Summary
This position is located in the Office of the Chief Prosecutor, Office of Military Commissions. The Office of the Chief Prosecutor is responsible for prosecuting persons detained in the Global War on Terrorism and accused of war crimes and violations of the Military Commissions Act. The incumbent is responsible for providing paralegal support to meet the requirements of prosecutions at military commissions and serves as team leader for all paralegals assigned to the incumbent's case.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
All U.S. Citizens and Nationals are eligible for consideration; Subject to provisions of the Department of Defense (DoD) Priority Placement Program (PPP)
Duties
Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following:
- Conducts legal research for the preparation of legal opinions using various sources from both paper and electronic media.
- Identifies laws in effect, as well as current regulations, opinions and other guidance that may be applicable.
- Organizes and handles the high volume of discovery materials often exceeding several thousand pages in minor cases and over 100,000 pages in complicated cases.
- Performs trial support activities such as electronic courtroom presentations, assists in the preparation of government and expert witnesses for trial.
- Participates in the interviews of potential witnesses, summarizing their prospective testimony, and suggesting questions for examination.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship is required
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
- May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
- Must be determined suitable for federal employment
- Required to participate in the direct deposit program
- This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
- This position will require you to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET (TS)/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance
- Considerable travel and extended temporary duty, sometimes exceeding 30 or more days at a time, at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is expected of the incumbent
- Relocation incentive may be authorized in accordance with regulatory requirements
- Recruitment Incentive may be authorized in accordance with regulatory requirements
Qualifications
For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the length of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.
Read more about what should I include in my federal resume? at https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/
You may qualify at the GS-13 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to:
- Providing legal support for hearings, litigation, appeals and/or advisory services to the defense team;
- Preparing various legal documents such as motions, notices, affidavits, requests, correspondence, and briefings;
- Analyzing issues to determine best approach to solve problems; and,
- Training others to support trial activities such as coordinate trial set-up and logistics.
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; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
All qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.
Education
Education cannot be substituted for experience.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be evaluated and rated under the Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Eligible candidates will then be placed for selection consideration into 3 categories as described below:
- Best Qualified Category: Meets the minimum qualification requirements and demonstrates experience as an expert in the field or recognized as a senior specialist, team lead, etc.
- Highly Qualified Category: Meets the minimum qualification requirements and demonstrates full-performance level experience based on responses to occupational questionnaire.
- Qualified Category: Meets the minimum qualifications and demonstrates minimum experience and/or training only based on responses to occupational questionnaire
The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Only the highest category is issued to management for consideration. Applicants in lower categories may be considered only if there are insufficient candidates in the highest category.
The Category Rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).
The assessment questionnaire link can be found under the 'How To Apply' section, and collects information on your education, training and experience related to the following critical competencies:
- Attention to Detail
- Automation Tools/Technology
- Legislation, Policy and Procedure Research
- Oral Communication
- Writing
Required Documents
You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Resume
- Complete Assessment Questionnaire: Your resume must describe the quality of work in regards to responses to the occupational self-assessment questionnaire as they generate your numerical rating.
Cover Letter: Although not required, you may submit a cover letter which will be forwarded to the selecting official with your resume. It will not be used to determine your qualifications or eligibility.
The following supporting documents are ONLY required if applicable to your personal qualifications or status:
1. Transcripts and/or Certifications: All applicants to include current agency employees, must submit proof of education if the job announcement requires education to meet the basic qualification requirements, or if substituting education to meet the specialized experience requirements. Many applicants must also submit documentation for proof of meeting the basic education requirement. All education and/or certifications must also be described in your resume.
2. Veterans Preference: If you are claiming veteran's preference, you MUST submit the appropriate documentation. Failure to do so WILL result in the loss of veteran's preference, and will possibly impact your placement on the certificate.
- You must submit a copy of your DD Form-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty", showing the dates of active duty service, type of discharge and the character of service. Alternatively, If you are a current military member in active duty service and do not have a copy of your DD Form-214, you must submit a written documentation (certification) from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application for this position. The certification should also include your rank, dates of active duty service and what they condition of discharge is thought to be.
- If claiming 10-point preference and/or are a 30% or more Disabled Veteran, you must submit both a DD Form-214 or expected discharge documentation as described above AND a copy of a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or your branch of service certifying the presence of service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of disability.
- If you are claiming eligibility based on 10-point derived veterans' preference (i.e. a spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a veteran claiming veterans' preference when the veteran is unable to use it), you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (SF-15) "Application for 10-Point Veteran's Preference" and any required documents indicated on the SF-15 to substantiate the claimed preference.
3. ICTAP Eligibles: You must submit an SF-50 confirming Separation-Reduction in Force (RIF); A RIF Notice showing separation within the past year (or a RIF notice declining a management directed reassignment outside the commuting area, or a Termination of Disability Notice from OPM); and, a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.
4. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligibles: You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
5. Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligibles: You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
6. Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligibles: You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
7. Retained Grade PPP Eligibles: You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
How to Apply
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement (04/29/2024) 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 view the assessment questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12384452
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/.
Washington Headquarters Services provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please send an email to WHS.JOB.APPLICATION.ASSISTANCE@MAIL.MIL. You will be contacted regarding your request.
We will not accept applications sent to the Contact Information or Agency Information listed on this vacancy announcement. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement. Only reasonable accommodation requests, as described above will be considered.
It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that all information in their resume and documents are legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers/documents submitted by an applicant.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.
Stay informed of changes to your application status by signing up for automatic email alerts at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Applicant/Application/ListApplications?
The Term Appointment does not confer competitive status, reinstatement rights, or eligibility for non-competitive conversion to a permanent job to the individual(s) selected. You may be promoted or reassigned to another term position within DoD Office of Military Commissions; however, you may not be non-competitively appointed to another Federal position.
We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date.
Washington Headquarters Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
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