Paralegal Specialist

George C. Marshall Space Flight Center•Huntsville, AL

About The Position

As a Paralegal Specialist with the Marshall Space Flight Center's Office of the General Counsel, you will provide patent paralegal support to the intellectual property team at MSFC and the enterprise legal organization. You will also support attorneys in other practice areas, including ethics, employment, contracts, and agreements. The role involves independently managing the patent docket, providing litigation support, and handling other actions across subject matter areas. The position also involves conducting complex legal research and analyzing legislative, judicial, and administrative developments affecting agency programs; analyzing disclosure requests and recommending agency action; and drafting complex briefs, advisory opinions, and litigation documents. The specialist analyzes case materials, independently gathers facts, coordinates with agency personnel to resolve legal issues, and prepares attorneys for hearings and litigation. The role includes preparing reports on legal trends and maintaining files of significant decisions and opinions.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, nationality, or allegiance to the United States.
For GS-11, one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, including supporting attorneys with administrative, procedural, and case-management tasks across areas of law; monitoring cases, files, and procedural requirements to ensure accurate, complete, and timely submissions while maintaining records with relevant authorities such as the USPTO; and using commercial legal research tools to compile information for attorneys.
Alternatively, qualification may be met by completing a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field; completing three full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent; holding a related LL.M.; or an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study.
A resume must provide a clear, detailed narrative explaining how the applicant meets the required specialized experience.
Current federal employees must meet applicable qualifications, time-in-grade, and 90-day-after-competitive-appointment requirements by the announcement closing date.
A current federal employee applying at GS-11 must have completed at least 52 weeks in a position no more than two grades below the advertised position.
A pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance may be required.
Education used to qualify must meet applicable U.S. accreditation or foreign-credential evaluation requirements.

Responsibilities

Support the intellectual property team at MSFC and the enterprise legal organization as a patent paralegal.
Provide paralegal support to attorneys in areas including ethics, employment, contracts, and agreements.
Independently manage the patent docket and provide litigation support.
Conduct complex legal research and analyze legislative, judicial, and administrative developments impacting agency programs.
Perform substantive legal analysis of requests under disclosure statutes and develop recommendations for agency action.
Draft complex briefs, advisory opinions, and litigation documents requiring interpretation of legal precedent and agency policy.
Analyze subpoenaed materials, appellate records, and other case documents to identify trends, patterns, and strategic implications.
Initiate independent fact finding and coordinate with agency personnel to resolve complex legal issues.
Prepare attorneys for hearings and litigation by synthesizing legal issues, assembling exhibits, and briefing them on case strategy.
Develop specialized reports on legal trends and maintain comprehensive files of significant decisions and opinions.