Paralegal/Legal Assistant II

LMR Technical Group•Arlington, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

LMR is seeking a Paralegal/Legal Assistant II to provide complex day-to-day administrative and litigation support to the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA), Department Counsel Division. The position supports personnel security administrative litigation and works with classified and unclassified case files. Incumbents work independently with minimal detailed guidance to manage case files, research and retrieve requested cases, maintain databases, generate reports, and support Administrative Judges, attorneys, adjudicators, and Department Counsel staff. The role requires careful handling of personally identifiable information (PII), credit reports, derogatory information, and other highly sensitive material in accordance with applicable security, privacy, and records requirements. The employee supports industrial security clearance cases (ISCR), contractor trustworthiness/automated data processing (ADP) cases, reapplications, appeals, and due process proceedings. Work includes processing case documents, assignments, correspondence, investigative reports, hearing materials, and case-tracking entries; responding to inquiries; and ensuring case files are complete and work products are accurate and error-free. The position is located in Arlington, Virginia. Compensation is $32.32 per hour. LMR describes itself as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business supporting technology development and joint warfighter training. It is an equal opportunity employer; protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Requirements

Current Top Secret security clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one, with a T3 background investigation.
U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a Secret security clearance.
Bachelor's degree and two years of relevant administrative or litigation experience; alternatively, an associate degree and four years of relevant experience, or a high school diploma and six years of relevant experience supporting program analysis activities.
Familiarity with, or ability to utilize, DoD Directive 5220.6, Defense Industrial Personnel Security Clearance Review Program.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to safeguard and handle PII and other highly sensitive information.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat Professional.
Ability to work independently and troubleshoot problems with minimal guidance.
Ability to consistently produce error-free work.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Current, active Top Secret security clearance.
Two or more years of previous litigation support or legal clerical experience.
Previous knowledge and application of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts.
Previous experience with Section 508 compliance for public posting of documents.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate strong command of English, including vocabulary, spelling, composition, and grammar.
Apply knowledge of the personnel security administrative litigation process under DoD Directive 5220.6 and other applicable security-clearance regulations, as well as requirements for safeguarding PII and other sensitive information under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts.
Analyze, recommend, and take appropriate action on Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act requests and matters involving release of official government information, including classified and unclassified information.
Provide litigation and case support, including preparing, organizing, summarizing, filing, and mailing documents and entering information in case-tracking systems.
Prepare and assign 35–150 draft Statements of Reasons (SORs) per month for ISCR/ADP clearance cases to Department Counsel staff, and record assignments in the DOHA case-tracking system.
Prepare and assign 35–100 military/civilian appeal cases per month to Department Counsel attorneys, record assignments, and forward appeal cases to the DOHA Hearing Office.
In-process 25–150 SOR answers and update the DOHA case-tracking system.
In-process ISCR, ADP contractor trustworthiness, and ISCR/ADP reapplication cases and update the DOHA case-tracking system.
Assign, draft, and mail correspondence to Facility Security Officers, applicants, and companies or agencies; update the case-tracking system and follow-up suspense; and ensure files are complete before submission to Department Counsel attorneys.
Copy, collate, and file hearing and administrative determination exhibits and packages.
Monitor and act on DISS Appeals tasks and DISS CATS cases and notifications; make appropriate entries in DISS, the DOHA database, and other personnel security databases; and review and retrieve relevant documents for Department Counsel staff and judges.
Gather and communicate significant and sensitive information orally and in writing to people involved in the security-clearance process.
Plan, schedule, and conduct projects of varying complexity; identify problems and issues; and recommend solutions.
Use complex data, computer software, and equipment, including DISS and DOHA web-based case-tracking systems.
Manage a large caseload of industrial security clearance and contractor trustworthiness cases, and deploy resources efficiently to accomplish the mission.
Receive and record adjudication reports in appropriate databases; analyze reports to determine whether investigations meet DOHA investigative standards; prepare findings memoranda and correspondence; and make database entries.
Respond to written correspondence, email, and telephone inquiries about case status with detailed information consistent with case procedures and security and privacy requirements.
Anticipate and meet the needs of due process applicants and appellees, Department Counsel leadership, and attorneys independently of government supervision.
Ensure work products reflect an understanding of Department Counsel's role and applicable security administration guidelines, regulations, policies, and directives.
Analyze case files for completeness, initiate correspondence for government signature, track cases, and perform follow-up before submission.
Support attorneys throughout due process interrogatories, hearings, and written case-record proceedings involving relevant materials.
Resolve inquiries from due process applicants and appellants and produce accurate reports, correspondence, and other work products while avoiding errors that could affect mission operations or national security.
Exercise independent judgment with limited guidance and review; proactively identify organizational issues and recommend solutions.
Interpret and apply agency requirements to protect the deliberative process and comply with Privacy Act requirements.
Perform related administrative, clerical, and records or case-file management duties as required.