Paralegal Specialist Jobs

Duties

As a Paralegal Specialist, you will:

• Examine and evaluate requests for claims and personal information under the Freedom of Information (FOIA) and Privacy Acts, from attorneys, probate research companies, doctors, and other individuals.
• Respond to inquiries from courts, welfare agencies, attorneys, etc., regarding garnishments, wage assignments, dissolution of marriage, and other cases.
• Gather information that serves as a basis for the Board's coverage determinations on employers and employees whose coverage status must be determined under the provisions of the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts.
• Prepare subpoenas and responses to notices of levy, as required.
• Consider disclosure of information issues in relation to garnishment, marital property division orders and other cases.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service

How You Will Be Evaluated

• After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.
• Resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.

• How to Apply

  Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:

  • To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.

  • Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.

  • Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.

  • After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.

  • If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements.

  • NOTE: Set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found in your USAJOBS account under the "Track my application" link for the corresponding application.

  To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://usajobs.gov). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
  To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account at https://www.usajobs.gov. On the Home page, scroll down and locate your job application. Once the job has been located, click the "Track this application" link on the right under the application date. The page will refresh to display the Agency's Application Information page where you can scroll down and review any notifications the agency has sent you. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

  Agency contact information

  RRB Human Resources

  Phone

  (312) 751-4580

  Email

  [email protected]

  Address

  Railroad Retirement Board
  844 N Rush St
  Chicago, IL 60611
  US

  Next steps

  Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
  Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.

• BenefitsA 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 windowLearn 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.
• Transcripts (only required when the position has an education requirement, or you are qualifying for the position based on your education): You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable. All supporting documentation must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Official transcripts will be required if selected.
• Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
• New employee probationary period
• Financial suitability
• Veterans' Documentation: If you are a veteran, you must provide a copy of your Record of Military Service (DD-214), and proof of your veterans' preference, if applicable. Veterans with a service connected disability must also submit a completed claim form SF-15 (click here for form) along with the required proofs. Go to FedsHireVets-Veterans Preference for more information.
• Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
• NOTE: Set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found in your USAJOBS account under the "Track my application" link for the corresponding application.
• Signature and false statements
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Social security number request
• SF-50: You must submit a copy of a recent Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50 that shows career or career-conditional competitive service status (Blocks #24 and #34 must be completed); and
• Selective Service
• Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation: If you are eligible under ICTAP, you must submit all required materials verifying your eligibility as listed in "Additional Information." These materials include:
  • Proof of eligibility: You must submit documentation such as a separation notice or other required material (see "Required Information" for other examples);
  • SF-50: You must submit a copy of a recent Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50 that shows career or career-conditional competitive service status (Blocks #24 and #34 must be completed); and
  • Performance Appraisal: You must submit your most recent performance appraisal, which must be rated at least fully successful or equivalent. (This is not required if you are eligible for ICTAP due to compensable injury or disability retirement.) The performance appraisal may also be used as part of the ranking process and/or to verify your responses to the questionnaire.
• To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
• Privacy Act
• Proof of eligibility: You must submit documentation such as a separation notice or other required material (see "Required Information" for other examples);
• If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements.

• Fair and Transparent

  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request
• Performance Appraisal: You must submit your most recent performance appraisal, which must be rated at least fully successful or equivalent. (This is not required if you are eligible for ICTAP due to compensable injury or disability retirement.) The performance appraisal may also be used as part of the ranking process and/or to verify your responses to the questionnaire.
• Reasonable Accommodation: If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

  To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

  • Resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
  • Transcripts (only required when the position has an education requirement, or you are qualifying for the position based on your education): You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable. All supporting documentation must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Official transcripts will be required if selected.
  • Veterans' Documentation: If you are a veteran, you must provide a copy of your Record of Military Service (DD-214), and proof of your veterans' preference, if applicable. Veterans with a service connected disability must also submit a completed claim form SF-15 (click here for form) along with the required proofs. Go to FedsHireVets-Veterans Preference for more information.
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation: If you are eligible under ICTAP, you must submit all required materials verifying your eligibility as listed in "Additional Information." These materials include:
    • Proof of eligibility: You must submit documentation such as a separation notice or other required material (see "Required Information" for other examples);
    • SF-50: You must submit a copy of a recent Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50 that shows career or career-conditional competitive service status (Blocks #24 and #34 must be completed); and
    • Performance Appraisal: You must submit your most recent performance appraisal, which must be rated at least fully successful or equivalent. (This is not required if you are eligible for ICTAP due to compensable injury or disability retirement.) The performance appraisal may also be used as part of the ranking process and/or to verify your responses to the questionnaire.
  • Reasonable Accommodation: If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.

  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Required Documents