Paralegal - Entry to Mid Level (Maryland) Job in Fort Meade, MD

Vacancy No. 1247857 Department National Security Agency/Central Security Service
Salary $35,395.00 to $90,898.00 Grade 2 to 9
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/8/2025 Close Date 9/9/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Fort Meade, MD


Summary

The NSA Office of General Counsel (OGC) is seeking highly motivated, accomplished paralegals to assist OGC attorneys in protecting NSA's interests concerning the legal and regulatory authorities, requirements, entitlements, obligations and oversight requirements under which the Agency operates. Paralegals working in NSA OGC apply their expertise, skills, and education to solve a variety of challenges not found in the private sector or at any other government agency.

Duties

NSA OGC Paralegals perform substantive legal work that would otherwise be performed by an Attorney. The responsibilities of a Paralegal include:

- Developing and maintaining methods to obtain, process, disseminate, catalog, and summarize information in which the work requires legal skills.
- Analyzing the legal impact of legislative developments and administrative/judicial decisions, opinions/rulings on Agency programs
- Conducting research for the preparation of legal opinions on matters of interest to the Agency
- Assisting in preparing for and attending administrative dispute resolution and/or settlement discussions, hearings, interviewing and coordinating witnesses, managing evidence and drafting legal documents.
- Maintaining legal files and various software applications to extract legal information to compile reports.
- Preparing reports to Congress and other government agencies.
- Managing functions and responsibilities of special projects/programs within the Office of General Counsel under the general supervision of a Managing Attorney.
- Advising management on project/program matters, offer recommendations, and provide liaison to clients as required.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a security background investigation and polygraph.

Qualifications

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.

A degree in any field is acceptable.

Relevant experience must be in a legal function (for example, internship with a government office or legal firm, using legal research tools, working with litigation or legislation, or working as a legal aid, paralegal, or similar work role).

ENTRY
Entry is with a high school diploma or GED and either a Paralegal Certificate, Paralegal Certification, or at least 1 year of relevant experience; or an Associate's degree and no experience.

FULL PERFORMANCE
Entry is with a high school diploma or GED plus 4 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree and no experience.

Education

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.

A degree in any field is acceptable.

Additional information

Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.

Salary Range: $35,395 - $90,898 (Entry/Developmental - Full Performance)
Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position.

Training will be provided based on the selectee's needs and experience.

Benefits: NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible).

DCIPS Trial Period: If selected for this position, you will be required to serve a two-year DCIPS trial period, unless you are a veterans' preference-eligible employee, in which case you are required to serve a one-year trial period. This trial period runs concurrently with your commitment to the position, if applicable. Before finalizing your appointment at the conclusion of your trial period, NSA will determine whether your continued employment advances the public interest. This decision will be based on factors such as your performance and conduct; the Agency's needs and interests; the Agency's organizational goals; and the efficiency of the Federal service.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

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.

The ideal candidate is someone with a desire for continual learning and who possesses strong communication (oral and written), problem-solving, analytic, interpersonal skills, and is:

- motivated
- detail-oriented
- customer and results oriented
- able to adjust to changing situational requirements
- able to build relationships across the Agency and with external stakeholders
- able to manage multiple tasks with competing timelines and deliverables

Experience and knowledge of law in one or more of the following areas is required:
- intelligence operations
- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
- claims
- information security
- telecommunications
- security matters
- legislation
- employment/personnel issues
- ethics

Required Documents

The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the DoD Intelligence Community Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions in the NSA are in the Excepted Services under 10 United States Codes (USC) 1601 appointment authority. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you may be asked to submit documents verifying your eligibility.

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, please visit: https://apply.intelligencecareers.gov/job-description/1247857

Agency contact information

NSA POC
Address
NSA External Hiring
9800 Savage Road
Fort Meade, MD 20755
US

Next steps

To apply, please visit: https://apply.intelligencecareers.gov/job-description/1247857


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


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