
• May occasionally be required to work other than normal duty hours; overtime may be required.
• The duties and responsibilities of your job may significantly impact the environment.
• You are responsible to maintain awareness of your environmental responsibilities as dictated by legal and regulatory requirements, your organization, and its changing mission.
• For positions requiring the operation of motor vehicles, candidates must have a valid state driver’s license for the state in which they live or are principally employed.
• For positions requiring a security clearance (Secret or Top Secret) the applicant must possess or be able to obtain a clearance within one year of appointment.
• Upon accepting this position, the employee may be required to serve up to a two-year probationary period.

Qualifications

MILITARY GRADES: E-4 through E-6

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
Must have at least 24 months experience, education or training of applying the principles, concepts, and methods of legal research and reference sources such as agency manuals and directives. Experience applying the techniques and skills necessary to analyze both issues of fact and issues of law in order to prepare digests of case decisions, evaluate the applicability of precedents, or to draft briefs, other litigation papers, advisory opinions, or findings.

Practical knowledge of basic legal principles and concepts to interpret and apply or explain to others a body of law, regulations, directives, precedents, or other reoccurring legal facts, issues or processes impacting leaders, commanders, supervisors, soldiers, airmen and their families.

Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and methods of legal research and reference sources such as agency manuals, directives, issuances, court reports, appellate records, or commercial legal publications sufficient to locate appropriate data such as applicable precedents, and commentaries which bear on particular legal issues.

Knowledge of techniques and skills necessary to analyze both issues of fact and law in order to prepare digests of case decisions, evaluate the applicability of precedents, or to draft briefs, other litigation papers, advisory opinions, or findings.

Knowledge of interviewing techniques and skill sufficient to interview potential witnesses, claimants, involved parties and other sources of information to ascertain facts.

Knowledge of legal documents to determine nature of action requested, if properly completed, what information is needed or missing, and proper routing of documents.

Knowledge of, and skill to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in order to provide assistance to customers in the preparation of legal documents, or to assist attorneys by providing written summaries of analyses to support specific legal issues.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.