PARALEGAL SPECIALIST Job in Cheyenne, WY

Vacancy No. WY-12586129-AR-25-002 Department Army National Guard Units
Salary $59,966.00 to $77,955.00 Grade 9 to 11
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/23/2024 Close Date 10/30/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Cheyenne, WY


Summary

THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION.

This National Guard position is for a PARALEGAL SPECIALIST, Position Description Number PDT5162000 and is part of the WY Joint Forces Headquarters ARNG, Wyoming National Guard.

This position is in the Excepted Service "under the authority of Title V, P.L. 114-328, and Sections 932 and 1084 (FY17 NDAA)".

This is a Title 5 Excepted Service position. Military affiliation is not required.

Duties

The primary purpose of this position is for Paralegal support within the Wyoming National Guard's Staff Judge Advocate's (SJA) Office providing ancillary legal research and analysis. Manages the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Preventative Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs in the state/territory. Serves as a point of contact for claims, ethics determinations, legal assistance for Army and Air National Guard personnel and their families and provides technical legal guidance and support to Wyoming National Guard unit commanders and their assigned legal personnel.

(1) Provides ancillary legal work to Wyoming SJA and other assigned Army National Guard (ARNG) and Air National Guard (ANG) attorneys servicing the Wyoming 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.
(2) Provides research, analysis, guidance, and support to administer courts-martial, non-judicial punishment, administrative boards and other legal actions and administrative processes.
(3) Manages the Preventative Law Program.
(4) Manages the SJA portion of the Wyoming National Guard's Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program.
(5) 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.

** This is NOT an all-inclusive list of duties. **

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

KEY REQUIREMENTS:
U.S. Citizenship Required.
This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program.
Employees are paid through Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer (DD/EFT).
May be required to successfully complete a trial/probationary period.
Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation
Recruitment/Relocation Incentive MAY BE authorized, if eligible. Subject to funding and approval.
PCS is not authorized in lieu of Incentives.
Indefinite position may convert to Permanent if funding/position is available

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Must obtain and maintain a SECRET security clearance.
Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day.
This position is designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration. This designation will not exceed 14 calendar days per year unless otherwise approved in advance by the Adjutants General (TAG).
Indefinite employees may be terminated or displaced at management's discretion with a 30-day written notice.

Qualifications

AREAS OF CONSIDERATION:
Referrals of qualified applicants will be issued as follows:

Area 2: Permanent and indefinite WYNG Title 5 and T32 DST employees with the Wyoming Air/Army National Guard.
Area 3: Current Federal employees within the Competitive and Excepted Service, and Competitive Service Reinstatement Eligible employees. Former NG T32 Dual Status employees receiving an Honorable or a General Discharge under Honorable Conditions are eligible for reinstatement provided they have been separated for at least one year before applying for reinstatement and received a rating of record of their most recent permanent position of a least fully successful (or equivalent).
Area 4: Currently serving and former Active Guard/Reserve (AGR), and M-Day/Drill Status Guard (DSG) members of the National Guard. This provision is intended to boost the candidate pool to reach more qualified candidates and places DSG/M-Day personnel on par with currently serving civilian personnel.

* Veterans' Preference Rules are mandated by law and some applicants may receive priority consideration before other applicants without veterans' preference.
* Area 7: U.S. Citizens

TITLE 5 POSITION INFORMATION:
Type of Appointment: Temporary Indefinite
Tenure: Group 3 - Indefinite (Refer to Employment Conditions below for additional information)
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
FLSA: Exempt
Telework: The duties of this position require primary physical presence. Situational telework may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Para/Line: 121C/300
Selecting Official: MAJ Darren Cook

This position does not require National Guard Military Membership.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This position is traditionally filled by a Title 32 Dual Status Technician (T32 DST), which means the employee must be a military member of the Wyoming Army National Guard. However, we have been unable to attract any qualified candidates nor fill the position. As we continue to advertise the T32 DST position, the agency has opted to fill this position with a civilian employee that isn't required to meet the aforementioned military requirement.

Its purpose is to fill a position where the need for an employee's services is not permanent, or management expects the position to potentially become permanent at some point in the future.

You will be asked to sign an agreement acknowledging you are aware of the temporary nature of this position and willing to be displaced under reduction in force procedures should the position be filled with a T32 DST incumbent.

COMPETITIVE SERVICE APPLICANTS:
Upon acceptance to this position, if selected candidate is a competitive employee, they will convert to Excepted Service and be required to sign a memorandum IAW 5 CFR 302.102. Acceptance of the proposed appointment will take the employee out of the competitive service while s/he occupies the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
In order to qualify, you must meet the experience and/or education requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.

Must possess experience, education or training that demonstrates the ability to analyze the legal impact of legislative developments and administrate and judicial decisions, opinions, rulings and determinations on agency programs; conduct research for the preparation of legal opinions on matters of interest to the agency. Practical knowledge and use of basic legal principles and concepts to interpret and apply or explain to others the application of a body of law, regulations, precedents, and practices covering one or more recurring types of legal actions encountered in an agency.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
To qualify based on your experience, your resume must describe at least one years of equivalent experience which prepared you to do the work of this position.

