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Position Title
Paralegal Specialist
Agency
Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services
Announcement Number
HHS-OGC-IMP-25-12637265 Opens in new window
Open Period
Friday, January 10, 2025 to Tuesday, January 21, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS CAREFULLY. YOUR RESPONSES WILL AFFECT YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THIS POSITION.

The following questions address if you are eligible to apply to this job opportunity announcement through Merit Promotion procedures. You will only be considered under the options you have selected, so please choose carefully. If you respond that you do not meet any of the following criteria, you will not be considered for this position under this announcement. Please refer to the announcement for additional information. If you still have questions concerning your eligibility for consideration, you may reach out to the contact in the announcement prior to the announcement closing. You must submit a complete application by the close of the announcement to be considered.
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1. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the Department of Health and Human Services? If yes, confirm:
• You are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy
• Your grade is equivalent to or above the grade level of the vacancy AND
• Your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

You will be required to submit supporting documentation to validate your claim of CTAP eligibility such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50. For more information, review the USAJOBS Resource Center page (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/ctap/).
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2. Are you a current Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employee who is serving under a competitive career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service?  You must provide qualifying documentation (i.e. SF-50). (limit characters)
3. Are you a current Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employee who currently holds, or has held a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service at the same or higher grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being announced?  You must provide qualifying documentation (SF-50). (limit characters)
4. Are you a current United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Officer or a United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Officer candidate?

If yes:
  • For current active duty USPHS Commissioned Corps officers, submit a copy of your most recent personnel orders.
OR
  • For USPHS Commissioned Corps candidates, submit documentation from the Division of Commissioned Corps Personnel and Readiness (DCCPR) stating you have successfully completed the professional boarding process.
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5. Are you a current HHS, Office of General Counsel (OGC) employee who is serving under a competitive career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service?  You must provide qualifying documentation (i.e. SF-50). (limit characters)
6. I am a current HHS, Office of General the Counsel (OCG) employee who meets one of the following requirements for a non-competitive appointment:
  1. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employee who currently holds, or has held a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service at the same or higher grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being announced?
  2. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employee who is eligible under the 30% or more compensable disabled veterans eligibility;
  3. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employee who is eligible under the Persons with Disabilities (Schedule A) eligibility;
  4. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employee who is eligible for a Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA) (for positions up to the GS-11 Federal level).
You must provide qualifying documentation (SF-50, Schedule A letter, VA letter, etc.)
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Preferences
1. Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location. (limit characters)
2. In the last five years, based on the closing date of this announcement, have you served or are you currently serving as an Executive Branch political, Schedule C, or Non-career SES appointee? You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at your Standard Form 50s in your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF), in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed.
  • A political appointee is an appointment made by the President without confirmation by the Senate (5 CFR 213.3102(c)) OR an assistant position to a top-level federal official if filled by a person designated by the President as a White House Fellow (5 CFR 213.3102(z)).
  • A Schedule C appointee occupies a position excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director of OPM, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties (5 CFR 213.3301 and 5 CFR 213.3302).
  • A Non-career SES appointee is approved by the White House and serves at the pleasure of the appointing official without time limitations (5 CFR 317 Subpart F).
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Assessment 1
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
1. GS-13 Specialized Experience: Do you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-12 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing (3) of the (4) duties listed below:
 
  1. Conducting extensive and thorough research in various legal and non-legal databases;
  2. Drafting pleadings, motions, orders, subpoenas, or other legal documents;
  3. Providing substantive assistance with depositions, hearings, and trials; applying communication techniques to effectively interact with internal and external customers;
  4. Conducting legal research concerning precedents and past court decisions; composing legal briefs, summaries of analyses, decisions, and prehearing documents?
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Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
2. Assist attorneys with a variety of tasks associated with hearings, trials, and other legal presentations.
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3. Ensure that documents filed in cases are in full compliance with current federal, administrative, and local rules.
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4. Provide support to a large number of attorneys to include case review, tracking, and legal analysis.
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5. Prepare statement of facts to determine and anticipate case requirements and supporting evidence.
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6. Draft motions and pleadings, brief overviews of findings, subpoena requests, and other legal correspondence.
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7. Prepare letters to clients, opposing counsel, claimants, and others.
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8. Edit documents for style and correct grammar.
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9. Prepare statements of claims, reports, correspondence, and summaries related to legal issues.
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10. Manage case files and obtains relevant factual materials.
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11. Research, analyze, and evaluate sufficient evidence, legislation, or program materials to obtain necessary information for attorney's review.
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12. Maintains and updates electronic litigation case load reports.
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13. Analyze testimonies and prepare summaries.
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14. Assist attorneys with electronic filing obligations or management of electronic documents data.
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15. Utilize case law databases, including but not limited to E-Discovery, LEXIS, Westlaw, PACER, and OGC Finder to research legal issues.
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16. Review electronically recorded information to ensure accuracy upon closing a case file.
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17. Utilize automated systems to enter required casefiles into the case management database systems.
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18. Collaborate with leadership, witness and external clients to ensure casefiles are prepared and completed in a timely manner.
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19. Coordinate the exchange of information and documents with the court, attorneys, or interested parties.
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20. Contact claimants or their representatives to secure necessary documentation and information for litigation.
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21. Respond to inquiries regarding case assignments in a timely manner.
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