Shire Jobs

Summary This vacancy is for a Paralegal Specialist position located in the Office of the Secretary, Office of Chief Counsel for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the Department of Commerce. The Paralegal Specialist performs a variety of legal support duties such as legal and factual research, analyze the legal impact of legislative developments and administrative and judicial decisions, and various professional legal work carried out by the office. Responsibilities As a Paralegal Specialist, you will perform the following duties: Conduct legal and factual research, analyzing the legal impact of legislative developments and administrative and judicial decisions, opinions, determinations, and rulings on agency programs. Conduct first-level document review and substantive legal analysis of responses to requests for information submitted under the provisions of various acts, including, but not limited to, the Freedom of Information Act and related to litigation. Uses a variety of computer software and resources, including Westlaw, Lexis-Nexis, PACER, and other reference sources such as administrative directives, court reports, and legal publications to assist attorneys in all aspects of legal work. Draft, proofread, and edits documents, agreements, correspondence, forms, memoranda and other written materials in adherence with established policies and procedures; legal writing, to include proper citation format, legal reference checking, and application of basic rules of grammar. Maintain updated internal docketing records and enters incoming and outgoing correspondence into docketing system daily. Organize patent dockets to support the government interest in intellectual property; assisting patent attorneys in prosecution of patent applications; reviewing technical documents, invention disclosure review, and filings with the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). Organize and maintain electronic and physical files, accurately processing and tracking legal records, reporting the status of the patent portfolio, and maintain depository account. Interprets and applies or explains to others the application of a body of law, regulations, precedents, or theories. Perform substantive analysis of requests for information under the provisions of various acts. Provide timely feedback to internal and external queries while exercising attention to detail including meeting federal filing deadlines and established due dates, and providing accuracy in work product, excellent organization, time management, and multi-tasking and proofreading skills. This position is also advertised under OS-OGC-ST-24-12460401, which is open to Merit Promotion eligible applicants. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Paralegal Specialist GS-0950-12 FPL 12 positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position. You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs. A probationary period may be required. Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/). If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. Drug Test Required: Yes - Except as prohibited by law, all applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment, and if appointed the incumbent will be subjected to a random drug testing procedures. License required: No Pre-employment physical required: No Bargaining Unit Position: No Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): No Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: Will Not be paid Qualifications Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. To qualify at the GS-12 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level (or equivalent band) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Drafting legal documents and responses; Maintaining electronic files and discovery databases; and Researching laws, court precedents, and/or federal regulations in the preparation of litigation. Education There is no positive education requirement for this position. Additional Information The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that do not fall under competitive examining procedures; however, they may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment. Veterans Recruitment Act (VRA) Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) 30% or more disabled veterans Persons with disabilities Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) ICTAP and CTAP Eligibles: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice). A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement; A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.