To qualify for the GS-9 position, must possess at least 1-year specialized experience, education, or training equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) applying the principles, concepts, and methods of legal research and reference sources such as agency manuals and directives. Experience applying the techniques and skills necessary to analyze both issues of fact and issues of law in order to prepare digests of case decisions, evaluate the applicability of precedents, or to draft briefs, other litigation papers, advisory opinions, or findings.

To qualify for the GS-11 position, must possess at least 1-year specialized experience, education, or training equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the formal and informal rules of evidence and skill necessary to evaluate the adequacy and/or admissibility of evidence, to request additional data or further investigation, when needed, or to develop narrative or graphic exhibits to support specified legal arguments and coordinate actions with other federal agencies or state and local jurisdictions that have closely related responsibilities.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

TIME-IN-GRADE: Any applicant who within the previous 52 weeks held a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-9 position you must have served at least 52 weeks no lower than a GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served at least 52 weeks no lower than a GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. NOTE: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement.

If you are a current GS employee applying for a higher grade than the grade you currently hold provide an SF-50 showing the next lower grade was held for at least one year. Some SF-50s effective within the last 52 weeks will not demonstrate the next lower grade was held for at least one year (e.g., General Adjustment SF-50 from this year). In many cases, we may need to see two (2) SF-50s to determine time-in-grade and eligibility for promotion. If you are a DoD employee, you may obtain copies of your SF-50(s) from MyBiz (https://compo.dcpds.cpms.osd.mil/)

Education

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
GS-9: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in paralegal studies or paralegal certification which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work as a paralegal specialist. (Note: Must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

GS-11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in paralegal studies or paralegal certification which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work as a paralegal specialist. (Note: Must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

You must provide transcripts or other documentation to support your Educational claims. To receive credit for Education, you must provide documentation of proof that you meet the Education requirements for this position.

Additional information

If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 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 (https://www.sss.gov/register/)

The Wyoming Military Department's (WYMD) 335, Personnel - General Merit Placement & Promotion Plan, is available at:
https://www.wyomilitary.wyo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WYMD-335-MPP-15-April-2023.pdf

Please do not send/fax/courier/email any applications or resumes to the Wyoming National Guard Human Resource Office, you must apply on-line via www.USAJOBS.gov. The Human Resource can only process materials received through USA Jobs.

TENURE: GROUP III - INDEFINITE
Purpose: To fill a position that may last for more than 1 year where the need for an employee's services is not permanent, or management expects the position to potentially become permanent (career or career-conditional) at some time in the future.

  • Often used to back-fill positions left vacant by employees entering Title 10 or Title 32 military orders with reemployment rights. An employee with statutory reemployment rights (USERRA) is protected for five years.
  • Indefinite employees may be terminated or displaced at management's discretion with a 30-day written notice when the position and/or employee's services are no longer needed.
  • The potential exists for non-competitive conversion to career-conditional or career appointment within the Excepted Service under the following conditions:
  • Incumbent was appointed under open, competitive procedures to the indefinite position.
  • Incumbent completes at least 2 years of current continuous service under an indefinite appointment.
  • Incumbent's performance under an indefinite appointment is a least "fully successful" or equivalent.
  • Outplacement program requirements have been met, and
  • Similarly situated employees (in the same title, pay plan, series and grade) within the organization, hired under the same appointment conversion provision, have been considered under internal competition procedures.

Employees serving a Title 5 Indefinite appointment are entitled to the following employee benefits:
  • Accrual of annual and sick leave
  • Health and life insurance benefits
  • Enrollment in the Thrift Savings Plan, and
  • Enrollment in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)

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.

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence
Oral Communication
Technical Credibility

NUMERIC CATEGORY
Once the application process is complete, a review of your qualifications will be conducted to determine if you are qualified for this job. Applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be placed in a numeric group based upon ranking factors such as knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors as reflected in their application package. The quality categories are:

a. Highly Qualified: To be highly qualified, an applicant is considered by the Human Resources Office and Subject Matter Expert (selecting official) as being highly proficient in all the requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position almost immediately or with a minimum amount of training and/or orientation.
b. Well-Qualified: To be well qualified, an applicant meets the minimum qualifications of the position and is proficient in most, but not all, of the requirements of the position. May require some training or orientation to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position.
c. Qualified: To be qualified, an applicant meets the minimum qualifications of the position and is proficient in some, but not all, of the position's requirements. May require extensive training or orientation to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Please note that if, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating can and will be adjusted to reflect your abilities more accurately, or you may lose consideration for this position.

If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job-related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.

Verbiage displayed on your resume or application must contain your own words. You may refer to position descriptions, i.e. the general and specialized experience located within the vacancy announcement, to assist with describing work experiences; however, resumes or applications received in verbatim will not be considered. In your resume you will need to address the general and specialized experience listed above. Please use as much detail as needed, giving dates (months and years) of the experience, position title and how the experience was gained. This information is needed to determine if you are qualified for the position.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Resume - Required
* Full name, mailing address, email address, and phone numbers where you can be reached
* A narrative of your work (paid or unpaid), training, education, and/or other experiences that may be related to this vacancy
* Show actual begin and end dates (e.g., 02/2015 - 03/2017 or Feb 2017 - Mar 2017) format and hours worked per week for all work experience submitted.
* List all pertinent civilian and military experiences.
* Describe duties (work experience) in your own words. Do not submit copies or official position descriptions.

