Summary
This position is located in the Division of Enforcement Litigation, Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation Branch. The Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation Branch represents the National Labor Relations Board in all cases involving enforcement or review of the Board's Orders in all Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals and the Supreme Court. The Branch also represents the Board in all Supreme Court litigation involving the Board and the National Labor Relations Act.
This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.
Clarification from the agency
All U.S. Citizens; Federal Employees (status and non-status); NLRB employees; Veterans; Schedule A.
Duties
As a Paralegal Specialist (Summary and Consent Paralegal), GS-0950-11, your typical work assignments may include:
- Assisting with the preparation of ad-hoc statistical reports, monthly reports for the Branch, and with the preparation of compiling, formatting, organizing, and indexing court decisions to create annual reporting metrics for conferences.
- Preparing proposed judgments in contested cases whenever a court of appeals' decision enforces only part of a Board order in conformance with the FRAP Rule 19.
- Providing expert guidance on procedures regarding summary and consent cases, unclear Board procedures, and/or formal settlements.
- Independently researching individual case procedural facts, organizing case files, and drafting other legal documents as necessary.
- Preparing and e-filing applications for summary entry of judgement and docketing statements in default judgement and other uncontested cases, and drafting related correspondence and responsive supplemental filings.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- U.S. Citizenship Required.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
- This is not a remote position.
- Relocation expenses are not authorized.
- This is a Competitive Service position.
- This position is part of the Bargaining Unit.
- A one-year probationary period may be required.
- You may be required to complete as applicable, a new one-year probationary period or two-year trial period if appointed.
- If you are a current status federal employee, you may be required to complete a new one-year probationary period if selected.
- Transcripts are required if qualifying based on education in lieu of specialized experience.
- Transcripts are required if qualifying on a combination of experience and education.
- Subject to a background investigation prior to appointment.
- Submit complete application package online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
Qualifications
All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT
The ideal candidate for the Paralegal Specialist position will have a demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple deadlines, and exercise sound judgment; general knowledge of the law and court procedures to prepare legal documents and various correspondence; strong research and analytical skills; and interpersonal skills to interact with colleagues, senior leadership, and the courts. Excellent communication skills are desired.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-09 grade level, which has provided them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the Paralegal Specialist (Summary and Consent Paralegal) at the GS-11 grade level.
Specialized experience includes:
- Experience drafting and preparing motions, forms, and similar documents for court filings consistent with federal and/or local court rules; and
- Experience reviewing and analyzing court orders, documents, and correspondence from a variety of sources such as court clerks and outside counsel to make determinations for court filings; and
- Experience performing legal research utilizing legal reference materials and legal databases such as Westlaw, PACER, Hein Online, Cite Net, KnowVation, and/or NxGen.
This experience must be fully supported and articulated in your resume to receive consideration. Please do not cut and paste the specialized experience from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
OR
Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. or J.D., if related from an accredited college or university.
(Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position if the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100 percent. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)
For more detailed information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website
here.
*NOTE* 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.
Education
Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Applicants can verify accreditation here.
All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in accredited U.S. education programs; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
For further information regarding Foreign Education, please click here.
Additional information
SUPPLEMENTARY VACANCIES
Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY / REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
The National Labor Relations Board is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for appointment without regard to race; color; religion; sex; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.
Applicants with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Agency's Selective Placement Coordinator by email . NLRB offers a wide array of reasonable accommodations and programs for individuals with disabilities. (Note: for additional information for job seekers with disabilities, please click on the following website .)
If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.
To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.
THIS IS A USAHIRE ANNOUNCEMENT.
ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRES THROUGH OPM USAHIRE COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT SYSTEM.
APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE ENTIRE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR INSTRUCTIONS UNDER SECTIONS 'HOW TO APPLY' AND 'HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED'.
PLACEMENT POLICY
The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by appointment. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
PROBATIONARY/TRIAL PERIOD
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period, or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
- Your performance and conduct; and
- The needs and interests of the agency; and
- 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 probationary period or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
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.
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.
ALTERNATE APPLICATION INFORMATION
Applicants may contact the Office of Human Resources.
The National Labor Relations Board offers career opportunities that feature competitive starting salaries and the potential for performance-based increases, flexible hours, and the ability to achieve and maintain a balanced lifestyle. You will enjoy a range of comprehensive and competitive employment benefits that include Work/Life Balance Programs (Alternative Work Schedules, Employee Assistance Program, and the Childcare Subsidy Program), the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, Flexible Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, Long-Term Care Insurance, Thrift Savings Plan, and the Transit Benefit Program.
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.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and your responses to all assessments required for this position.
You will be assessed on the following competencies:
- Written Communication
- Reasoning
- Self-Management
- Attention To Detail
- Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.
Optional Four Essay Questions
At the time of application, applicants will be provided with four short, free-response essay questions designed to ascertain their dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee) to review. Responses are not required and will not be scored. If applicants choose to provide a response to the essay questions, they will be required to certify that they are using their own words and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]). The responses to each question cannot exceed 200 words per question.
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.
