Student Trainee (Paralegal Specialist)

As a Student Trainee (Paralegal Specialist) in the Environment and Natural Resources Division, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for providing critical legal advice in support of the Environment and Natural Resources Division's internal operations, litigation, and other work. All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Who May Apply: Applicants must be CURRENT students for the Summer or Fall semester in an accredited high school, college; professional; technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree program; or other qualifying education institution pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate in a field related to the position. Such fields may include law, legal studies, paralegal studies, or other related field. In addition, the individual selected is expected to continue as a student for at least one year after appointment; therefore, students graduating prior to December 2027 will not be considered.

The Environment and Natural Resources Division is seeking a student to fill a paid paralegal specialist intern position. Ideally, students who are able to work 40 hours per week during standard working hours is preferred. Students attending evening classes in a graduate program are ideal for this position.

The student paralegal specialist intern will be assigned to projects in several substantive areas of the Division's work and will also have the opportunity to obtain experience working with lawyers at one of the Nation's premier litigation organizations.

As a Student Trainee (Paralegal Specialist), your typical work assignments may include the following:

• Assisting with the Division's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) docket, including the processing of FOIA requests and appeals and analyzing documents for responsiveness and privileges;
• Performing document management tasks;
• Performing cite-checking, reviewing records and factual materials, and conducting legal research in various databases including Westlaw, Pacer, and Lexis; and
• Working closely with attorneys on special projects, including tracking litigation in priority areas for the Division.

Student Pathways Program: This is a Student Internship opportunity that provides students enrolled in a qualifying educational institution with paid opportunities to work in Federal agencies while completing their education. In order to qualify, candidates must meet the program requirements and educational requirements listed below. If this is your first appointment in the Federal service, your pay will be set at step 1 of the grade selected.

Program Requirements: Applicants must be enrolled or formally accepted for enrollment for the current semester as a full-time or part-time student into an accredited college or university in a degree-seeking program or other qualifying educational institution pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate in a field related to this position. Such fields may include law, legal studies, paralegal studies, or other related field.

• Must be in good academic standing and maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA).
• If selected, must sign a Student Pathways program agreement; furnish course registration information at the start of each school term; and provide verification of academic status (transcript) at the end of each academic term.
• For this position, applicants should not graduate prior to December 2027.
• The preferred candidate would be available to work 40 hours a week.

Qualification Requirements

In addition to the program requirements listed above, candidates must meet the minimum education or experience requirements to qualify for the 0999 series either at the GS-7 or GS-9 grade level:

GS-7:
A. Must have a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA), or
B. Must have one full year of graduate level education, or
C. Must have at least 1 year of specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-5 Federal grade level performing legal research and reviewing and summarizing information in a prescribed format on case precedents and decisions, or
D. Must have a combination of education and specialized experience, that together meet the qualification requirements for this position.

Superior Academic Achievement: This provision applies to persons who have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university as evidenced by one of three methods described below (within a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled):
1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Grade-point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9.
3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies.

GS-9:
A. Must have a master's or equivalent degree or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or LL.B or J.D., or
B. Must have at least one year of specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-7 Federal grade level performing legal research; reviewing and summarizing information in a prescribed form on case precedents and decisions; and preparing written analysis of legal questions containing well-supported conclusions and citations, or
C. Must have a combination of education and specialized experience when combined, is equivalent to 100% of the qualification requirement. (Only graduate education in excess of the first full year may be used in this calculation).

NOTE: An academic year of undergraduate education is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in an accredited college or university.

You must submit an unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. For qualification purposes, degree requirements must be met within 30 days of the closing date of this job announcement and your transcript(s) submitted must reflect this.

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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skill and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

To preview questions, please click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12991154.