2. Transcripts - Required if claiming combination of education and experience or substituting education for experience as described above.

3. Certificate/Certifications (if applicable to the position being hired)

4. SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable):Current or former federal employees within previous 52 weeks must submit an SF-50 reflecting the highest grade held on a permanent basis, tenure and appointment type.



5. Cover Letter - Optional

6. Veterans Documentation: (if applicable, see below)


*** If claiming Veterans' Preference

ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS

:
The VOW Act requires federal agencies to treat an eligible active-duty service member as a veteran, disabled veteran, and preference eligible (as applicable) when applying for positions before the effective release or discharge date. Appointment of military members before the release or discharge date is permissible if the member is on terminal leave. At the time the active-duty member applies for a position, he or she must submit a "certification" memo in lieu of a DD-Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Active-duty members applying for a position without submitting a valid certification memo or DD-Form 214 with their application will render the member ineligible for the position. The certification memo must originate from the member's military service branch on official letterhead and contain the following:

· Name/Rank/Grade of Service Member
· Branch of Armed Forces · Dates of Active Service (Start and End Date(s))
· Expected Date of Discharge/Release from Active Duty
· Terminal leave start date (if applicable)
· Expected character of service (honorable or general) and type of separation (i.e., separation or
retirement)
· Must be certified within 120 days of anticipated discharge.
· Signature by, or by direction of personnel office, unit or higher commander.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE ELIGIBLES:
Provide supporting documentation for all Veterans' Preference claims e.g., DD 214, SF-15, VA Disability Ratings, etc. (if applicable)
Applicant MUST submit appropriate documentation. Failure to do so WILL result in loss of veteran's preference.
Legible copy of DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions.

You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA Call Center or online.

NOTE: Prior to appointment, agency will require veteran to provide a copy of the DD-214.

a. CPS - 10-Point 30 Percent Compensable Disability Preference based on a service-connected disability of 30% or more.
b. CP - 10-Point Compensable Disability Preference based on a service-connected disability of 10% or more, but less than 30%.
c. XP - 10-Point Disability Preference; granted to recipients of the Purple Heart, persons with a non-compensable service-connected disability (less than 10%).
d. XP - 10-Point Derived Preference; granted to widow/widower or mother of a deceased veteran, or spouse or mother of a disabled veteran.
e. TP - 5-point preference.
f. SSP - 0-point Preference

If claiming 10-point preference, submit a Standard Form (SF-15) "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf)

Military retirees at the rank of major, lieutenant commander, or higher are not eligible for preference in appointment unless they are disabled veterans. (This does not apply to Reservists who will not begin drawing military retired pay until age 60.)

For non-disabled users, active duty for training by National Guard or Reserve soldiers does not qualify as "active duty" for preference.

Additional Resource: https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To view the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12586129

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/.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians:
MR or NG Technicians who will lose or lost military membership through no fault of their own after completing at least 15 years of technician service and a minimum of 20 years of service creditable for non-regular retirement may exercise preference eligibility to DoD positions with the local commuting area in accordance with section 3329(b) of Title 5, U.S.C. This preference eligibility is valid for 1 year after separation.

If meeting this requirement, applicant must submit a copy of the "Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification checklist" and copies of appropriate documentation, such as the received notification letter indicating no longer eligible for military or NG membership (through no fault of your own) and you have completed at least 15 years of technician service and at minimum of 20 years of service creditable for non-regular retirement.

PPP DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible:
If applicant is on retained grade based on receiving a written Reduction in Force (RIF) notification letter of a change to lower grade, or a notification letter of a classification downgraded dated within the last two years, may exercise preference eligibility to DoD positions at the retained grade, within the local commuting area.

If meeting this requirement, applicant must submit a copy of the "Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification checklist" and copies of appropriate documentation, such as a RIF change-to-lower grade notification, and an SF-50 reflecting your RIF change to lower grade.

PPP DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Eligible Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement:
If applicant is an MR or NG Technician who will or has been involuntarily medically retired due to a service-connected medical disability that disqualifies them from military membership or from holding the required military grade, and has applied for or is receiving a disability retirement annuity, may exercise preference eligibility to DoD positions within the local commuting area and understands that the position to which they are applying for must be at the same grade or equivalent level, tenure, and work schedule as the position held currently or upon separation.

If meeting this requirement, applicant must submit a copy of the "Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification checklist" and copies of the appropriate documentation, such as the received notification letter that states they are no longer eligible for membership due to a service-connected disability.

Agency contact information

William Pacheco
Phone
(307) 772-5289
Fax
(307) 772-5168
Email
william.e.pacheco.civ@army.mil
Address
WY Joint Forces Headquarters ARNG
5410 Bishop Blvd
Cheyenne, WY 82009
US
Learn more about this agency

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.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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