For evaluating the quality of applicants for referral to the selecting official, a multi-phased process will be used.
Phase 1: Applicants' resume and supporting documents will be reviewed by Human Resources (HR) to determine whether they meet the basic qualification requirements.
Phase 2: Applicants who are minimally qualified may be advanced to complete a USA Hire assessment to evaluate critical general competencies for this position. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.
Phase 3: Applicants who successfully pass the USA Hire assessment may be advanced to a Structured Resume Review assessment conducted by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel. SMEs may review applicants' resumes to evaluate technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience.
Phase 4: A final score, which may combine the results from one or more assessments, may be used to identify the top-rated applicants. Applicants meeting the established cut-off score may be referred to the selecting official for consideration and may be required to participate in one or more additional interviews as part of the hiring process.
The Rule of Many
The NLRB uses the Rule of Many which ranks job applicants numerically and allows for selection from a broader, top-ranked pool. Applications will be evaluated and rated using the Rule of Many procedures under 5 C.F.R. §332.402 based on a set number, score or percentage of highest ranked eligibles. Preference eligibles will receive 5 or 10 points added to their score based on the adjudicated preference. All eligibles at or above the pre-determined number, score or percentage, including any preference eligibles with a service-connected disability of 10 percent or more, at any score, will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.
For this job opportunity announcement applicants will be referred to the selecting official using the Rule of Many under 5 C.F.R. §332.402 based on a
predetermined score.
Required Documents
Please submit the supporting documents outlined below for your claimed eligibility status.
RESUME
In compliance with Executive Order 14170, Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service resumes must not be longer than two pages in length. The resume must address minimum qualifications and other requirements listed in the job announcement. If the two-page resume criteria and/or the resume formatting requirement is not met, candidates will be rated as ineligible and will not be referred for hiring consideration.
Resumes must include all of the following information outlined below:
Contact Information: Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number.
Relevant Work Experience
- Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
- Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 -08/2022 or present)
- The number of hours you worked per week
Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement.
OTHER DOCUMENTS (if applicable) For more information, please click on the applicable link
Most Recent Performance Appraisal (Current/Former Federal Employees)
If performance appraisal is not dated within the last
18 months or if you are unable to provide a copy, an explanation of why
must be provided. Please include a document in your application package explaining why the performance appraisal is not available.
Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) (Current/Former Federal Employees)
Most recent SF-50 showing current grade and tenure or showing highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different from your current grade.
Performance Award, Realignment/Reassignment, Name Change and Detail SF-50s will not be accepted as proof of grade and tenure. If you are applying for a higher grade, provide an SF-50 or SF-50s which show the length of time in the current/highest grade (i.e., Promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with dates that show proof of you holding the grade for at least a year) to support meeting time-in-grade requirements.
As a current or previous Career or Career Conditional employee in the Competitive Service, you may determine your current status by checking block 24 on your SF-50. The block must reflect "1" or "2". Also, block 34 must reflect "1". A copy of your SF-50 must be provided for verification.
Transcripts
An unofficial copy of your transcripts is sufficient for this application package. The unofficial transcripts must be verifiable; contain the name of the institution, applicant's name, list of completed courses (with grades), semester hours, and GPA. If the position has a positive education requirement (i.e., LL. B. or J.D.), as indicated under the "Education" section, the unofficial transcripts must show type of degree and degree date received (conferred). If selected, an official copy of the transcripts is required and must be received before employment.
Schedule A - Disability Letter
Veterans: DD-214 (member copy-4) Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
Disabled Veterans: DD-214, SF-15, and proof of disability, Department of Veterans Affairs letter dated 1991 or later
Certain Military Spouses: Copy of service member's PCS order authorizing the spouse to accompany the service member AND Proof of marriage to the service member;
OR Proof the service member was released or discharged from active duty due to a service-connected disability
AND documentation of the service member's 100% disability
AND proof of marriage to the service member;
OR Proof of the service member's death while on active duty
AND proof of marriage to the service member.
Family Member Preference (Derived Preference)
Reinstatement
Former Peace Corps or VISTA Volunteers
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting the minimum requirements for the position and scoring at least an 85) and provide
all of the following documents:
- Your most recent performance appraisal; AND
- The proof of eligibility letter from the Agency; AND
- Your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJOBS does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system. You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.
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 provide a complete Application Package, which includes:
- Resume; and
- Any other documents needed to verify your qualifications or eligibility (see the Required Documents section).
Please follow the instructions listed below for submitting your complete application package. Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all instructions before you begin.
The application process is as follows:
- Click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
- If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
- Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
- Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
- Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
- Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
For more general information, system requirements, reasonable accommodation information, and to request assistance regarding the USA Hire Assessments, review the following resources
here.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS, find your application record, and click Edit My Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status: Click here. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13005607
Next steps
THIS IS A USAHIRE ANNOUNCEMENT.
Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments.
The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.
To be considered for the position, you must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cut score on the required assessments.
A review of your application package will be conducted to determine your minimum qualification for this position.
You will receive another notification about the status of your application.
You may be contacted for an interview.
Applicants will receive notification when a final selection has been made.