Paralegal Specialist

Summary

The Paralegal Specialist position is located in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in various offices throughout the Office of General Counsel (OGC). The mission is to provide legal advice and services to the SECVA and all organizational components of the Department. The General Counsel is, by statute, the Department's Chief Legal Officer.

Duties

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Major duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provides advocacy, advisory and negotiation services for the Torts Law Group of the VA's Office of General Counsel. Primary practice will be investigating administrative tort claims and assisting the U.S. Department of Justice in defending these claims in federal court.
• Advises the Department of Veterans Affairs in tort matters (medical malpractice, personal injury and property damage) under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1346(b) and .
• Provides direct legal services to clients on case and/or program assignments, including, but not limited to, handling, from start to finish or as otherwise assigned: tort claims, medical cost care recovery cases, personnel and labor complaints, reviews related to loan guaranty, contracts, procurement, fiduciary and guardianship, ethics, research, compensation, pension, ethics, research, disability, privacy, release of information and other legal service areas supported by OGC.
• Utilizes all available research systems and resources in conducting extensive legal research and writing on assigned cases and/or programs.
• Supports litigation and program needs by performing such tasks as: drafting discovery, dispositive motions and other pleadings; coordinating discovery responses and drafting responses to same; and drafting legal decisions and case communications.
• Under the general guidance and direction of OGC managers, coordinates and manages the administrative portions of assigned programs and/or work units within OGC
• Provides a wide range of legal support and administrative services to support OGC management and operations, including, but not limited to: maintaining complete and accurate time and status entries in OGC's case management systems, scanning/embedding case information, establishing follow ups, and managing systems for sharing information and organizing program work.
• Exercises good judgment in consulting with OGC managers and non-supervisory staff when faced with obstacles, novel issues, or complex issues where quality legal service cannot be delivered by following established guidance.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Compressed/Flexible: Available

Telework: Ad Hoc telework (situational telework) is available as determined by the agency policy

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: PD33069A and PD33068A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL  cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one year probationary period or two 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 probationary period one year probationary period or two year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/03/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement:
Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-9…