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Summary The Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Office of General Counsel (OGC) is looking for an experienced Paralegal Specialist to join the team. The OGC’s mission is to provide representation to the Architect and other AOC officials on all legal aspects of the AOC’s compliance with applicable laws, including the Congressional Accountability Act. The Paralegal Specialist will perform legal research and writing and other duties in support of the attorneys engaged in employment and business law matters. Responsibilities Responsibilities: Drafts a variety of legal documents including but not limited to memoranda of law, pleadings, trial briefs, appellate briefs, summonses, complaints, indictments, answers, motions, discovery documents, stipulations and law documents. Cites and checks legal documents. Reviews and analyzes investigative reports, testimonies, interviews, files, and documents for a variety of cases. Researches cases, law, statutes, regulations, court rules, policies, procedures, legal periodicals, and other legal authorities that are relevant to a particular issue. Research and summarize factual aspects of cases or other legal matters. Provides legal office management, litigation, and administrative support. Monitor the progress of cases and initiating action to ensure all documents are prepared and submitted within established deadlines. Provides advice to attorneys and other legal staff on the most effective ways to prepare, present, and maintain a variety of administrative legal documents. Serves as contact person for assigned cases and maintaining liaison with OGC staff and clients to keep them informed about the current status of cases, and to seek their assistance to resolve particular legal or factual problems. Establishes, organize and maintain case, transactional, and litigation files. Process and respond to discovery requests, including e-discovery; and conduct document review. Organizes source materials by providing summaries, bibliographies, and indices for use in litigation and other legal matters. Provides a variety of legal assistance and technical work requiring a specialized knowledge of processes, procedures, and practices to support legal activities. Interviews witnesses or claimants. Conduct interviews with investigative sources, witnesses, respondents, or claimants. Help prepare witnesses for depositions and legal proceedings. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with clients (both internal and external), co-workers, Congressional offices, and others who have an influence over (or who are served by) OGC activities. Establishes and maintains a tracking system for all materials to be used as exhibits in administrative proceedings and court trials. Prepares lists and tables to correlate the exhibits with transcripts, and keep account of the exhibits used in court proceedings. Assists with safety operations. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen. You must be able to pass a drug test. Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs. You must meet the definition of specialized experience. . Qualifications You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Candidates for the GS-09 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the Federal service. Specialized experiences for this position includes having 3 the 4 following: (experience mut be reflected in resume): 1.) Independently drafting legal documents and performing legal research. 2.) Providing extensive litigation support and case management services, handling matters from inception to discovery through appeal. 3.) Providing litigation and administrative support services. 4.) Multitasking in a fast-paced legal office, while also establishing and maintaining successful working relationships with clients (both internal and external). Education You may qualify for the GS-9 based on education if you have completed: Master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.B. or J.D. degree 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 1 full year. Additional Information Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit OPM vet guide If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information. DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC’s suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test. The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol. The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Moving expenses are not authorized. Relocation expenses are not authorized. Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency. This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol. All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.