PARALEGAL SPECIALIST

Provides ancillary legal work to 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, etc., and summarizes findings to aide staff attorneys in case or project resolution. Research is performed on a variety of legal subjects which may include, but are not limited to: Federal and state/territory code, and legislative proposals or intent; 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 and organizes exhibits. Composes, prepares, and ensures accuracy of various legal or legislative documents. Drafts and edits non-legal memoranda, research reports and correspondence relating to cases. Maintains case files and identifies and corrects file deficiencies or discrepancies. 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. Performs research and preparation of notes and memoranda regarding allegations and possible charges, maintains logs and files, and files motions. Prepares and files charge sheets, disposition sheets, and other records. Maintains transcript files and exhibits. Provides assistance to serviced units concerning the administrative preparation, coordination, and implementation of documents regarding military justice. Manages 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. Manages the SJA portion of 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. Develops, plans, or generates guidance for existing dispute processes to ensure they interface with National Guard Bureau (NGB) ADR goals. Works to implement the most appropriate form of ADR that both meets and is able to address the needs of the disputants. 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, and recommends disposition of claim. Serves as the primary point of contact for ethical determinations. Screens requests for ethics opinions and gathers the applicable facts. Analyzes the specifics of each situation. 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 changes in regulations on the Freedom of Information Act and updates and advises other legal personnel and field staff of changes. Consults and assists in formulation of NGB regulations regarding the release of information. 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. Performs other duties as assigned.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your application/resume will be made to determine your Area of Consideration (AOC) and to ensure you meet the basic eligibility and minimum job requirements. Your initial rating will be based on your responses to the questionnaire in this document. This process measures the degree to which your background matches the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Your final rating will be based on our evaluation of your responses, as verified through a review of your resume and other supporting documents. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility and rating. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): Conflict Management, Customer Service, Strategic Thinking, and Technical Credibility

- Supervisors Desirables: Completion of Comptrollers Accreditation and Fiscal Law Course; Completion of Army Paralegal Competence Course; Completion of National Security Law-Primer (NSL-P) Course; Civilian Paralegal Certification (NALA, NFPA) and/or Completion of Paralegal Studies Certificate or Degree Program; Completion of requisite Army Professional Military Education (PME) for current rank/grade. - INDEFINITE: Indefinite employees may be separated with a 30 days' notice. Indefinite employment is temporary and is expected to last more than one year but no more than five consecutive years. Indefinite employees may be converted to permanent without further competition. AKNG permanent technician will retain their permanent status if selected for this position, and may be promoted, reassigned or changed to lower grade if selected for this position, and will be required to return to their permanent position unless action is made on a permanent basis. Permanent authorization may not cross service boundaries, or funding categories, (i.e., ARNG to ANG, or 176th WG to 168th WG). - 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. - If you are a current Federal employee or former Federal employee, you must submit a copy of your latest SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" and/or a copy of the SF-50. You may submit your most recent performance appraisal. - The National Guard is exempt from the Veterans Preference Act. Submission of a copy of your DD-214 is not required unless you are hired for technician position. - If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency. - Cost of Living Allowance (COLA): Entitled to 1.49% COLA in addition to base salary, subject to change. - Direct Deposit Program: If selected for technician position with the Alaska National Guard, you will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program. (Salary will be automatically deposited to bank/credit union account). - Military Bonuses And Student Loan Repayment Program: If you are selected for this position, you should always check with your servicing incentive manager (AKARNG - J1 or AKANG - Retention Office) to verify how accepting this position will affect your entitlement prior to considering an offer of employment. - Trial Period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

To determine your qualifications for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: 1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. 2. Questionnaire. This is accomplished by submitting the application. There is nothing that needs to be attached to this application to meet this requirement. 3. Any additional documentation you wish to submit for consideration. Your resume, curriculum vitae, the Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF 612), or any other written format you choose to describe your job-related qualifications can be submitted electronically using the document upload process. We recommend using the resume building within USAJOBS. Please log into USAJOBS, go to your "Documents", make sure you're in the "Resumes" section and select the "Upload or build resume" button, then click on "Build resume". Please be sure to include all of the following information in your resume: Job Information: - Vacancy Identification Number, title, grade and location for which you are applying. Personal Information: - Full name, mailing address (with zip code) and day/evening telephone numbers (with area code). - Country of Citizenship. - If ever employed by the Federal Government, please show the highest Federal civilian grade held, job series, and dates of employment in grade. Education: - High School name, city, state and zip code, date of diploma or GED. - Colleges and/or Universities attended, city, state and zip code. - Major field(s) of study. - Type and year of degree(s) received. If no degree received, show total credit hours received in semester or quarter hours. Work Experience for each paid or non-paid position held related to the job for which you are applying (do not provide copies of job descriptions): - Job title. - Duties and accomplishments. - Number of hours per week. - Employer's name and address. - Supervisor's name and phone number. - Indicate if your current supervisor may be contacted. - Starting and ending dates of employment (month and year). - Salary. Other Qualifications: - Job-related training courses (title and year). - Job-related skills (e.g., other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed, etc.) - Job related certificates and licenses. - Job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments. (e.g., publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, performance awards, etc.) Do not send copies of documents unless specifically requested.