Job Information
Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services Legal Assistant in Washington, District Of Columbia
Summary This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Office of General Counsel, located in Washington, District of Columbia. Responsibilities - Receiving both written and oral requests for assistance and making a preliminary determination of appropriate handling. - Obtaining available information and documents requested by the attorneys and paralegals. - Reviewing requests for advice and other legal documents and screening outgoing memoranda, correspondence and documents for clarity, accuracy and completeness. - Ensuring outgoing documents comply with legal format requirements. - Opening, tracking, and maintaining information and documentation on claims in the appropriate database. - Prepare data reports as needed in response to internal and external requests. - Coordinating necessary arrangements for travel, arranging schedule of visits, making reservations, notifying organization and officials to be visited, and preparing travel vouchers via the automated travel management system. - Keeping paralegals, attorneys, and supervisors informed of important matters based on knowledge of program activities and current priorities. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience for the respective grade level for which you are applying: GS-07: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-06 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing (2) of the (3) of the duties listed below: 1. Gathering information to prepare working documents and forms. 2. Preparing confidential and time sensitive correspondence for review by senior leadership. 3. Managing the scheduling of appointments for visitors and/or travel for others. GS-08: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing (3) of the (4) of the duties listed below: 1. Applying legal regulations, policies and procedures for complex legal documents and cases to conduct extensive searches of records, references, or historical matter. 2. Preparing confidential and time sensitive correspondence for review by senior leadership. 3. Managing the scheduling of appointments for visitors and/or travel for others. 4. Provide legal support on behalf of a client agency. GS-09: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-08 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing (4) of the (5) of the duties listed below: 1. Experience applying legal regulations, policies and procedures for complex legal documents and cases and to conduct extensive searches of records, references, or historical mater; 2. Identify and recommend improvements of legal and office procedures and workflow patterns for subordinate organizations to supervisor and senior staff; 3. Independently Coordinate necessary arrangements for travel, arranges schedule of visits, makes reservations, notifies organization and officials to be visited, and prepares travel vouchers via the automated travel management system; 4. Correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, style, and legal and technical terminology and formats required; 5. Provide legal support on behalf of a client agency Documenting Experience: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. In accordance with Office of Personnel Management policy, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable, however, when documented by satisfactory evidence, such as a signed memorandum from the employee's supervisor or an SF-50 or SF-52 documenting an official detail or other official assignment. The documentation must indicate whether the duties were performed full time or, if part time, the "percentage of times" the other duties were performed. It is expected that this documentation is included in the employee's official personnel record. In order to receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your official position, you must provide a copy of the appropriate documentation of such experience as indicated above. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through national Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited. Time-in-Grade Requirement: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). You must include an SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one) that supports meeting this requirement with your application package. OPM Qualification General Policies Website www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=app All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Education Additional Information INCENTIVES Incentives may be authorized; however, this is contingent upon multiple factors, including funds availability. If authorized, certain incentives may require you to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a period of up to 3 years. Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid. Incentives may include the following: moving expenses, recruitment or relocation incentive; student loan repayment, superior qualifications appointment, creditable service for annual leave for prior non-federal work experience or prior uniformed military service, etc. In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 14, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public. Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans - https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/veterans/special-hiring-authorities/#content Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion consideration, the veteran must be: 1) a preference eligible; or 2) a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions (you must submit a DD214-member copy 4). Special Hiring Authorities for Military Spouses and Family Members - https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/spouses-of-active-duty-military-members/#content People With Disabilities (Schedule A) - https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/individuals-with-disabilities/ PHS Commissioned Corps (CC) Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps may apply online to this announcement. Candidates will be referred as CC personnel and not as candidates for conversion to a permanent career or career-conditional appointment. You must provide a copy of your current personnel orders and/or other supporting documentation to be referred as CC. Career Transition Program: This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or ICTAP; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. For information on eligibility criteria and required documentation, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp Political Appointment: Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.