Legal Assistant at Cranston

JOB SUMMARY:

Rhode Island National Guard

The Rhode Island National Guard traces its history from the first colonial defensive force established in the town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island in 1638. Today, the Rhode Island National Guard consists of dedicated men and women, prepared to serve our State and Nation in a variety of military specialties.

NOTE:  Your application should contain a detailed description of both civilian and military experience as it relates to the general and specialized experience requirements listed in this vacancy announcement, and the questionnaire.

 

NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED: This is an excepted position that requires membership in a compatible military assignment in the Rhode Island Army National Guard. Selectee will be required to wear the military uniform. Acceptance of an excepted position constitutes concurrence with these requirements as a condition of employment. 

 

TEMPORARY TECHNICIAN APPOINTMENT/TEMPORARY PROMOTION. Selected individual MAY receive a temporary technician appointment or temporary promotion/reassignment. Persons appointed with temporary status MAY be separated when their services are no longer needed. If a permanent/indefinite excepted status employee at the same grade level as this announcement is selected, Nature of Action will be Reassignment; tenure will not change. If a permanent/indefinite excepted status employee is selected at a higher grade, Nature of Action MAY be Temporary Promotion. This temporary technician appointment/temporary promotion is NTE 30 September 2012, initially, mission requirements may dictate an extension accordingly. Permanent Appointment will require competitive procedures. The fill of this position is predicated on available funding and will be reviewed periodically.

 

Veterans Preference does not apply to the National Guard Excepted Service.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) relocation allowance NOT authorized.

 

This position is located in the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA), of the Joint Force Headquarters (State).  This office provides legal assistance/advice to The Adjutant General and to Army and Air National Guard personnel.  The primary purpose of this position is to serve as an assistant, under the supervision of the Staff Judge Advocate, in the administration and coordination of legal activities for the state.  Provides technical and procedural guidance and support to unit commanders and legal personnel as required in the accomplishment of a variety of administrative and clerical duties necessary for effective and efficient operation of the program.

 

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a current member of the RI Army National Guard.
• Must be an E-4/SPC or E-6/SSG
• Background Criminal Investigation required prior to appointment.

DUTIES:Back to top

Brief Description of Duties: 

(GS-05 Duties) Receives visitors/clients and telephone calls and screens those to determine which can be personally handled, referred to the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA), staff attorneys, or referral to another agency.  Provides information on routine or procedural matters of the office.  Interviews clients to obtain personal facts and specifics such as: names, number/age of dependents, dates, etc. in preparation of legal documents.  Performs research for specific information, as requested by attorneys, on a variety of subjects.  Determines resource materials to be used and compiles information gathered for use by attorneys in case preparation.  Receives and reviews documentation of Summary Court Martial and verifies punishment/action taken is in accordance with established regulations and guidelines.  Receives incoming correspondence, screens material, prior to distribution, to determine what matters may be personally handled (matters of a non-technical nature) and what matters need to be referred to the staff attorneys or to the supervisor.

 

(GS-06/07 Duties) Provides technical and procedural guidance and legal assistant to National Guard members based on an extensive knowledge of rules and procedures. Provides support to administer courts-martial, non-judicial punishment, administrative boards and other assorted actions. Performs research to identify factual and legal issues in order to provide relevant evidence to prepare summaries of precedent cases, interviews, testimony, depositions, and related case material for use by the attorney. Assists with the preparation of wills, powers of attorney, claims, and various other legal documents on a case-by-case basis, in support of the Staff Judge Advocates’ legal assistance function. Reviews regulations, drafts, and civil statutes. Maintains the office and technical subject matter files. Performs a variety of administrative/clerical support functions which may include, but is not limited to: receives visitors and telephone calls; maintains a variety of files, records and forms, prepares special and recurring reports; receives and distributes incoming mail and composes replies to routine military and nonmilitary correspondence; maintains time and attendance records; maintains suspense records of item requiring action; and keeps appointment calendar for Staff Judge Advocate and staff members. 

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

GENERAL EXPERIENCE: Experience, education, or training that involved working with office automation systems, software practices and procedures.  Experience in working with various legal assistant support functions.

 

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess 6 Months (GS-05) or 9 months (GS-06) experience, education or training initiating and composing standardized legal documents routinely needed for specific legal actions; accept service of legal documents, review them for correct form and timeliness and route them to the proper technical expert. 12 months (GS-07) of specialized experience, education or training locating and compiling information from files.  Experience processing legal documents by checking them for required information and accuracy, determining if any action is necessary, and annotate case files and status records to reflect receipt and due date for required action.

*NOTE:  Your resume should contain a description of both civilian and military experience as it relates to the general and specialized experience requirements. Experience claimed in the questionairre should be reflected in the work experience section of your resume to be given qualifying experience.

 

MILITARY REQUIREMENTS: Employment in this position requires membership in the Rhode Island Army National Guard. 

Military Grades: E-4/SPC or E-6/SSG

Compatible Military Assignments: N/A

Substitution of education for specialized experience: A maximum of 12 months of the required experience may be substituted by successful completion of undergraduate study in an accredited college or university at the rate of 30 semester hours for 12 months of experience. The education must have been in fields directly related to the type of work of the position.  (NOTE: To receive credit for education listed on your resume, an unoffical transcript MUST be provided with your application. If education has been substituted for experience an official transcript MUST be provided prior to appointment.) 

**Note to Incentive Recipients: Service members who accept a temporary or full-time federal technician position and are currently in receipt of an incentive such as a bonus, student loan repayment, or Select Reserve GI Bill may be subject to suspension of the incentive or termination with recoupment of the incentive.  Applicants in receipt of a military education/recruitment incentives are strongly encouraged to contact their unit representative or the Education and Incentives Office for Specific details regarding incentive termination or recoupment action.  The Education Office can be contacted at 401-275-4109 /4039 or the ANG Retention Office Manager can be contacted at 401-267-3269.

Requirements:

Incumbent must maintain membership in the Rhode Island Army National Guard.

Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.

Must possess or be able to obtain a Secret Security clearance within one year of appointment.

Background Criminal Investigations (BCI) are required for federal employment.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Once the application process is complete, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire and supporting documents. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Country: USA, State: Rhode Island, City: Cranston, Company: Army National Guard Units (Title 32).