Paralegal Specialist.

US Army Corps of Engineers; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

US Army Corps of Engineers in Portland seeks a professional to process and evaluate FOIA/Privacy Act requests, determine releasability, apply exemptions, and coordinate with counsel.

You will conduct in-depth legal research, draft pleadings, and support staff attorneys with trial preparation and e-discovery tasks, leveraging automated databases.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience analyzing, processing, and determining releasability of FOIA/Privacy Act requests with exemptions.
• In-depth legal and factual research using automated databases and legal resources.
• Drafting legal documents, pleadings, briefs, discovery requests/responses, and litigation memos.

Responsibilities

• Process, analyze, and evaluate FOIA/Privacy Act requests, determine releasability, apply exemptions, coordinate with counsel, and track appeals.
• Perform in-depth legal research and factual investigations using automated legal databases and legal references to evaluate precedents, statutory authorities, and complex legal issues.
• Draft legal documents, pleadings, briefs, discovery requests, motions, and litigation reports requiring detailed analysis of laws, regulations, and procedure to assist staff attorneys.
• Coordinate litigation support, discovery, witness/expert interviews, and deposition/trial logistics across contractual, tort, environmental, labor, and civil litigation matters.
• Manage automated legal systems and e-discovery tools, overseeing matter tracking, case management databases, litigation data capture, and training legal personnel on IT platforms.

Skills

FOIA analysis

Legal research

Drafting briefs

Litigation support

E-discovery

Tools

E-discovery tools

Automated databases

Job description

Duties

• Process, analyze, and evaluate FOIA/Privacy Act requests, determines releasability, applies statutory exemptions, coordinates with counsel, and tracks appeals.
• Perform in-depth legal research and factual investigations using automated legal databases and legal references to evaluate precedents, statutory authorities, and complex legal issues.
• Draft legal documents, pleadings, briefs, discovery requests, motions, and litigation reports requiring detailed analysis of laws, regulations, and procedure to assist staff attorneys.
• Coordinate litigation support, discovery, witness/expert interviews, and deposition/trial logistics across contractual, tort, environmental, labor, and civil litigation matters.
• Manage automated legal systems and e-discovery tools, overseeing matter tracking, case management databases, litigation data capture, and training legal personnel on IT platforms.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes 1.) Analyzing, processing, and determining the releasability of complex Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act requests, including applying legal exemptions and preparing initial denial determinations; 2) Conducting comprehensive legal and factual research using automated databases and legal resources to analyze precedents, statutes, and agency regulations; 3) Drafting legal documents, including pleadings, briefs, discovery requests/responses, litigation reports, and legal memoranda in support of ongoing litigation; 4) Assisting attorneys with trial preparation, witness interviews, discovery coordination, e-discovery processes, and pretrial proceedings; and 5) Utilizing and maintaining automated legal case management, matter tracking, and e-discovery databases. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-11).

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the
• This is a(n) Professional Services Career Field position.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.
• Advanced-in-Hire, Enhanced Leave Accrual, Student Loan repayment or Recruitment/Relocation incentive MAY be authorized if determined to be in the best interest of the government.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests

If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here:

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

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.