Legal Administrative Specialist
About The Position
The Legal Administrative Specialist (LAS) serves on the Public Contact Team in the Veterans Service Center. The incumbent provides in-depth information and comprehensive assistance to veterans, their dependents, and beneficiaries concerning VA benefits and related non-VA benefits. The position involves counseling through in-person and telephone interviews, correspondence, and outreach services. The specialist explains VBA rating decisions and the reasons for those decisions, applying knowledge of VA benefits and services, claim and appeal processing procedures, benefit determinations, and information in systems of record. The role also includes explaining legal provisions, regulations, and administrative practices and how they apply to individual cases; preparing technical correspondence; initiating inquiries to resolve benefit problems; and completing claim- and appeal-related work. This is a full-time federal position with a GS-07 to GS-09 grade progression. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the tour may change based on program needs. The position is eligible for situational, case-by-case telework with supervisory approval, but the employee must report to the official duty station each scheduled workday and routine or recurring telework is not authorized. The work is mostly sedentary and has no special physical demands, though occasional walking, standing, and moving light items or pushing and pulling carts may be involved.
Requirements
- U.S. citizenship is required.
- Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
- Applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date: 52 weeks at GS-05 for GS-07 consideration, or 52 weeks at GS-07 for GS-09 consideration.
- For GS-07, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05, including customer service, benefit counseling, and claim processing under direct supervision or guidance, and researching relevant subject matter; qualifying experience may include communicating about VA benefits and researching laws and regulations to determine veterans' eligibility. Alternatively, qualifying education or a combination of education and experience may be used.
- For GS-09, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, including customer service, benefit counseling, and claim processing with minimum supervision or guidance, and moderate knowledge of researching relevant subject matter; qualifying experience may include communicating about VA benefits and researching laws and regulations to determine veterans' eligibility. Alternatively, qualifying graduate education or a combination of education and experience may be used.
- Applicants qualifying based on education must submit transcripts; foreign education used to meet requirements must be accompanied by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
- Selected applicants must complete pre-employment onboarding and provide acceptable identification for I-9 requirements.
- The selectee must serve a one-year probationary period and is subject to a background/security investigation.
Responsibilities
- Coordinate and conduct counseling sessions with veterans, their dependents, and beneficiaries about VA and non-VA benefits through in-person or telephone interviews, correspondence, and outreach.
- Explain VBA rating decisions and the basis for those decisions using knowledge of VA benefits and services, claims and appeals procedures, benefit determinations, and information available in systems of record.
- Assist with compensation and pension benefits, home loan eligibility, education, health care, life insurance, burial benefits, vocational rehabilitation, Social Security Administration programs, and other federal, state, and local assistance programs.
- Prepare technical correspondence providing benefit information, representation rights, and responses to miscellaneous inquiries.
- Explain applicable legal provisions, regulations, and administrative practices and their application to specific cases.
- Initiate inquiries to resolve errors, delays, or other problems in obtaining benefits.
- Complete claim- and appeal-related work.
Benefits
- Federal employees receive access to a comprehensive benefits package for themselves and their families; specific benefit eligibility depends on position type.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
