Legal Assistant

Summary The Department of the Interior is devoted to protecting and preserving the natural resources of this great nation, including National Parks, Landmarks, and the well-being of communities, including those of Native American, Alaska Natives and affiliated Islanders. Learn more about this agency Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/. Qualifications Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements for the grade to which you are applying. GS-5 To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level you must meet the (A) Specialized Experience OR (B) Educational Requirement OR (C) Combination of Education and Experience for the grade to which you are applying. NOTE: Applicants qualifying based in whole or part on education are required to provide transcripts (unofficial) as proof of meeting the requirements. Failure to provide the documents will result in you receiving an INELIGIBLE rating. A. Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-05, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (MUST MEET ALL THREE) 1. Sorting, categorizing and distributing mail; 2. Using a paper AND electronic filing system; and 3. Utilizing basic computer software skills to produce reports, correspondence, spreadsheets; and keeping calendars In addition, to meeting ALL THREE statements defined above, applicants MUST MEET AT LEAST 2 of the following 5 specialized experience statements: 1. Performing data entry duties using a database, access or excel; 2. Utilizing customer service skills and phone etiquette; 3. Copying, mailing, and scanning; 4. Preparing travel authorizations, vouchers or making travel arrangements utilizing a computer online reservation system; 5. Acting as timekeeper for time and attendance purposes or in another payroll processing capacity. -OR- B. Education: Four full academic years (120 semester hours) beyond high school at an accredited institution. -OR- C. Combination of Education and Experience: a combination of specialized experience and education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) that totals 100% of the requirement. For example, one full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. NOTE: If qualifying in whole or in part on education you are required to submit a copy of your unofficial or official transcript to verify education. GS-06 To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level you must meet the Specialized Experience described below. NOTE: You may not substitute education for Specialized Experience at the GS-06 grade level. Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-06, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (MUST MEET ALL FOUR) 1. Sorting, categorizing and distributing mail; 2. Using a paper AND electronic filing system; 3. Copying, mailing, and scanning; AND 4. Utilizing basic computer software skills to produce reports, correspondence, spreadsheets; and keep calendars; In addition, to meeting ALL FOUR statements defined above applicants MUST MEET AT LEAST 2 of the following 4 specialized experience statements: 1. Performing data entry duties using a database, access or excel; 2. Utilizing customer service skills and phone etiquette; 3. Preparing travel authorizations, vouchers or making travel arrangements utilizing a computer online reservation system; 4. Acting as timekeeper for time and attendance purposes or in another payroll processing capacity. NOTE: A current and valid State Driver's License is required for both grade levels. Incumbent must be able to rent a car, and be available to travel periodically, by air or car, to remote locations within the United States. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Education Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements. Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 Additional information Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties. The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361. Important Note: All Department of the Interior (DOI) employees are subject to the conflict of interest restrictions imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report. In addition, DOI employees, GS-15 and above, who work in the Office of the Secretary; along with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) employees (at ALL grade levels), are further restricted concerning their interests in Federal lands and resources administered or controlled by the Department of the Interior. This includes holding stock in energy corporations which lease Federal lands (e.g.: oil, gas, coal, alternative energy resources, etc.). If you have any such investments you should contact the DOI, BOEM or BSEE Ethics Office before accepting employment. DOI employees are held to the highest level of integrity. Employees must be objective and impartial in the performance of their work. All potential issues (e.g.: work-related interactions with friends, family members, or previous employers) must be disclosed at the time of application or during the interview process. NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S. A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete. If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check. Current Federal employees or individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau security office. Read more Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.