Paralegal Specialist

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Office of The General Counsel, Copyright Office The position description number for this position is 467415 The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule. This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

Ability to Perform Legal Research and Analysis Related to Copyright and Federal Law.** Ability to Draft and Proofread Legal Materials and Official Communications.** Ability to monitor civil dockets and legal filings.** Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships and interact collaboratively with others.

Ability to utilize technology to support legal professionals. Ability to plan, organize and execute work. Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing Major Duties:

Using a working knowledge of copyright law, civil procedure, and the litigation procedures of applicable federal courts and agencies, performs legal research and analysis of legal decisions, opinions, rulings, and memoranda and regulations, selecting from these materials pertinent principles of law before preparing memoranda or digests of the points of law at issue.

May make recommendations of courses of action to follow, subject to attorney review and approval.

Subject to attorney review, analyzes facts and legal questions presented by Copyright Office personnel administering specific Federal laws or Copyright Office Regulations, providing answers in those cases where the matter has been settled by precedents or agency policy, and, in some instances, prepares informative and instructive materials for general use.

Selects, assembles, summarizes, and compiles substantive, including legislative histories, by use of statutes, regulations, digests, commentaries, legal instruments, legal information and other legal reference material.

Keeps abreast of current public policy and legal developments of interest to the Copyright Office legal team through communications with attorneys and through available professional resources.

Prepares materials for civil litigation, including the collection and assembly of material to form the administrative record or relevant discovery in litigation, and assists with search, review, and processing.

This may include working with experts, particularly statistical experts, to assemble and analyze evidence. Prepares litigation reports in connection with lawsuits filed against the agency.

Summarizes the factual situation, the basis of the complaint, legal issues presented, and relevant case law. Collects additional facts from staff.

Prepares various affidavits or other memoranda or statements (e.g., on action taken by staff, failure of plaintiff to exhaust administrative remedies).

Obtains answers to interrogatories and matters relative to discovery.

Under attorney supervision, using working knowledge of copyright and administrative law, responds to inquiries from Copyright Office personnel and other persons regarding the applicability of federal laws and the Copyright Office regulations to various situations, directing his/her attention to the policy which may be used in the decision-making process.

Assists attorneys in drafting and reviewing proposed regulations and other submissions to the Federal Register, and, policy-related and congressionally directed documents, including cite-checking, blue-booking, proofing, and formatting materials.

Follows and implements Copyright Office standard operating procedures to implement regulatory changes, including updating procedures as necessary.

Helps maintain office-wide style guide for regulatory and policy documents.

Prepares official written materials for posting on copyright.gov, Newsnet, social media, or intranet, and communicates and collaborates with all relevant departments within the Library/Copyright Office to further the communication goals of the Copyright Office.

Applies specialized knowledge of document production software and formatting conventions to prepare, finalize, and produce legal documents and official materials in compliance with applicable style guides and submission requirements.

Keeps abreast of current and emerging information technology tools used in legal research, document management, and project management.

Monitors civil dockets in cases where the Copyright Office is a party, or the government may otherwise have an interest in the copyright matter being litigated and communicates with other relevant personnel.

Works with assigned attorneys and other agencies to facilitate timely Copyright Office filings before federal courts.

Monitors statutory filings under sections 411 and 508 of the Copyright Act, evaluating submissions for compliance and notifying responsible parties of deficiencies or routing matters to the appropriate attorney-advisor for evaluation.

Tracks and calculates filing deadlines for all active litigation matters, with complex deadline calculations subject to attorney review, monitoring applicable court rules, local rules, and standing orders to ensure timely action.

Prepares formal case status reports and communicates developments to the legal team, working with attorneys and staff to capture and maintain an accurate, current picture of each active matter.

Performs document management, creating, maintaining, and ensuring the accuracy of legal documents and case files.

Manages the organization and improvement of file management systems in coordination with attorneys and administrative staff.

Prepares periodic status reports on case tracking, regulatory, policy, or other departmental activity, including assisting with budgeting and strategic planning efforts as directed.