Paralegal

US Office of the Director of National Intelligence; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of General Counsel at the ODNI seeks a Paralegal to support legal research, document control, and case management across national security, procurement, ethics, and litigation matters.

The ideal candidate will have seven years of paralegal experience, a paralegal certification or law degree, and strong writing and analytical skills; MD/VA requirements preferred. This role is federal service, with eligibility governed by ODNI standards.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of substantive and procedural law, plus legal research processes and terminology.
• Demonstrated knowledge of document control procedures, security measures, and privacy rules to mitigate release of investigative information.
• Knowledge of moderately complex litigation processes and court proceedings; strong listening and oral comprehension skills.
• Written communication skills to draft and edit documents clearly and concisely; ability to edit own work.
• Extensive ability to perform legal review, research, and analysis; organize filing for moderately complex cases.
• Strong problem-solving skills using law libraries, internet, and resources like Westlaw.
• Ability to work independently under attorney supervision and with teams.
• Ability to develop constructive professional relationships with coworkers and clients.
• Seven years of Paralegal work experience is preferred.
• Paralegal certification or law degree preferred in MD/VA.

Skills

Legal research

Drafting and editing documents

Legal writing

Oral comprehension

Document control

Security & privacy rules

Litigation processes

Analytical thinking

Independent work

Team collaboration

Professional relationships

Education

Paralegal certification or law degree

MD/VA certification requirements preferred

Tools

Westlaw

Job description

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) at the ODNI provides legal advice and counsel to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and other ODNI officials on a wide range of legal issues to include intelligence and national security law; procurement and acquisition law; personnel law; government ethics, fiscal law; general administrative law; legislative support; government information practices (Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act); and intellectual property law.

This is an excepted service GS-14 position open to the public and all current federal employees at the GS-14 and one level below. Current federal employees at grade levels GS-12 and below are not eligible for this position and their application will not be forwarded to the hiring manager. All current federal employees that apply for this position must submit their most recent SF-50, Notification of Personal Action (i.e., dated within the last 52 weeks from the closing date of this vacancy announcement) to verify their status of eligibility.

Mandatory Requirements:

• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles and practices of substantive and procedural law as well as legal research processes, legal terminology, legal standards and documentation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of document control procedures, security measures, and privacy rules in order to mitigate the potential release of any investigative information that would endanger or compromise pending cases.
• Demonstrated knowledge of moderately complex litigation processes and court proceedings as well as strong listening and oral comprehension skills to determine relevance of points of discussion and to clarify ambiguities.
• Demonstrated written communication skills sufficient to draft basic and complex documents comprehensively and in the correct style and format; ability to edit own work and write in a clear and concise manner clearly and concisely, in oral and written communications.
• Extensive ability to perform moderately complex legal review, investigative, research, and analysis work, as well as the ability to organize and maintain the assembly and filing of legal documents for moderately complex cases within established deadlines.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills sufficient to make clear cut decisions regarding moderately complex matters in a timely manner; considerable legal research skills using law libraries, the internet, and computer-based tools such as Westlaw or other similar resources.
• Extensive ability to work in an independent manner under appropriate attorney supervision and as a contributing member of a work group; ability to work with a varied group of team members or clients and give and receive constructive feedback.
• Extensive ability to develop constructive professional working relationships with coworkers, clients, and persons outside the organization.
• Seven years of Paralegal work experience is preferred.
• Appropriate Paralegal certification or law degree, as required in MD/VA, is preferred.