Paralegal Assistant III with Security Clearance

PARALEGAL ASSISTANT III: Objectives: The Paralegal Assistant III shall provide support to active duty and retired members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and their dependents, and to DOD civilian employees being held peculiarly liable under Financial Liability Investigations of Property Loss for the Department of Paralegal Services at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), Bethesda, MD. Qualifications:
• In depth knowledge of legal research techniques to analyze and evaluate civil law issues for attorneys concerning civilian and military matters arising in personal civil areas, medical mal-practice claims (for damage, injury, or death), and litigation, as well as incident to Government employment. Such research skill to be employed as to judicial and administrative precedents, laws, regulations, and policies such as Lexis Nexis and Westlaw perform extensive and thorough legal research into the precedent cases, decisions and opinions that may be applicable to legal matters.
• Knowledge of procedures in federal, states, and county courts to assist staff attorneys in the counseling of clients, and the preparation of legal documents for filing before the courts.
• Knowledge of Federal administrative appeals boards, their jurisdictions, and procedures to pursue relief from adverse determinations.
• Knowledge of civil laws and regulatory requirements as to wills, Federal and state taxation, electronic tax filing, motor vehicle titles and registration, personal property taxes, adoption requirements, probate, retiree benefits, real property deeds, child abuse, etc.
• Knowledge of the areas of responsibility and services offered by various social services agencies of the municipal, state, and federal levels and their respective procedures to properly develop cases, medical mal-practice claims, or as appropriate, refer clients.
• Knowledge of procedures for interviewing clients, witnesses, complainants, and other sources of information to develop facts.
• Ability to analyze and summarize large quantities of information and to develop conclusions and suggested courses of action.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally, and in writing and to prepare legal briefs, litigation reports, administrative interviews, and summaries of analyses.
• Knowledge of computer use, electronic medical records systems (when applicable), including database techniques to track cases/claims and prepare legal documents for court use and ensure timely action by attorneys.
• In-depth knowledge to analyze and evaluate the relevance of technical evidence or questions which arise in the conduct of specialized legal programs.
• Investigates and becomes thoroughly familiar with subject matter details involved in a case/claim or legal matters.
• Determines the specific data needed and best approach to obtain this data or to determine the relevance or sufficiency of available legal, technical, or related data.
• Coordinates actions with other federal agencies, state, and local jurisdictions that have closely related responsibilities or performs similar functions requiring specialized knowledge acquired through extended experience. Specific duties/tasks the contract employee shall perform but are not limited to:
• The paralegal will periodically be given assignments and be capable of executing them independent of a government attorney's supervision and direction, conduct interviews of clients and reviews documents to determine facts and issues.
• Conducts legal research and coordination and makes recommendations to staff attorneys.
• Interviews clients/patients in to obtain data. Prepares legal documents under the direct supervision of staff attorneys and executes them within the hospital for patients.
• Provides services as a Certified State of Maryland Notary (when applicable and is an approved service).
• Prepares legal documents such as petitions for adoption or change of name, health care power of attorney, living wills, separation and property settlement agreements, and powers of attorney, as directed by staff attorneys.
• Provides technical advice concerning procedures and formats for the preparation and filing of legal documents before courts, such as petitions for adoption and change of name, and ancillary documents such as separation/property settlement agreements in divorce actions.
• Provides technical examination of documents prepared by attorneys to ensure correctness and monitors cases until completed.
• Coordinates with clerks of various courts to ensure legal documents satisfy court/judge requirements.
• Ensures that client rights of privacy are protected; that all office documents and records are safeguarded; and, that information stored in computers is expunged as soon as possible after all legal action is completed.
• Conducts interviews of clients and witnesses, and performs legal research as directed by attorneys.
• Provides information and opinions to include suggested sources of action to staff attorneys.
• Maintains corrects logs and appointment dockets for attorneys.
• Develops statistical data for internal and external reports.
• Posts legal publications with current updated materials, and monitors legal subscriptions for renewal, and/or recommends new subscriptions to the Chief of Legal Assistance. Qualifications:
• Possess a Certified State of Maryland Notary
• Possess a B.C. or B.A. Degree from an accredited college or university.
• Earned a Paralegal Certificate
• Possess a minimum of 10 years Paralegal Assistance III Experience
• Be a U.S. Citizen