Paralegal

Full Job Description

This position is located in the General (LG), organization of the Office of General Counsel (L), Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).

The purpose of this position is to serve as a paralegal specialist and technical authority responsible for providing OGC attorneys legal assistance and support services on legal matters falling within the purview of the BPA.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS GS-11: A qualified candidate's resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as: Experience participating in the development of legal cases or matters including gathering and analyzing information to evaluate its usefulness in resolving legal issues, preparing and filing legal pleadings, implementing litigation holds, and assisting with the discovery process.

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or a LL.M., if related; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

-OR- Combination of education and experience as described above.

Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited).

One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours the graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study.

If the graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study is not available, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) is used.

When crediting education that requires specific course work the number of hours of related courses required, as a proportion of the total education, is prorated.

GS-12: A qualified candidate's resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as: Experience developing and analyzing legal cases or matters including analyzing and evaluating the relevance of technical evidence; drafting and filing legal pleadings; performing research and interpreting findings of legal legislative history, precedent cases, decisions, and opinions using computerized legal research services (e.g., Westlaw); implementing litigation holds; and managing the discovery process to ensure that information is lawfully released or withheld as appropriate.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 level. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience.

Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations.

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.

Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration.

CTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Major Duties:

As a Paralegal, you will: Serve as a paralegal specialist and technical authority responsible for providing OGC attorneys legal assistance and support services.

Examine, collect, and evaluate information in case files, with reference to agency standards for case litigation worthiness, evidentiary litigation holds, and appropriate law.

Identify types of recordkeeping systems and types of records maintained that are relevant to Bonneville's legal obligations.

Analyze data, develop recommendations and justifications for the attorney(s) who will take the matter to court, an administrative board, or other third-party review.

Support BPA attorneys in administrative and court hearings (e.g., OSC, MSPB, Court of Federal Claims, US District Court, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals).

Prepare litigation reports in connection with lawsuits filed against the agency. Independently manage discovery.

Assist in the preparation of bond and other financial documents, drafting motions, petitions for declaratory orders, briefs, exhibits, agency comments, and other documentation.