Summary This position is located in the Office of the Solicitor, Atlanta office. The selectee will provide legal advisory services to Regional Administrators, Regional Directors, and departmental personnel in the assigned. The selectee will have complete responsibility for the trial of all civil litigation in the United States District Courts and administrative proceedings before Administrative Law Judges. This position is outside the bargaining unit. Responsibilities The incumbent serves as a paralegal specialist and performs legal research and case development assignments. The incumbent also has financial management duties on an as needed basis. The paralegal specialist performs the following duties as assigned: Prepares cases for litigation and provides legal assistance to staff attorneys in all legal program areas. This includes the preparation of legal analyses, litigation reports, legal complaints, discovery, briefs, and other litigation documents; preparation of questions for direct and cross-examination of witnesses in depositions and hearings; performance of legal research; the preparation and organization of exhibits for litigation using all available technology as appropriate; the location and interviewing of trial witnesses; and conducting settlement negotiations of cases with pro se defendants and the private bar. Researches complex and novel legal questions for staff attorneys and prepares memoranda setting forth the law in a given area. Utilizes all available technology to conduct legal research of Federal and State laws and regulations, including esoteric statutory, regulatory, opinion, or documentary material. In the process of case development, interprets and evaluates contradictory information collected from various sources and prepares comprehensive reports which serve as the basis for critical administrative or legal arguments, interpretations, or opinions. Assists attorneys in MSPB, EEO, and arbitration hearings by interviewing potential witnesses, union representatives, claimants, grievants, and employees to gather information; researching and analyzing legal issues; preparing pleadings, motions, and other legal documents; initiating and responding to discovery; and assisting with hearings and depositions by presenting evidence and exhibits. Prepares civil money penalty cases. This includes analyzing files, locating and interviewing witnesses, preparing recommendations for litigation suitability, and preparing pleadings, judgments, and stipulations, where appropriate. Participates in the preparation of cases for litigation in all program areas. Obtains evidence for litigation. Analyzes the evidence and advises trial attorneys of the nature and sufficiency of the evidence. Prepares summaries of evidence and evaluates whether evidence meets necessary legal criteria; organizes and prepares evidence for use in deposition or at trial; locates and interviews many witnesses, often from multiple worksites, evaluating and comparing their statements, and advising or making recommendations to the trial attorney concerning witnesses; reviews and analyzes publications of expert witnesses of both parties, summarizing the information and advising trial staff of pertinent findings; performs various support duties during litigation. Uses latest available technology to organize case files in all program areas as assigned. Prepares exhibits for presentation in settlement conferences, depositions, and trials for each case as assigned. Attends settlement conferences, depositions, and trials with attorneys to present evidence for witnesses, counsel, and judges. Makes recommendations to the attorneys regarding trial presentation and exhibit usage. Includes opposing side exhibits in trial presentations for purposes of cross[1]examination. Tracks all exhibits offered and admitted into the record. Troubleshoots any technology issues as they arise in the courtroom or during depositions. Works with local courthouse information technology personnel to learn specific courtroom technologies and remains a point of contact for troubleshooting technological issues to facilitate efficient and efficient trials. Performs legal research using all available legal research tools, including Westlaw or Lexis, and from knowledge of digests, official and unofficial reporter systems, U.S. Code Annotated, Code of Federal Regulations, etc. Performs legal research using standard and specialized sources to find and research cases on specific points of law. Checks citations in legal documents to verify relevance to issues and completeness of factual data. Summarizes investigative files, prepares for filing routine complaints and settlement agreements as assigned. Based on the legal analysis and information from attorneys, prepares and organizes exhibits, case files, or legal documents such as affidavits, motions, subpoenas, ensuring the accuracy of factual information and that deadlines are met upon request. Organizes and compiles material for use at trial or oral argument. Incumbent assists attorneys in interviewing witnesses, arranging for the issuance of subpoenas, payment of witness and travel fees, taking of depositions, and preparing briefs where the legal issue is a common recurring and relatively non-complex matter. Other duties as assigned Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. POSITION TITLES ALONE CANNOT BE USED TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE QUALIFIED. PLEASE LIST DATES IN MM/DD/YYYY FORMAT. THIS IS IMPERATIVE IN DETERMINING IF WHETHER YOU HAVE AT LEAST 1 YEAR OF CREDITABLE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE. DATES WILL NOT BE ASSUMED. For GS-12: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-11 in the Federal Service. Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Qualifying specialized experience for GS-12 includes performing majority: (1) Interpret and implement statutes, orders, and regulations to perform extensive and thorough legal research into the legislative history, precedent cases, decisions/and opinions that may apply to particular legal matters; (2) Utilize Westlaw and Lexis, as well as other legal sources of information and research techniques to complete assigned duties; (3) Perform legal writing to prepare legal correspondence, pleadings, analysis, reports, briefs, and other documents; and (4) Utilize software applications to monitor, analyze, and report on administrative and management functions. Full Promotion Potential: This position is at the Full-Performance Level (FPL). Education There is no education that can substituted for this position Additional Information Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. As such, the Department is committed to fostering a workplace and workforce that promote equal employment opportunity, reflects the diversity of the people we seek to serve, and models a culture of respect, equity, inclusion, and accessibility where every employee feels heard, supported, and empowered. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEESIf applicable, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of time-in-grade (52 weeks at the next lower grade), time-after-competitive-appointment (90 days), and minimum qualifications (52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service). These requirements must be met within 30 days of the announcement closing date. Federal Employees Please Note: Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met and reflect your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure, and the type of appointment (i.e. competitive/excepted). In some cases, you may need to submit more than one SF-50. Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of time-in-grade (52 weeks at the next lower grade), time-after-competitive-appointment (90 days), and minimum qualifications (52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service). These requirements must be met within 30 days of 01/31/2024, the announcement closing date. Full Promotion Potential (if applicable): This position is at the Full-Performance Level (FPL). Position Telework eligibility is determined by management based on position duties during the recruitment process. Employee participation in telework on a routine or situational basis is determined by management primarily based on business needs. Employees participating in telework are subject to the terms and conditions of the Department of Labor's Telework Program..