Paralegal Specialist

The 0950 series calls for a working knowledge of the law without a law degree or bar membership. Paralegals work in agency counsel offices, litigation divisions and administrative adjudication programs, and the duties shift with the agency’s mission, from patent matters to procurement disputes to Medicare appeals.

Recent listings have included paralegal specialists at several grades, a Pathways recent-graduate paralegal specialist, a chambers paralegal in the courts, and paralegals on the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s NB pay bands. The Army Corps of Engineers, the Patent and Trademark Office, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. Attorneys’ offices and Defense agencies have been frequent sources.

Applying tip: there is no single education requirement for the series, so the announcement’s Qualifications section decides what counts. Describe the kinds of cases you have supported, the documents you have drafted and the research tools you use. The legal jobs guide covers paralegal, attorney and legal administrative work together.