Paralegal Specialist, Social Justice Section (Req. No. 2023-50); Closing Date 5/18/2023

POSITION TITLE: Paralegal Specialist
LOCATION:

Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
Public Advocacy Division
Social Justice Section
400 Sixth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001

WORK STATUS: A hybrid remote telework/in-office schedule option is available upon supervisor approval.

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT: The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG) is committed to providing the highest quality legal and programmatic services to the District and its residents while ensuring the health and safety of employees, customers, clients, volunteers, contractors, and other visitors.

The District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General values the safety of our employees, our residents, and our visitors. In support of these values, OAG employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including having received a booster shot within five months from either the date of the second shot for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines (or two months from the single-shot of Johnson & Johnson), except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates sincerely held religious beliefs. If you are the selected candidate, as of your start date, you must provide proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including timely received booster vaccine, or you must request an exemption from your representative.

JOB REQUISITION NUMBER: #2023-50
NUMBER OF VACANCIES: One (1)

OPENING DATE: May 8, 2023
CLOSING DATE: May 18, 2023

SALARY RANGE: $87,339 - $95,476

This salary range is within the Career Service salary schedule. The salary range is based on a multitude of factors including applicable rules, regulations and guidelines.

PAY PLAN, SERIES AND GRADE: CS-1810-12

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Regular

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT: This position is in the collective bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Local 2401. If you opt to join the union, and consent, a service fee will be paid through direct payroll deduction.

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to the Public

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG) is seeking an experienced Paralegal Specialist within the Social Justice Section of the Public Advocacy Division (PAD). PAD manages the affirmative civil enforcement litigation of OAG to protect the public interest, bringing enforcement actions involving workers’ rights, consumer protection, civil rights, housing, elder justice, nonprofit and antitrust.

The Social Justice Section engages with individuals, advocacy organizations, and community groups to investigate and litigate housing code and environmental violations that harm District residents. The Social Justice Section's Housing Enforcement Unit is responsible for addressing improper and unsafe housing conditions and nuisance properties in District neighborhoods. In particular, the Unit enforces the District’s Tenant Receivership Act and Drug- Firearm- and Prostitution-Related Nuisance Abatement Act. The Section’s environmental attorneys address lead-related and other environmental hazards the District. Both teams have an emphasis on the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of housing and environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Prepares trial notebooks, schedule witness conferences, prepare trial subpoenas, summarize deposition transcripts, draft legal documents and pleadings, prepare and organize exhibits.
• Tracks and responds to complaints submitted to the Social Justice inbox.
• Maintains case files, tracks pre-suit investigations and referrals, as well as inputs data into case management system.
• Performs other related duties as needed.
• Provides assistance to attorneys with the preparation of case files including the preparation of discovery materials to be provided to litigants, the preparation of subpoenas and court notices, and requesting and obtaining necessary documents and information from outside agencies.
• Performs legal research, including search of statutes, regulations, legislative history, case law and other legal authorities applicable to particular legal matters.
• Handles sensitive information, confidential information, and information subject to the attorney client privilege, the attorney work product privilege, and various agency privileges.
• Prepares a variety of legal documents, including litigation hold letters, written discovery requests and responses, privilege logs and indices.
• Reviewing contents of reports and procedural or policy papers to identify potential problems, and to assure consistency with agency policy.
• Establishes and maintains an effective system of monitoring and tracking cases to ensure compliance with all relevant deadlines.
• Reviews, analyzes, and organize facts, documents, and other evidence.
• Attends trial and assists the attorneys as needed.
• Assists the attorneys in the preparation of government and expert witnesses for trial.
• Interviews complainants and works with investigators to schedule follow-up inspections.
• Identifies, defines, and analyzes operational problems and pose options and alternatives to existing procedures.
• Investigates and becomes familiar with the facts of assigned cases.
• Attends meetings where relevant legal and factual issues are discussed.

QUALIFICATIONS: The successful candidate must have a law degree, paralegal certificate, or college degree in a related field. At least four years of Specialized Experience is preferred. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing a variety of analytical paralegal or legal work which demonstrates a practical knowledge of the law, the litigation and judicial process, and applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Examples of specialized experience include performing the following duties: 1) analyze and evaluates legal decisions and case files to identify relevant issues and potential evidence; 2) conduct legal research concerning precedents and past court decisions; composing legal briefs, summaries of analysis and decisions, and pre-trial documents for investigations; 3) interview witnesses and various individuals who can provide insight into cases under review; preparing evidence and documents to support recommendations; and 4) utilize a variety of automated legal research tools.

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: A substitution of education for required experience will be allowed as defined in OPM’s Qualification Standards. However, to receive credit, applicants must submit official proof of educational attainment at the time of application.

TIME-IN-GRADE RESTRICTIONS: Time-in-grade restrictions must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

HOW TO APPLY: Interested candidates must apply online by 11:59 pm of the closing date. All applications must be filled in its entirety, along with a cover letter, resume, a writing sample and a list of three professional references including supervisors. Please ensure that all required documents are included prior to submitting the application.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS

GENERAL SUITABILITY SCREENING: The selected candidate will be subject to a background investigation including reference checks.

PRIORITY CONSIDERATION: Displaced Employee Priority Placement: Candidates who are eligible for the District of Columbia’s Displaced Employee Program (DEP) and Agency Reemployment Priority Placement Program (ARPP) will be given priority consideration for this position if found qualified.

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: Selectee will be eligible for health and life insurance, annual (vacation), and sick leave and will be covered under the District of Columbia government’s retirement plan. However, if the selectee was previously employed in the District of Columbia’s government under an appointment for which he/she was eligible for Civil Service Retirement (CSR), contributions to CSR will resume upon re-employment.

RESIDENCY PREFERENCE: A person applying for a position in the Career Service, Education Service, Management Supervisory Service, an attorney position in the Legal Service (series 905) other than in the Senior Executive Attorney Service (SEAS), or an attorney in the Excepted Service (series 905) who is a bona fide District resident AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION for the position, may be awarded a 10-point residency preference over non-District residents’ applications, unless the person declines the preference points. If selected, the person shall be required to present proofs of bona fide District residency and maintain such residency for 7 consecutive years from the effective date of the appointment. Failure to maintain bona fide District residency for the 7-year period will result in forfeiture of employment. If the position you accept is in the Career, Management Supervisory, or Educational Service at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of employment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of employment.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE: Applicants claiming veterans’ preference must submit official proof at the time of application.

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE: Pursuant to the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998, the individual selected to fill this position will, as a condition of employment, be required to notify his/her immediate supervisor, in writing, not later than five (5) days after the conviction of or a plea of guilty to a violation of any criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, genetic information, or political affiliation.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING: The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering and maintaining a culture where every employee can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the best pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values. We honor, respect, and celebrate all differences, both visible and invisible

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION: In accordance with the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, D.C. Official Code, Section 2-1401.01 et. seq., (Act) the District of Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, source of income, or place of residence or business. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that is also prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above-protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.

OFFICIAL JOB OFFERS ARE TO BE MADE ONLY BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES SECTION OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.